A legacy of the fevered search for gold in the West, there are over 300 abandoned mines in Joshua Tree National Park, so many that they have become an indelible part of the park’s landscape. Mine shafts have come to serve as wildlife habitats, especially for bats, and they provide a good source for cultural resources studies. But they also…

In July, we received a bunch of great submissions for our media contest. Below is just a sampling of what our field personnel were able to capture, including the winning entry, video shot by Cecilia Huizar. “I feel lucky to say that this is what we get to do every morning,” says Cecilia. “Here is my crew lead, Liz (Elizabeth…

Clearer water means high quality water, right? Well, not necessarily. Take Lake Mead as an example, where clearing water is actually evidence of the impact of the quagga mussel. This mollusk was introduced to the Great Lakes from Ukraine in the 1980s and was first discovered in Lake Mead in 2007, and as an invasive species, its impact in considerable….

GBI’s field personnel continue to dazzle us with their photographs. Here we present just a few of many submissions to our monthly photo contest, including June’s winning image, above. This one was taken by Wade Plafcan, an ecological monitoring crew lead working alongside the Bureau of Land Management in Moab, Utah. Castleton Tower can be seen in the background of…

Red Rock Canyon was designated as Nevada’s first National Conservation Area (NCA) in 1990. This NCA is a popular tourist area, as well as a recreation destination for locals. Visitors use the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area for hiking, road biking, rock climbing, and horseback riding. But as pointed out in a recent article in the Las Vegas Review-Journal,…

Our field personnel frequently work in some stunning landscapes, unique with fauna, flora, climates and geological formations. In the interest of capturing these settings and the work being done, GBI recently started a photo/media contest for our people in the field. The first contest winner is Kristen Smith, whose photo graces the top of this page. Coordinating the contest is…

In 2016, GBI entered into a cooperative agreement with the Bureau of Land Management to assist with the monitoring of greater sage grouse populations and restoration of their habitat throughout northern California. Of course, in addressing the needs of one species, one necessarily looks at the entirety of an ecosystem and the well-being of all flora and fauna therein. This…

The Great Basin Institute, in collaboration with the University of Nevada, Reno, (UNR) was recently awarded a 4.9 million grant to support forestry research and ecological restoration on the Sequoia National Forest/Giant Sequoia National Monument. Funded by the State of California, the project improves forest health and wildlife habitat by reducing fuels from drought- and beetle-impacted trees on the Hume…

During the average school year, Taylor Creek Visitor Center hosts over 150 students per day to connect classroom curriculum with direct experience with the local aquatic life. One of the highlights of the experience is the Taylor Creek Stream Profile Chamber. When the glass of this underwater viewing chamber broke during routine cleaning last season, staff worried that this educational…

Anyone who has spent significant time in our national parks is familiar with the sight of wayside exhibits, signs that provide background and information about the natural and cultural surroundings. These panels can enhance visitors’ experience in our natural lands by identifying local flora and fauna, explaining geographical formations, and tracing historical events. While we may appreciate the service these…