Table Of Content

BLM LIBRARY 88067056 Director's Message We are pleased to provide you professionals in many different and unique disciplines. This year, with the National Science and the Center was realigned to better meet our customers’ needs, Technology Center’s annual to make the flow of scientific information to our customers report for fiscal year 2004. This more efficient, and to improve the collection, analysis, synthesis, has been another challenging and dissemination of scientific information to our customers and exciting year for the Center. in the field. The Center is proud to support the Department’s The use of the public lands and emphasis on science and to highlight our accomplishments resources, particularly in the towards meeting the goals for resource protection, resource Western States, continues to use, recreation, and serving communities outlined in the increase as the population of DOI Strategic Plan and the BLM Operating Plan. those States multiplies. Consequently, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Department of the Interior The Center continues to be committed to providing the best (DOI) are faced with pressing challenges regarding the man- services in a cost-effective manner that is responsive to our agement of our natural resources. Integrating science and customers’ needs. By doing this, we believe that we can con- technology into the management of our Nation's natural tinue to be a valuable resource to all of the BLM offices, both resources is critical to their use, protection, and conservation. at field locations and in Washington, DC. We invite you to spend some time looking through this annual report. We The National Science and Technology Center strives to bring welcome any comments you may have regarding this report BLM offices the best available science, using the latest technology, that will make future reports more responsive to your needs. to support resource management planning and decisionmaking. NSTC provides this support through partnerships, collaboration, and flexibility, in addition to a dedicated staff of highly qualified Resource Protection ■ Provided technical support and assistance, including development of a connectivity model, for the Prairie-Grasslands Multispecies Conservation Strategy. Protect the Nations natural, cultural, and heritage ■ Researched and compiled definitions of “old growth’’ for a resources. range of tree species in response to the President’s Healthy Forests Initiative. ■ Managed the planning and schematic design of the Red Rock Desert Learning Center and Wild Horse and Burro ■ Provided soil science expertise for a review of the rangeland Facilities in the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation health assessment for Grand Staircase-Escalante National Area in Nevada. Monument in Utah. ■ Provided digital mapping support for 17 Land and Water ■ Provided planning, design, and contract administration Conservation Fund projects to be incorporated within a services for the development of a new operations center and Congressional submission for appropriations funding. employee residence at Dos Palmas Preserve in California. ■ Developed a science-based adaptive management model and ■ Produced large-scale topographic maps and orthophotos to a strategic framework for integrating science and technology aid in the characterization and reclamation of abandoned into sagebrush ecosystem restoration and management. mine lands at Harrison Creek in Alaska and Rip Van Winkle and Kinsley Mines in Nevada. 1 ■ Provided programming support and developed prototype to share information such as analytical methods and tech- databases to track riparian functional assessments and to niques; applied science; and assessment and monitoring store and manage land health assessment information for results pertaining to a single resource management topic. the Eagle Lake Field Office in California. ■ Coordinated BLM’s review of, and incorporated comments ■ Modified the Plant Information Network (PIN) database to into, the revised National Vegetation Classification Standard. improve access to plant species information relevant to ■ Helped design and planning and decisionmaking in portions of Colorado and instruct courses for the Utah and provided training for users in BLM Field Offices. National Training Center ■ Completed the documentation and technical review of a on topics such as soil process for conducting a multiscale sagebrush assessment advanced technology, the for land use plans and rangeland health evaluations in the Water Erosion Prediction Jordan Resource Area in Oregon. Project (WEPP), the Rangeland Administration ■ Evaluated the Forest Service’s Forest Inventory and Analysis System (RAS), basic (FIA) data for its utility in BLM’s planning processes. range administration, ■ Provided site characterization, engineering evaluation/cost ground-water evaluation analysis (EE/CA), risk assessment, cleanup design, techniques, the basics of and contracting support for evaluation and cleanup