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Rocky Mountain Region

USGS Region 7 Staff support and advise USGS Science Centers that provide numerous stakeholders with vital information about spatial distribution and temporal trends in critical minerals, energy resources, geology, water resources, native plants and wildlife, and hazards posed by earthquakes and landslides in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and beyond.

News

FORT Updates: From Plains to Peaks - Vol. 4 | Issue 1

FORT Updates: From Plains to Peaks - Vol. 4 | Issue 1

New tree-ring science demonstrates successful restoration of historical fire patterns in two southwestern wilderness areas

New tree-ring science demonstrates successful restoration of historical fire patterns in two southwestern wilderness areas

New tools for a growing threat: Co-developed science informs the fight against invasive grasses in the sagebrush biome

New tools for a growing threat: Co-developed science informs the fight against invasive grasses in the sagebrush biome

Publications

Valuing socio-economic and ecological attributes of forested watershed restoration to reduce wildfire risk in the southwestern U.S. Valuing socio-economic and ecological attributes of forested watershed restoration to reduce wildfire risk in the southwestern U.S.

Forest restoration in a watershed can provide numerous ecological improvements and social benefits, including reducing the risk of extreme wildfire. Understanding the values of the accrued benefits can be used to evaluate the use of funds to support restoration. The Rio Grande watershed is a vast watershed covering approximately 335,000 mile2 (867,646 km2). The Rio Grande watershed...
Authors
Mohammad Mashiur Rahman, James R. Meldrum, Julie M. Mueller, Christopher Huber

Utilization of multiple geochronology techniques to constrain the age of laterization and mineralization of the world-class Mount Weld rare earth element deposit, Western Australia Utilization of multiple geochronology techniques to constrain the age of laterization and mineralization of the world-class Mount Weld rare earth element deposit, Western Australia

Pervasive chemical weathering on stable cratons may form thick regoliths and elemental enrichment, but constraining the age of regolith formation is challenging. In this study we utilize multiple geochronological techniques on different minerals from the world-class Mount Weld rare earth element (REE) deposit, formed by lateritic weathering of a carbonatite, to constrain the age of...
Authors
Philip L. Verplanck, Cameron Mark Mercer, Jay M. Thompson, Martin Danišík, Heather A. Lowers, Leah E. Morgan, Ganesh Bhat

A three-dimensional geologic framework model of the northern Great Plains region of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming, USA A three-dimensional geologic framework model of the northern Great Plains region of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming, USA

This report presents a new three-dimensional geologic framework model (GFM) of the northern Great Plains region, encompassing parts of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. The model provides a regionally consistent, geographic information system (GIS)-ready representation of Phanerozoic sedimentary strata, major fault systems, and Precambrian basement geometry across two...
Authors
Leland R. Spangler

Science

Gulkana Glacier

Gulkana Glacier is located in the high-latitude continental climate regime of Alaska’s Delta Mountains. Glacier observations began at this site in 1966 and continue through present as the northern most USGS Benchmark Glacier.
Gulkana Glacier

Gulkana Glacier

Gulkana Glacier is located in the high-latitude continental climate regime of Alaska’s Delta Mountains. Glacier observations began at this site in 1966 and continue through present as the northern most USGS Benchmark Glacier.
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Science for management of America’s iconic wild horses and burros

Wild horses and burros are iconic wildlife of the western USA as well as a complicated management issue on tribal, state, and federal lands. Due to their history as domesticated animals, these wild equids – also called “free-roaming” or “feral” equids – can reproduce quickly, and have few natural predators, allowing their populations to grow rapidly if not managed. When populations are too large...
Science for management of America’s iconic wild horses and burros

Science for management of America’s iconic wild horses and burros

Wild horses and burros are iconic wildlife of the western USA as well as a complicated management issue on tribal, state, and federal lands. Due to their history as domesticated animals, these wild equids – also called “free-roaming” or “feral” equids – can reproduce quickly, and have few natural predators, allowing their populations to grow rapidly if not managed. When populations are too large...
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Data Harmonization for Greater Sage-Grouse Populations

Long-term wildlife monitoring is imperative for understanding population changes that can inform managers. However, working with population data collected by different organizations across multiple jurisdictions and over long time periods can be challenging due to varying data management approaches and organizational priorities. Through this project, we aimed to collaborate with eleven state...
Data Harmonization for Greater Sage-Grouse Populations

Data Harmonization for Greater Sage-Grouse Populations

Long-term wildlife monitoring is imperative for understanding population changes that can inform managers. However, working with population data collected by different organizations across multiple jurisdictions and over long time periods can be challenging due to varying data management approaches and organizational priorities. Through this project, we aimed to collaborate with eleven state...
Learn More
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