Pawnee montane skipper vegetation study for the Upper South Platte watershed protection and restoration project, September 2012

Abstract

The Pawnee montane skipper (Hesperia leonardus montana) (PMS) is listed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act. To assist in evaluating the effects of forest restoration treatments, the USFS, USFWS, and Denver Water sponsored a monitoring program for the PMS. Annual monitoring began in August 2000, was conducted through 2013, and will continue into the future. Three forest restoration treatment areas (2000 treatment, 2002 treatment, and 2004 treatment) and a control area were designated for monitoring. The primary objective of monitoring is to compare skipper use of untreated lower montane forest with use in lower montane forest that has been thinned to reduce fire danger and that is expected to improve PMS habitat.