actions hazardous materials management, and characterization of at 32 hazardous waste and abandoned mine sites on public abandoned mine lands. Also conducted required hazardous lands, including: Josephine Mine in Oregon, San Pedro waste operations and emergency response (FiAZWOPER) abandoned mine sites in Arizona, Davis tailings in California, safety training, presented a session on Natural Resources Idaho Selenium Project, La Sal Creek in Utah, Ralston Gas Damage Assessment case strategy development at a national Plant in Wyoming, Anvil Points National Oil Shale Reserve workshop, and taught a course on using aerial photos to in Colorado, Tyro Mill in Nevada, and I&W Hot Oil site assess the condition of riparian-wetland areas to the Iowa in New Mexico. These sites posed a significant threat to Nation in Oklahoma. public safety and the environment. ■ Provided technical support to BLM offices in Arizona and ■ Provided civil, sanitary, to the Department of Justice for ongoing studies to protect electrical, and structural hydrologic and riparian values associated with the San Pedro engineering design ser- Riparian National Conservation Area. vices for the Dolores ■ Assisted with potentially responsible party (PRP) searches, Public Lands Office settlement agreements, cost recovery strategies, and coordi- facilities in Colorado, nation with the Department’s Solicitor on Comprehensive where US DA Forest Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act Service and BLM staff (CERCLA) cost recovery and enforcement actions associated will be colocated. with 10 hazardous waste and abandoned mine sites, including: ■ Investigated methods Gooseberry Mine in Nevada, Alaska Cost Recovery Project, for creating a detailed Bretz Mine in Oregon, Big Bend in Arizona, Black Rock topography map of a 43-mile stretch of the Red River along Mine in California, La Sal uranium mine in Utah, and the border between Texas and Oklahoma for the New Ralston Gas Plant in Wyoming. Mexico State Office. ■ Provided design services for construction of a runoff ■ Researched the impact of fire on pricklypear cactus and retention pond and new water systems at the Palomino compiled the information in a report for specialists and Valley Wild Horse Center in Nevada. managers in the Phoenix Field Office in Arizona. ■ Acquired new aerial photography for multiple uses by ■ Helped develop, edit, design, and publish four Technical BLM offices in California, Idaho, and Arizona, and located, Notes: “Aerial Surveys of Cliff-Nesting Raptors in the reproduced, and distributed copies of aerial photography National Petroleum Reserve—Alaska, 1999, With of Bureau lands to BLM offices, other government agencies, Comparisons to 1977” (TN 413), “Hazardous Waste Site and the general public. Sampling Basics” (TN 414), “Helium Resources of the ■ Published eight Resource Notes on topics such as remediation United States—2003” (TN 413), and “Microclimate Effects of abandoned mine lands using remote sensing technology, from Closing Abandoned Mines with Culvert Bat Gates” sustainable design, emergency rehabilitation and restoration, (TN 416). Technical Notes are a forum for BLM employees vegetation mapping, and livestock grazing impacts. Resource ■ Developed a display, which includes a vegetation map of Notes are brief articles designed to share resource management the U.S. and Canada, photos of BLM forest lands and information; they are available at www.blm.gov/nstc/ management activities, and text addressing forest health, resourcenotes/resnotes. html. for the joint 2004 Society of American Foresters and Canadian Institute of Forestry convention. ■ Assisted 10 Field Offices in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado with collecting, managing, and analyzing ■ Assisted with scoping data on forest lands for resource management plan revisions site needs, assessing and fuels assessment projects. natural resource injuries from hazardous substance ■ Provided support to the National Riparian Service Team, releases or oil spills, including updating and maintaining assessment tools, coordinating with other providing training for applying these tools, reviewing agencies, representing assessments, maintaining the riparian area management BLM on natural Technical Reference series (1737), reviewing research pro- resource trustee councils, posals, designing and producing poster sessions, and editing and planning and imple- and publishing the team’s strategy document. menting restoration ■ Administered and actions for eight Natural oversaw the initial design Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDAR) and construction of sites: New Carissa in Oregon, Clark Fork in Montana, the Desert Tortoise Summitville Mine in Colorado, Coeur d’Alene Basin in Conservation Center Idaho, California Gulch/Upper Arkansas in Colorado, water rehabilitation Yerington Mine in Nevada, Iron Mountain in California, project in Nevada. The and Gila River in Arizona. project is being designed and built simultaneously, through a