Seminar and Discussion Series

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Open Access
Creating a mule deer habitat mitigation tool for energy extraction activities
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2013-11-19) Boone, Randall B., speaker
In the last nine months, Randy has worked with a team of resource managers and scientists led by Ted Toombs of the Environmental Defense Fund to design an approach to quantify changes to mule deer habitat. The overall goal is to support a habitat exchange. Those who disturb habitat, such as those in the energy extraction industry, may trade habitat disturbance credits with others who are in a position to improve habitat for mule deer. Both the magnitude and type of disturbance to mule deer habitat must be considered, and the cost of assessment of habitat should be commensurate with the value of the original project. The group designed site measurements that depend upon local field-based measures of mule deer habitat and context measures of suitability that may be accessed through spatial analyses. Randy will review the components of the site and context measures. Each is documented, with a user's manual and field guide. Field testing and calibration of the method was conducted in July 2013, and refinement of the methods by the science team will occur soon.