A spatially explicit model to minimize landscape disturbance in Wyoming energy development sites

The State of Wyoming contains large reserves of oil and gas resources, a substantial portion of which are found in rangeland ecosystems. While any amount of development can affect landscape function, unplanned, excessive, or inefficient planning may lead to potentially otherwise avoidable rangeland degradation. The purpose of this research is to provide an analytic approach to aid in the reduction of environmental impacts associated with road development in energy development sites found in Wyoming rangeland landscapes. The creation of a spatially explicit model can aid in minimizing both ecological costs associated with road development, and as an added benefit reduces associated financial costs. Best management practices developed for addressing landscape ecological issues associated with transportation in oil and gas development are incorporated into a spatially explicit decision making process regarding conservation priorities. Cost surface analysis provides location information from the decision making process that reduces the effect of development on critical rangeland system features. Network analysis results in an optimal route away from those locations to ensure minimized disturbance. Both analyses are improved by using minimum spanning tree criteria to minimize the total impact of road disturbance. The minimized road network results in the additional advantage of reducing financial costs associated with unnecessary development. Results from the validation show that the proposed model is a viable way to reduce landscape disturbance and fragmentation from road development within a development site compared to current development practices. The modeled road network resulted in a reduction in impacts to sagebrush habitat types, crucial for Pronghorn (Antilocarpa americana) and Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) winter habitat, doubled the average closest road distance to Greater sage-grouse lek locations, and minimized the intersection of roads with Pronghorn migration corridors and riparian areas. The traversal index showed that the ecological resistance of the landscape was reduced for an individual belonging to the same species with the proposed network structure. Finally, the reduction in total mileage reduces the cost of road construction and maintenance. Integrating the proposed GIS modeling approach into the decision making process for road network planning in energy development sites provides an analytic planning approach towards improving rangeland conservation efforts, while also reducing financial developmental costs.