contract Resource Use awarded to a small business, saving both Manage natural resources to promote responsible time and money. use and sustain a dynamic economy. ■ Created two fire management publications, “Geospatial Technologies Strategic Plan for Fire and Aviation ■ Continued ongoing coordination with the National Management” and a Spanish version of “Wildland Fire Renewable Energy Laboratory and Argonne National Primer: A Guide for Educators,” and a poster session, Laboratory on renewable energy issues and contracts. “Wildland Fire and Fuels Research: Ffelping Managers ■ Supported the development of a draft environmental Make Better Decisions.” impact statement and analysis of public comments on a ■ Conducted a science-related literature search on drought to comprehensive revision of public lands grazing regulations. facilitate related impact assessments for the State of Utah. ■ Refined user requirements and the design of a new Wild ■ Assisted the Anchorage Field Office in completing aerial Florse & Burro Program System (WHBPS) to replace the photo assessments of riparian-wetland resources in the Wild Fiorse & Burro Business Information System Carter Spit watershed in Alaska. (WHBIS). Edited and helped publish “Adopting a Wild ■ Assisted the Ely Field Office in Nevada with identifying Florse or Burro from an Adoption Facility,” a pamphlet and protecting BLM resources that could be affected by that provides facility and basic adoption information. Las Vegas’ municipal needs for ground-water sources in ■ Developed a prototype for an automated tracking system three counties. that will be used to monitor progress on roughly ■ Provided development concept planning assistance for 100 stewardship contracts in fiscal year 2003 in support Piedras Blancas Lighthouse in California. of the President’s Fiealthy Forests Initiative. ■ Completed a standardized remote sensing vegetation ■ Continued production on an automated 1:100,000-scale analysis for Colorado, as well as associated data models and database for mapping and other geographic information a Web site for data dissemination, in cooperation with the systems (GIS) purposes. Automated data themes now Colorado Division of Wildlife. covering 37 percent of the Western United States include the Geographic Coordinate Data Base, surface/minerals ■ Located and distributed over 7,000 requested books, articles, ownership, wilderness, transportation, hydrography, conference proceedings, and other publications pertaining hypsography, and text labels. to natural resources, recreation, and various other topics. Provided critical techni- ■ Compiled bibliographies on many subjects, including the cal support for the taxonomy, ecology, and successional dynamics of sage- development of a BLM brush; the wildland urban interface; neotropical migratory and Forest Service birds; the results of research in Pacific Northwest forest “ePlanning” Web site ecosystems; and the use of technology to locate orphaned and a user interface for and abandoned oil and gas wells. public input. Provided ■ Incorporated forestry and grazing use authorization ArcSDE software requirements into the specifications for the Department training and support Land and Resource Management System. for the Bureau Enterprise GIS project. ■ Conducted seven well and spring site investigations in Arizona, Utah, and Idaho for development of ground-water Compiled information and developed engineering geology resources for livestock management. assessments for 11 power site withdrawals. ■ Revised and printed a Provided assistance to a national team to develop a water digital version of a strategy that describes how the BLM can contribute to 1:2,500,000-scale map the Secretary of the Interior’s Water 2025 Initiative. showing public lands, Revised and automated 75 1:100,000-scale surface/ administrative District minerals management maps in support of multiple resource and Field Office programs and recreational activities in 10 Western States. boundaries, and most National Landscape Produced “BLM Library Update,’’ a monthly listing of Conservation System recent books and articles pertaining to natural resources, areas, including national and circulated over 2,500 titles from these listings. monuments, conserva- Provided Bureau employees with Internet access to over tion areas, wilderness 50 full-text, natural resources journals and 17 databases. areas, and forest reserves. Released three system updates to expand the functionality ■ Designed, edited, and produced a brochure and exhibit, of the Wild Horse and Burro Information System (HB), “American Energy for America's Future,” describing the developed an operations manual to allow maintenance of Department of the Interior’s contributions to the the system during development of a new system, and development of domestic energy resources. provided training on the system for Field Office users. ■ Helped write, edit, design, and produce environmental Developed substantive changes to the annual rangeland education presentations pertaining