![\"Rocky](\"https:\/\/dev-clm-blog.pantheonsite.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Dry-lake.png\")
<\/a>Rocky field of Lomatium cous and L. bicolor var. leptocarpum<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Hillside with Balsamorhiza sagittata<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n The focus for my SOS collections is on plants important to the greater sage-grouse for food and cover. Sage-grouse habitat is an SOS priority and is under consideration by the USFWS for possible listing under the Endangered Species Act. In Harney County, local ranchers and USFWS have been working together to protect sagebrush habitat on private rangeland for the threatened bird and its ecosystem (http:\/\/www.fws.gov\/greatersagegrouse\/). I find this type of cooperation between government agency and private land owner inspiring. Within Harney County is the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Area where I have spent most of my days in the field. It too has brought together private land owners and government agencies to both conserve and manage the area. But, I must admit the rainbow checkerboard map of public, private, state, and tribal property boundaries can be difficult to navigate at times\u2026<\/p>\n Greater sage-grouse photo: http:\/\/www.blm.gov\/style\/medialib\/blm\/wo\/Communications_Directorate\/public_affairs\/sage-grouse_planning\/images.Par.14496.Image.600.424.1.gif<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n Since completing my first trip to the field last week, I am eager to return! I spent a great deal of my time exploring the maze of dirt roads in my monster truck, getting to know the lay of the land while scouting locations for targeted species populations. It also took a while to become familiar with the flora as this was my first trip and my first time working in southeast Oregon. Over the ten days I spent in the field I experienced a broad range of the area\u2019s weather. High winds and below freezing nights welcomed me to my campsite at the base of Steens Mountain the first couple nights. Luckily, I was able to get quite a bit of scouting in before rain, snow, lightning, and thunder made its way to Southeastern Oregon. So far I have collected voucher specimens for 21 targeted species.<\/p>\n Castilleja angustifolia<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Astragalus filipes<\/em> with a weighty pollinator<\/p><\/div>\n Orobanche uniflora<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n However much needed in this drought stricken area, rain and snow made exploration via many of the soft dirt roads difficult, if not impassable, even in my 4-wheel drive truck. Wet, slippery roads or not, I can’t wait to get back out there next week to check on my populations and make new plant friends (the social life of a solitary botanist)!<\/p>\n Road looking east after the first full day of rain<\/p><\/div>\n Till next time,<\/p>\n Lindsey<\/p>\n Portland\/Harney County, OR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Hello! For my internship I am working with the Rae Selling Berry Seed Bank & Plant Conservation Program (RSBSB) in Portland, Oregon. This is my first year as an intern, but it’s the second year the RSBSB has partnered with … Continue reading <\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>