Predicting Invasive Potential of Annual Wheatgrass

The National Park Service intends to award a cooperative agreement to Montana State University for the project "Predicting Invasive Potential of Annual Wheatgrass". The project aims to determine the invasion capacity of annual wheatgrass and desert alyssum under current and simulated climate change conditions, and to generate information to adaptively manage annual wheatgrass in the Gardiner Basin restoration sites in Yellowstone National Park. The project will engage the recipient in shared environmental stewardship, support the Government's objective to provide opportunities for youth to learn about the environment, and provide new knowledge on the abundance and spread of annual wheatgrass across the Park. The project will involve field and lab methods, including monitoring and data collection, and will require the recipient to provide annual progress reports and a final report. Some key aspects of the project include: • The recipient will be responsible for carrying out the statement of work in accordance with the terms and conditions stated in the agreement. • The recipient will provide 2 annual progress reports and a final report, including modeling outputs and management options for native vegetation restoration. • The National Park Service will monitor and provide federal oversight of activities performed under the agreement, and will provide technical assistance to the recipient as needed. • The project will support the DOI Secretary's priorities, including creating a conservation stewardship legacy and utilizing science to identify best practices to manage land and water resources.