to wildlife habitat con- inventory, monitoring, and evaluation report, which servation for “The Wildlife Investigator Series” (Volume 1). complies with requirements in the Public Rangelands ■ Provided hydrologic and air quality support, including Improvement Act of 1978. reviewing reports and contractor performance, for the Provided assistance with air and water quality modeling, Powder River Basin coal mining study. This effort included collection and interpretation of analytical data, Clean Air establishing an interagency (State and Federal) hydrologic and Water Acts compliance, litigation, and contract over- advisory team to monitor and advise the Wyoming State sight for 11 energy development environmental impact Office on study-related issues. analyses in areas such as Vernal, Utah; the Roan Plateau in Colorado; the Powder River in Montana; Tarrent County, Texas; and the Jonah Infill in Wyoming. Recreation Revised a digital version of the 1:500,000-scale New Mexico State map showing complete surface ownership, the Provide recreation opportunities for America. public land survey system, political boundaries, major transportation routes, hydrography, text labels, and ■ Provided conceptual and final designs for the renovation shaded relief. The map will be printed and available in and expansion of the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry early spring 2005. Visitor Center in Utah and managed and oversaw the design development of the California Trails Visitor ■ Provided various services, including planning, design, and Center in Nevada. technical support, for development of potable water and wastewater disposal systems at La Posa Long-Term Visitor ■ Created large-scale topographic base maps for planning, Area in Arizona and for six new water systems in San development, and maintenance of interpretive and recre- Pedro Riparian and Las Cienegas National Conservation ational facilities at Fort McKinney and Castle Gardens, Areas in Arizona. Wyoming; Four Dances, Montana; and Yuma, Arizona. ■ Coordinated with the Forest Service to collect information ■ Created route inventories (including off-highway vehicle on recreational off-highway vehicle impacts. trails) for resource management planning in Nevada. ■ Provided facility assessment, planning, design, and construction support services for several recreational areas, Serving Communities including the Red Spring day-use area and Cottonwood parking and trailhead area in Red Rock Canyon National Safeguard lives, property, and assets; advance Conservation Area in Nevada, Mackay Reservoir (second h ase) and Dike Lake in Idaho, and Simpson Springs scientific knowledge; and improve the quality of P campground in Utah. life for communities we serve. ■ Edited, designed, and produced 1 poster and 10 fliers, ■ Provided various architectural and engineering services, encouraging Americans to participate in outdoor activities including planning, design, and construction support, for on BLM-managed public lands, in support of the a new administrative office at Campbell Tract in Alaska, a President’s HealthierUS Initiative. new 10,000-square-foot office in Miles City, Montana, ■ Helped review and prioritize proposals and represented the rehabilitation of the Caliente Field Office in Nevada, BLM’s needs and interests on the National Recreation and a new Rawlins Field Office in Wyoming. The Rawlins Technology and Development Steering Committee. project has been nominated for environmental/ green design awards and is anticipated to be the Bureau’s first ■ Conducted four well Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) site investigations in certified building. Utah and California for development of ■ Established an interagency agreement with the Bureau ground-water resources of Reclamation to share close-range photogrammetry for recreational sites. techniques that BLM uses to document dinosaur tracks and cultural sites and to provide technical assistance in ■ Prepared a master plan applying those techniques for dam face monitoring. for development of the Hickison Petroglyph ■ Tested the capabilities Recreation Site in of GEOBOOK soft- Nevada, provided land- ware for communicating scape design services resource conditions, for the El Camino Real International Heritage Center in cumulative impacts, New Mexico, and conducted a facility and historical and trends revealed evaluation of Turn Point Lighthouse and caretaker through a regional quarters in Washington. assessment for the Colorado Plateau area ■ Assisted the Eastern States Office in completing the of Colorado, Utah, analysis of public comments as part of the planning and Arizona. process for Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA). ■ Provided a technical review and guidance for a ground- water monitoring plan for the Pinedale Anticline gas field ■ Collaborated with the Eastern States Office and the in southwest Wyoming. Development of the plan is a National Training Center to develop and test a customized partnership effort with the Sublette County Conservation information delivery tool (GEOBOOK) for use in District and oil and gas operators. managing the Meadowood SRMA. ■ Consulted on streamflow and geomorphic analyses related to the Lower Crooked and Rio Grande Wild and Scenic Rivers in Oregon and New Mexico, respectively. 