Solar Energy
Solar Energy
USGS scientists are developing conservation planning tools to help land managers and energy developers identify areas where solar development will result in the lowest impact to wildlife and sensitive habitats. Research is also focused on understanding the effects of large utility-scale solar projects on migratory birds and terrestrial wildlife.
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Ecology and Conservation of Golden Eagles in the Mojave Desert
Dr. Kathleen Longshore, in collaboration with Dr. Todd Esque, provides information to project the possible conflict between losses of habitat for foraging involved in the proposed development of alternative energy installations in the Mojave Desert and help develop advanced conservation efforts for the golden eagle. Information from this project will also inform California’s Desert Renewable...
Applied Statistical Methods and Tools
This research theme addresses several issues important in deriving accurate and precise estimates of fatality at wind and solar power-generation facilities.
Desert Tortoise Ecology and Renewable Energy Development
The desert Southwest is experiencing rapid development of utility-scale solar and wind energy facilities. Although clean renewable energy has environmental benefits, it can also have negative impacts on wildlife and their habitats. Understanding those impacts and effectively mitigating them is a major goal of industry and resource managers. One species of particular concern is Agassiz’s desert...
Desert Tortoise Ecology
Agassiz’s desert tortoises ( Gopherus agassizii ) approach the southern edge of their mostly Mojave Desert range near Joshua Tree National Park. Modern desert tortoise research started in the Park in 1978 when the first tortoise population census was conducted on a one square mile area in the Pinto Basin known as the “Barrow Plot.” U.S. Geological Survey research began at the plot in 1997 and...