Abstract

Streamlining Sage-Grouse Environmental Regulation Through a GIS Enabled Web Application
Track: Parks, Natural Reserves, Fisheries, and Wildlife Management
Authors: Nicholas Graf, Phillip Polzer

In 2008 the State of Wyoming adopted a Sage-Grouse Core Area Protection Strategy to protect core breeding areas, which cover 25% of the state. Protective measures include limiting development within core areas to an average of 5% disturbance and 1 disruption per 640 acres, creating a unique spatial challenge. Given the size of the protected area and amount of development, the density and disturbance calculation and review processes present a daunting task for project proponents and government agencies involved. In order to support the calculations and review process WyGISC, partnering with Wyoming Game and Fish Department, created an online application to assist the project proponent in documenting compliance with the executive order, a process called the Density and Disturbance Calculation Tool (DDCT). This presentation will discuss how the application was created, the benefits of creating the application, challenges faced while implementing the application, and future developments.