Fostering science-based land management on the High Plains of the Western United States
About
The Ucross High Plains Stewardship Initiative, or UHPSI, is a science-based research program focused on land stewardship in the American West. At its core, UHPSI seeks to support research and management practices that embrace our ever changing ecological, social, and political landscapes with strength and resiliency.
UHPSI is housed in the Landscape Management Laboratory at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies (FES) in New Haven, Connecticut with a field office in Ucross, Wyoming.
OUR TEAM
charlie bettigole, ms
Nick Olson, MF
Sabrina Szeto, MF
chad oliver, phd
Kris Covey, PHD
Raymond Plank
Current Students
Latest news
Take the Road Less Traveled – Jessica Swindon
Hello from Bill, Wyoming! I am currently writing from within the Thunder Basin National Grassland where one of my research sites is located. This is by far the most remote place I have ever stayed, in fact Wikipedia says the total population is 11, including pets. I’ve already spent a lot of time on the Read more about Take the Road Less Traveled – Jessica Swindon[…]
Coexistence in the Northern Rockies – Ross Donihue
“One time I was at my gym in Banff running on the treadmill and I saw a deer giving birth, no one else noticed and I didn’t want to say a thing because I knew everyone would rush over with their cameras. After the fawn was able to take a few steps I exclaimed – Read more about Coexistence in the Northern Rockies – Ross Donihue[…]
The Popo Agie (bonus points for pronouncing this one right!) – Carli Kierstad
Hello all, I am writing to you from Lander – a small town in Central Wyoming that has already won me over. Since my arrival two weeks ago, I have been interning with The Nature Conservancy as a Summer Research Fellow. My summer research will be focused on the feasibility of a decision support tool Read more about The Popo Agie (bonus points for pronouncing this one right!) – Carli Kierstad[…]
Bison Revival – Anthony Bell
Calving bison on the prairie, with nothing but grass and sky as far as the eye can see. It is a scene which, without knowing any better, could have been identical to what I would have seen if I stood on this ridge three hundred years ago. For anyone who knows better, however, it is Read more about Bison Revival – Anthony Bell[…]
The Early Botanist gets the Snow – Rachel Renne
What a thrill it is to be back in Wyoming! I arrived in Laramie two weeks ago, shyly crept my Connecticut license plates onto a side street, and dashed off into the field—that is, the sagebrush steppe of southwest Wyoming. Three hours west of Laramie, we turned off the interstate onto highway 191 north. When Read more about The Early Botanist gets the Snow – Rachel Renne[…]
Gyrfalcon Attacks Helicopter! – Adam Eichenwald
Remember how I said a few posts ago that you don’t want to mess with a female gyrfalcon? Yeah, well one of the female falcons here is absolutely psychotic. When the Peregrine Fund field technicians were doing an aerial survey, she actually flew out and dive-bombed the helicopter. They had to do some quick aerial Read more about Gyrfalcon Attacks Helicopter! – Adam Eichenwald[…]
The Batman Effect – Adam Eichenwald
Fun fact: a gyrfalcon flying at 200 mph hits HARD. Plus, it likes to pluck the feathers from birds it kills. So in the spots where a gyrfalcon has attacked, it looks like a bird exploded. Exhibit A: this picture of me taking a GPS point at what I will now refer to as a Read more about The Batman Effect – Adam Eichenwald[…]
Fox Time – Adam Eichenwald
I interrupt my own blog posts to bring you this special news bulletin: yesterday I made a fox poop itself in fear. I was collecting data near a dirt road and watched, bemused, as a red fox came jogging up the path toward me. I had my camera and started snapping pictures. “Wow, it’s so Read more about Fox Time – Adam Eichenwald[…]
The Science of Snowmelt: An Interactive Story Map – Taylor Ganz
Check out this interactive story map about the exciting research done by Taylor Ganz, 2016 Western Research Fellow and graduating MESc student from the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies. She traveled to the high peaks of the Wind River Range, WY to study how air pollution is stored in snowmelt and delivered to Read more about The Science of Snowmelt: An Interactive Story Map – Taylor Ganz[…]
Midnight Musings in the Land of the Midnight Sun – Adam Eichenwald
So I’ve been trying to think of a way to start these posts off, like a signature of some kind. Considered doing a different variation of “hello from the edge!” every time, but that would probably get old quickly. Guess I’ll just have to come up with a new gimmick. Maybe next time I’ll just Read more about Midnight Musings in the Land of the Midnight Sun – Adam Eichenwald[…]
Announcing the 2017 Western Research Fellows
We’re pleased to announce eleven recipients of this year’s Western Research Fellowship. Topics span the range of issues affecting land management in the west from sustainable grazing wtih Bison, to predator-prey interactions, to invasive species, to grazing issues on public lands.Stay tuned for more updates on our blog this summer as students hit the field Read more about Announcing the 2017 Western Research Fellows[…]
The edge of the world – Adam Eichenwald
Hello from the edge! After a wonderful marathon of sleep, I am finally set up at base camp in Alaska and working out the kinks in my research. I’m incredibly far up north, to the point where the sun doesn’t set until after 11pm and gets up around 6am – and this is months before Read more about The edge of the world – Adam Eichenwald[…]
Adam Eichenwald – Alaska Bound
I’m sitting in the Seattle airport waiting for my next flight, which is in 6 hours. It’s late, I’m sleep deprived, and frankly a little bored. So I figured I’d start working on my small section of the Internet to scribble the vague thoughts that pop into my head, discuss what it’s like to perform Read more about Adam Eichenwald – Alaska Bound[…]
Summer Fellowship Opportunity with TNC and Ucross
A Partnership between the Ucross High Plains Stewardship Initiative and The Nature Conservancy, Wyoming Chapter for a Summer Fellowship TNC and Ucross staff at the headwaters of the Popo Agie Watershed Project: Investigate the feasibility of a developing a scenario analysis tool for the Popo Agie Watershed that would highlight the potential tradeoffs between the Read more about Summer Fellowship Opportunity with TNC and Ucross[…]
Ranch Crew: Applied Field Practicum
August 12-27, 2017 Do you love Western rangelands? Have you ever wondered what goes into managing livestock? Are you interested getting boots on the ground and learning how to assess and advise rangeland operations? Ranch crew is a 16-day intensive practicum based in Wyoming. The practicum is split in two parts. The first part, Rangeland Read more about Ranch Crew: Applied Field Practicum[…]