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 at the Yale School of Forestry & 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
Bears Ears Documentary Update – Cayley Geffen
After many interviews, road trips, and discussions, the filming process for the Bears Ears Documentary Project is nearly complete. I have learned so much more than I ever could have imagined about the complex nature of land use politics in the West. I am very much looking forward to watching the many hours of footage Read more about Bears Ears Documentary Update – Cayley Geffen[…]
UHPSI Alum Catherine Kuhn Publishes!
Catherine Kuhn (MEsc ’15) worked with Ucross during her time at F&ES, analyzing gas fluxes from Clear Creak, the main river system flowing through the Ucross Ranch. Field work took her and Ucross staff on journeys from the slow-moving river in the bottomlands of the high plains at 4,000 feet, up to the headwaters of Read more about UHPSI Alum Catherine Kuhn Publishes![…]
600,000 Cucumber Beetles – Adam Eichenwald
So after a long summer and an endless series of blog posts, I’ve realized that I never actually said flat-out what I’ve been up to. Shame on me, really. Talk talk talk without ever actually saying anything…Hey, maybe I should drop science and go into politics. But I think it’s time I finally showed my Read more about 600,000 Cucumber Beetles – Adam Eichenwald[…]
Where’s the Water in Wyoming – Jessica Swindon
It’s not until you live somewhere like Wyoming that you truly understand what Mark Twain meant when he said “Whiskey is for drinking, water is for fighting over”. As the Wyoming summer comes to an end, the grassy, green landscape changes to a crisp gold. The color change of vegetation is not due to low Read more about Where’s the Water in Wyoming – Jessica Swindon[…]
Return to Civilization – Adam Eichenwald
So I’m finally back from Alaska. It’s great to be back home, and I’m enjoying having the use of indoor plumbing. It’s very strange what you miss – I loathe doing dishes, but it’s nice to finally have running water available for cleaning plates. I’m pretty pleased with the way my summer research turned out. Read more about Return to Civilization – Adam Eichenwald[…]
Wrap-Up in Lander, WY – Carli Kierstead
Hello again, it is now my last week in the The Nature Conservancy’s Lander, WY office. Though I am sad to leave such a great office and town, I am proud of what I have accomplished this summer. It has been 11 weeks characterized by climbing steep learning curves and climbing Wyoming mountains. All in Read more about Wrap-Up in Lander, WY – Carli Kierstead[…]
Instream Flows along the Middle Fork of the Popo Agie and Repeat Photography at Red Canyon Ranch – Austin Rempel
Instream Flows on the Middle Fork of the Popo Agie Over the last two months I’ve been helping piece together a picture of water use on the Middle Fork of the Popo Agie River. Water from the Middle Fork irrigates some 11,500 acres of agricultural land in the region around Lander, Wyoming. These diversions support Read more about Instream Flows along the Middle Fork of the Popo Agie and Repeat Photography at Red Canyon Ranch – Austin Rempel[…]
Infiltration: Summer in Sage Country – Rachel Renne
Summer has arrived on the sagebrush steppe of southwest Wyoming! Frosty mornings and spring snows feel far away in the baking, dry heat of long summer days. Soils are drying out and the spring annuals I so enjoyed only a month ago have dried up and blown away. The yellow highlights of mock goldenweed (Stenotus Read more about Infiltration: Summer in Sage Country – Rachel Renne[…]
Nome FM – Adam Eichenwald
Nome’s only radio station has ruined other variety stations for me. I mean, in the span of 15 minutes this one small station pumps out a current pop hit, follows up with some Rolling Stones, moves to the top 5 songs from 1957, and finishes up the time slot with an elderly man telling an Read more about Nome FM – Adam Eichenwald[…]
WRF Retreat
Western Research Fellow’s attended their annual retreat from the 23-26th of June. The retreat provides an opportunity for Fellows to check in with Ucross staff and share their progress with each other. The Fellows gathered on Friday Afternoon at Sheridan College’s Spear-O Mountain Campus. There they explored the streams, lakes, forests, and pastures of the Read more about WRF Retreat[…]
Measuring Soil Carbon – Dan Kane
A year ago, I traveled out to Wyoming to visit a few properties managed by The Nature Conservancy and test a new field method for measuring soil carbon content. Our initial results from last year’s work suggested we were on to something. The method worked! We were able to successfully use just a simple handheld Read more about Measuring Soil Carbon – Dan Kane[…]
Trophic Cascades – Adam Eichenwald
Although Adam was not able to join us at the Western Research Fellowship Retreat this last weekend, he did put together a fantastic presentation to share with the Sheridan/Gillette community during the Mountain Lecture Series event at Spear-O Mountain Campus. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!
Alaska is Big….Really Big – Adam Eichenwald
Alaska is big. Very big. You won’t believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it’s a long way down the road to the pharmacist, but that’s just peanuts to Alaska. (Man, the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy really hits it on the nose when it comes to attempts to Read more about Alaska is Big….Really Big – Adam Eichenwald[…]
Beaver Restoration and Water Management in Wyoming – Austin Rempel
I’m writing from Red Canyon Ranch, a working ranch and nature preserve owned by the Nature Conservancy. I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to live at the Ranch this summer while working with Conservancy staff on questions related to beaver restoration and water management. Red Canyon Ranch covers some 5,000 acres in the foothills of Read more about Beaver Restoration and Water Management in Wyoming – Austin Rempel[…]
Bears Ears – Cayley Geffen
Hello! I am having a wonderful start to my summer working on my Bears Ears Documentary Film Project and research project. As many of you know, the recent designation of the Bears Ears National Monument has sparked much debate in Utah and beyond. Recently, Secretary Zinke has decided to review all recent controversial national monuments Read more about Bears Ears – Cayley Geffen[…]