Desatoya Ecosystem Management Plan (Grazing and Monitoring), 1997–present
Smith Creek Ranch LLC, Nevada
Synergy provided baseline data collection on upland and riparian sites for two BLM grazing allotments. This project also included agency coordination, ecological site inventory, and design of a monitoring plan. Taking into account rangeland health, riparian health, livestock management, wild horse issues, sage grouse habitat issues, and special status fish species issues, our team designed a year-long grazing plan with rotation through multiple grazing use areas across 2 allotments. We implemented this grazing plan with a parallel monitoring program to provide feedback to refine grazing and meet original and updated agency objectives over 15 years. The grazing and monitoring plans were developed in coordination with Carson City BLM and integrated into the Desatoya Ecosystem Management Plan. This is an example of a long-term monitoring project that included vegetation inventory on over 150,000 acres.
Ecological Status Inventories, 1996-Present
Synergy’s team has completed ecological status inventories on over 10 million acres of Nevada, Oregon, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, California, and Idaho over the past 18 years. Ecological status inventories are very similar across projects because each requires evaluation of the total landscape as well as detailed data collection at selected sample points. Each point sampled uses a suite of inventory protocols and requires site selection, delineation of specific plant communities, and an understanding of complex ecological concepts.
Badger Ranch, 1991-Present
Battle Mountain, Nevada
Our team provided rangeland monitoring, analysis, litigation support, and agency coordination. We have worked with the Filippinis to provide natural resource technical services to their ranch for almost 25 years. Services provided include data collection, response to agency documents, participation in meetings, litigation support, coordination with mining companies, and representation in Nevada and DC in regard to public land ranching, private leases, wildlife, and fire.
Rangeland Services to Ranches, 1986-Present
Synergy has provided natural resource services to ranches throughout the West. These services include grazing plans, rangeland data collection, agency coordination, and stocking rate calculations. In addition, we’ve assisted with planning for various issues including drought planning, wildlife habitat monitoring, coordination with mining and construction, responding to federal agency actions, representing ranches at agency meetings, representing ranch interests in Washington, DC, and providing litigation support.
