WGA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), under a Shared Stewardship Memorandum of Understanding, have been collaborating on efforts to meaningfully address the large-scale infestation of invasive annual grasses on western forests and rangelands. The result of this effort is a new toolkit for land managers to address the spread of invasive annual grasses in the West, including species such as cheatgrass, medusahead, and ventanata.

The toolkit is comprised of three elements:

• A roadmap for invasive grass management in the West, with new best management practices for the identification and protection of relatively intact “core” areas;
• Case studies highlighting the application of these practices in Idaho and Wyoming; and
• A new geospatial data layer to help state and local officials manage invasive annual grasses at home, while also offering opportunities to identify new cross-boundary collaborative projects.

WGA and USDA released the toolkit during a webinar, which featured presentations by members of the interagency committee that worked to develop the toolkit, including:

• Lindy Garner, Sagebrush Ecosystem Invasive Species Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• Jeremy Maestas, Ecologist/National Sagebrush Ecosystem Specialist, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
• Brian A. Mealor, Director and Associate Professor, University of Wyoming Sheridan Research and Extension Center
• Brian A. Rutledge, Director, Sagebrush Ecosystem Initiative, The National Audubon Society

Download the toolkit here.