In the past couple months I have completed several projects and started a few as well.  First off I believe I have gotten the Phacelia formosula monitoring dialed in and ready for the monitoring that will be completed later in the summer.  The highlights in the past months include Astragalus debequaeus monitoring, Penstemon grahamii monitoring, Physaria congesta monitoring, Astragalus naturitensis monitoring, Sclerocactus monitoring and CLM workshop at Chicago Botanic Gardens.

Astragalus debequaeus monitoring was a success with relatively good numbers for the year and recruitment numbers that were better than excepted.

Macroplot location for Astragalus debequaeus

Vista from one of the macroplot location for Astragalus debequaeus

Penstemon grahamii monitoring was completed and a significant increase was seen from the previous year, which was a relief even though grazing pressure from native species as well as livestock was still present in and around the area of our macroplot.

Several new Physaria congesta plots were established near an oil and gas facility with White River BLM field office, USFWS, Colorado State BLM office and oil company personnel.  These plots will give USFWS and BLM information on how Physaria congesta populations are potentially affected by the proximity to oil and gas installations. It will be neat to see what accessory experiments will need to be completed to fully confirm the effects of the oil and gas installations.

Astragalus naturitensis monitoring was a new plot as well as new species to conduct monitoring on by the BLM Colorado State office.  Working with personnel from the Uncompahgre field office we survey for the species in areas that were rotochopped 30 years ago and probably chained before that, so the area was still recovering.  To our surprise we found the species throughout these areas in densities that we were not expecting and in one of those areas we found a population with a density that could support a monitoring macroplot.

Additional survey work was completed for Astragalus naturitensis with Lone Cone in the distance.

Sclerocactus glaucus monitoring this year was completed with the help of the Uncompahgre field office, Colorado State office, and students from University of Northern Colorado.  This year’s monitoring was a way to introduce how the BLM monitors rare and endangered plants throughout Colorado and give them the opportunity to participate in monitoring plants too. http://www.unco.edu/news/releases.aspx?id=8144

Even though we were monitoring cactus, when you see an animal posing for you, you have to take the shot

Sclerocactus monitoring area

This past week I traveled to Chicago Botanic Gardens to present at the CLM workshop about the work I did for the revision of the Phacelia formosula monitoring.

When at a botanic garden you have to take the time to take a few pictures of the flora they have growing on the grounds.

Regards,

Nathan