5 IV’&c&jog; Jt • L'b ■ Prepared designs for, and helped administer the construc- Participated on an interagency advisory team to help write tion of, several fire facilities in Nevada, including the crew and design an orthoimagery guideline document in support^p quarters at the Palomino Valley and Midas Fire Stations of the Geospatial One-Stop Initiative. and, using a small business design-build contract, the crew Reproduced microfiche of cadastral survey notes and plats quarters, engine garages, and ancillary facilities at the for more than 65 BLM offices, other Federal and State Logandale, Red Rocks, and Pahrump Fire Stations. entities, and the public. ■ Performed cyclic bridge inspections and prepared condition Supported the BLM Legacy and Best Practices programs to reports for 9 bridges and 1 major culvert in California, highlight and communicate success stories to BLM Field 21 bridges in Idaho, 13 bridges and 5 major culverts in Offices. Montana, and 27 bridges in Wyoming, and performed a technical review of inspection reports done in Oregon. Chaired the Applied Technology Committee and Regional Conference Presentations Subcommittee of the National ■ Refined the aerial photography archive intranet site by Cooperative Soil Survey, which is a nationwide partnership populating it with geographic and other archival data from of Federal, regional, State, and local agencies and land most of the BLM states and developing a spatial data grant universities developing standards for soil survey and engine interface. The site is available for internal Bureau data use. use during the pilot stage at http://ncsd3arc2.corp.blm.gov/ i mj/imf.jsp/site=aerial_photography_archive_fcdemo. Led or provided support for several national engineering projects, including the Engineering Advisory Team Web ■ Developed a prototype fire restrictions ArcIMS Web site page and other activities, the accessibility program, guide for Colorado. The site can be accessed at http://co_fireban. specifications, energy conservation and management, and cr. usgs.gov. Facility Asset Management System Development Team ■ Shared over 298 library activities. resources with other Participated on interagency National Digital Elevation Federal, State, and local Program and National Digital Orthophoto Program libraries through the committees, which evaluate new and existing technologies interlibrary loan process. and develop guidelines. ■ Represented BLM by Provided program, administrative, and logistical support attending the annual for the Applications of Science Initiative. meeting and reviewing Provided national-level BLM representation for the research proposals for Sustainable Rangelands Roundtable through attendance the National Partnership and formal presentations at bimonthly meetings. The for the Management of Roundtable is a group working to identify a suite of Wild and Native Coldwater Fisheries, a group established to ecological, economical, and social indicators that can be coordinate, prioritize, and support research and management assessed and reported periodically as the basis for evaluating activities that maintain and enhance the nation’s coldwater rangeland sustainability at the national level. fisheries. Assisted with facility ■ Provided contracting support for the mitigation of physical closure and stabilization safety hazards, including closure of open mine shafts or at the Ralston Gas Plant adits that posed a significant threat to public safety, at five in Wyoming and the abandoned mine sites in Montana. Excel Helium Plant in ■ Conducted a value engineering study and provided peer Texas to ensure public reviews for the rehabilitation of Little Anita Dam in safety and compliance Montana, Fort Benton Visitor Center in Montana, and a with environmental laws fire facility in Utah. and regulations. ■ Performed visual seismic technical evaluations of Piedras Blancas Lighthouse and numerous buildings at Centerville Naval Facility in California. 6 U.S. Department of the Interior FIRST-CLASS MAIL Bureau of Land Management Postage & Fees Paid National Science and Technology Center Bureau of Land Management Denver Federal Center, Building 50 Permit No. G-76 Denver, CO 80225-0047 OFFICIAL BUSINESS Penalty for private use $300 National Science & Technology Center 4 'c-ou (>y y }/r/ (/ . 1( f(r // c/yo/// e n / X ■ vT ■■' -xSr m * Bureau of Land Management xv National Science and Technology Center Denver Federal Center, Building 50 P.O. Box 25047 V A, Jfcjf Denver, CO 80225-0047 ■ '<• . 5K, 303-236-2772 [email protected] www.blm.gov/nstc lift; jSf* November 2004 The mention of trade names, company names, or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the Federal Government. BLM/ST/GI-05/001 + 1213