2012 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416): The primary purpose is to construct the scientific foundation for the development of the theory and training in the use of Ecological Site Descriptions to enhance management and conservation of the nation’s rangelands. This intramural agreement directly supports objective 2 of our base project: Devise management guidelines, technologies, and practices for conserving and restoring Great Basin rangelands. The focus of the workshop is to bring together agency technical leadership across administrative levels to learn more about ecological sites and to develop the basic training materials and guidelines to transfer technology to the U.S. National Resources Conservation Service, Bureau of Land Management, and US Forest Service personnel on how to develop Ecological Site Descriptions for a transdisciplinary, multi-agency approach to ensure quality control and quality assurance when mapping Ecological Sites across the western United States. 1b.Approach (from AD-416): Funds will be used to help develop educational material to train federal agency employees and private land managers on the science behind the development of Ecological Site Descriptions. This material will be published by the Society for Range Management. The funding will also be used to host workshops for rangeland management specialists in how to develop, interpret, and utilize Ecological Site Descriptions through onsite field work. 3.Progress Report: This research directly supports objective 2: Devise management guidelines, technologies, and practices for conserving and restoring Great Basin rangelands. Specifically Sub-objective 2.1: Develop an integrated package of ground-based and remote sensing tools to quantify and assess the environmental impact of management decisions and conservation practices at hillslope and landscape scales in woodland, shrub-steppe, and desert ecosystems of the Great Basin. This report documents the progress being made by the interagency team that was formed to develop new Ecological Site Descriptions for Nevada and provide training on use of this material for effective natural management decisions. Project was initiated in FY 2012 and is closely aligned with Project No: 5370-11220-006-20S and 5370-11220-006-25S. Four meetings have been held with BLM, NRCS, and University of Nevada, Reno scientific partners to design the project. Field work has been initiated and 20 preliminary Ecological Site Descriptions have been developed by the team. In addition, the team hosted a workshop for 60 federal employees with the Society for Range Management to train agency staff in the use and development of Ecological Site Descriptions. Four meetings have been held with BLM, NRCS, and University of Nevada scientific partners to design the project. Field work has been initiated and 20 preliminary Ecological Site Descriptions have been developed by the team. In addition, the team hosted a workshop for 60 federal employees with the Society for Range Management to train agency staff in the use and development of Ecological Site Descriptions.