USGS Home
Contact USGS
Search USGS

Coordination of Mancos Shale Project Activities with Local, State, and Federal Entities

Task Objectives

To further establish communication and feedback mechanisms to identify how USGS research goals can integrate with real-time issues of local, State, and Federal entities, it is proposed to expand on the science-planning process being developed with BLM staff at the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area in western Colorado. Mechanisms for coordinating and communicating scientific support and recommendations will be expanded to include other Federal, State, and local entities working on the Mancos Shale Landscape. Support by USGS scientists is being provided through real-time consulting with BLM staff on science issues related to land management. This is being accomplished by USGS scientists participating in the BLM planning process. In Fiscal Year 2002, specific research objectives were being identified along with areas within the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area (NCA) to conduct research. The goal is to identify data and interpretations to support an integrated assessment of the NCA related to reduction of erosion and associated salinity and selenium loading and preservation and restoration of threatened and endangered plants and natural community processes. Coordination efforts to date have focused on problems specific to the NCA that have transferability to BLM lands and elsewhere on the Mancos Shale Landscape.

Highlights & Key Findings

To date, coordination has been ongoing between BLM resource specialists and USGS scientists working at the BLM Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area (NCA). This coordination has focused on how USGS science priorities can be interfaced with the need BLM has to provide scientific rationale for policies presented to the Public. Plans are to continue coordination activities with the Gunnison Gorge NCA and expand coordination activities to other entities managing Mancos Shale landscapes. Additionally, a public workshop "Mancos Landscapes: Science and Management" (cosponsored by the USGS, BLM, and BOR) has helped to identify research needs, some of which will be addressed by this project.

Return to top of this page | Next Task | Task List