Category: Projects

Understanding the landscape factors that influence habitat selection and movement for Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) in southwestern Montana

Posted on by Vanesa Aguay Guerra

Pronghorn are an iconic wildlife species that inhabit the western interior of North America as they roam widely over vast expanses of rangeland, often sharing the landscape with nearby human communities. UHPSI research assistant Jeremy Pustilnik is collaborating with biologists at the National Wildlife Federation and the Southwest Montana Sagebrush Partnership to model pronghorn habitat Read more about Understanding the landscape factors that influence habitat selection and movement for Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) in southwestern Montana[…]

Transforming Transportation in Crested Butte, Colorado

Posted on by Vanesa Aguay Guerra

Our student research assistants are developing strategies to transform the transportation network in Crested Butte, Colorado from automobile-centric to one that prioritizes buses, cycling, and walking. In collaboration with Town officials, the team is conducting a comprehensive analysis of the Town’s recent transportation plan, evaluating public feedback, and identifying relevant case studies of similar Western municipalities. These efforts aim to uncover Read more about Transforming Transportation in Crested Butte, Colorado[…]

Mapping Beaver Conflicts: A Step Toward Coexistence— Xiaofan Shen

Posted on by Vanesa Aguay Guerra

This fall, I found myself immersed in the world of beavers, data points, and digital maps. As a research assistant with Ucross High Plains Stewardship Initiative, I am collaborating with the Montana Beaver Conflict Resolution Program (BCRP) at the National Wildlife Federation to leverage geospatial tools to visualize beaver conflicts and highlight effective mitigation solutions Read more about Mapping Beaver Conflicts: A Step Toward Coexistence— Xiaofan Shen[…]

Parking Reform as a Pillar for a Sustainable Transportation Transformation— Joshua Hernandez

Posted on by Vanesa Aguay Guerra

Crested Butte, Colorado is a small town of less than 2,000 people nestled in the Rocky Mountains, over 220 miles southwest of Denver. A former coal mining town, Crested Butte draws locals and tourists alike as the gateway to the nearby Crested Butte Mountain Resort for skiing and snowboarding. Town leadership is balancing transportation needs Read more about Parking Reform as a Pillar for a Sustainable Transportation Transformation— Joshua Hernandez[…]

Desolation Canyon—Alex Wells

Posted on by Madeline Gupta

Over my summer as a Western Resource Fellow with the National Forest Foundation (NFF), I spent my time diving into some of the complexities of implementing stream restoration in the West. Whether that was creating outreach materials to communicate the relevance of stream restoration to water rights holders or developing a tool for the NFF Read more about Desolation Canyon—Alex Wells[…]

The dynamics of an ending field season, why soundscape conservation matters for people and nature and unfiltered love—Joshua Kesling

Posted on by Madeline Gupta

The end of a field season can yield a suite of emotions. For some, the transition from field settings to temperature and humidity-controlled data organization and refinement centers (namely, our homes, offices, and corner coffee joints) brings unfettered joy. In others, the changing gears reminds us of the time we spent waist-deep in high alpine Read more about The dynamics of an ending field season, why soundscape conservation matters for people and nature and unfiltered love—Joshua Kesling[…]

Underground History Lessons in King County—Ingrid Thyr

Posted on by Madeline Gupta

Last weekend, I checked off one more box from my summer to-do list as I descended beneath the streets of Seattle and attended Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour. For approximately 75 minutes, I got a crash course in early Seattle history and enough musty basement air to last me for a while. And, although this adventure Read more about Underground History Lessons in King County—Ingrid Thyr[…]

The National Renewable Energy Lab

Posted on by Madeline Gupta

Much of my work at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) as a mechanical engineering intern has consisted of sitting in a gray cubicle, surrounded by identical cubicles, staring at my dual monitor screens. I spend most of my working hours in SolidWorks, a computer-aided design software. Using this software, I model potential tidal turbine Read more about The National Renewable Energy Lab[…]

Why it’s Cardinal to Observe the Relationship Among Mountain Wildlife, Spatial Scales, and Ecosystem Dynamics—Joshua Kesling

Posted on by Madeline Gupta

Many wildlife species receive support from mountain natural areas interspersed throughout the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. Upper elevation field sites, ranging from 6,500-8,500 ft above sea level, cover several ecoregions or ecosystems and landscapes determined by biological, geological, chemical, and physical factors.   For instance, in the uplands beyond the freshwater shorelines, dense conifer forest stands (i.e., Read more about Why it’s Cardinal to Observe the Relationship Among Mountain Wildlife, Spatial Scales, and Ecosystem Dynamics—Joshua Kesling[…]

Why Listening to River and Riparian Distress Calls Matter—Joshua Kesling

Posted on by Madeline Gupta

Before taking measurements during bustling recreation events—assessing plant height, counting species diversity, recording sound levels, reading water qualities, and comparing soil compaction images—it is crucial to read ecosystem distress calls through careful observation. I call this ‘read’ a qualitative query, which involves discernment and meaningful observation of natural surroundings. Ecosystem or ‘ecological distress signals’ occur Read more about Why Listening to River and Riparian Distress Calls Matter—Joshua Kesling[…]

Catalyzing Watershed Restoration on National Forest Lands

Posted on by Madeline Gupta

Alex will focus his summer on two projects with the National Forest Foundation (NFF). With half his time, Alex is conducting a stakeholder assessment and developing outreach materials to better understand and engage with landowners and water rights holders around restoring the natural processes of headwater streams in Colorado’s Roaring Fork Valley. While this summer’s Read more about Catalyzing Watershed Restoration on National Forest Lands[…]

Tanged Up in Seasons—Alex Wells

Posted on by Madeline Gupta

This past May, I traveled back in time.   From the top of East Rock Park, the stately houses and university buildings of New Haven barely poked out from beneath an overflow of green leaves. It was early May, but it already felt like summer in Connecticut. Seven days later, I’d returned to early April, the Read more about Tanged Up in Seasons—Alex Wells[…]

Making Climate Action Data More Accessible and Engaging—Ingrid Thyr

Posted on by Madeline Gupta

“How do you explain ‘quintile rank’ to make it easily understandable?”  “Should we use morning, afternoon, or evening temperature?”  “Should there be more narrative around this statistic?”  “How can we incorporate data or stories from users?”  “How many blurbs is too many blurbs?”  These are the sorts of questions that have been occupying my day-to-day Read more about Making Climate Action Data More Accessible and Engaging—Ingrid Thyr[…]

Nuclear and Renewable Energy in Idaho and the American West

Posted on by Madeline Gupta

Aya is working on a two part project focusing on non-fossil fuel energy in the American West and its human and environmental impacts. She is studying communities and landscapes surrounding nuclear energy testing, research, and waste storage in the Snake River Plain of Idaho. Since 1949, southeastern Idaho has been the U.S.’ center of nuclear Read more about Nuclear and Renewable Energy in Idaho and the American West[…]

Capturing Outdoor Recreation and Ecological Patterns along a Multiple Use Mountain Stream

Posted on by Madeline Gupta

Outdoor recreation opportunities fuel important Intermountain West economies, satisfy cultural needs, and uphold nature connectedness. Similarly, mountain freshwater ecosystems promote the development and recruitment of flora and fauna. When considered together, recreation ecosystems comprise natural areas with varying levels of human and (non) human use. Some of the chief drivers shifting more visitors into stream-lined Read more about Capturing Outdoor Recreation and Ecological Patterns along a Multiple Use Mountain Stream[…]