Maintaining Resilient Dryland Ecosystems
The Maintaining Resilient Dryland Ecosystems (MRDE) program investigates the biology, use, management, and restoration of grasses and shrublands. Scientists, professional technicians, and support staff with the MRDE Program develop and deliver scientific knowledge, technology and tools that will enable people to sustain and restore grasslands, shrublands, and deserts under increasing threats from expanding human-related uses, invasive species, changing disturbance patterns, and climate changes.
Nearly all of the 21 National Grasslands are within the territory covered by the Rocky Mountain Research Station, making research on the national grasslands an important Rocky Mountain Research Station niche. Our scientists conduct research on fire, invasive species, plant communities, plant genetics and wildlife on national grasslands.
In 2001 Maintaining Resilient Dryland Ecosystems and the Bureau of Land Management initiated the multi-state Great Basin Native Plant Project. Now with over 25 collaborators, the project continues to improve the availability of native plant materials and to provide the knowledge and technology required for their use in restoring diverse native plant communities across the Great Basin.
Members of the MRDE Program are located at seven laboratories in six states in the intermountain West (Cedar City, UT and Reno, NV), Rocky Mountains (Boise and Moscow, ID), northern Great Plains (Bozeman, MT and Rapid City, SD), and American Southwest (Albuquerque, NM).
Key Personnel
Program Manager
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Person
Chelcy F. Miniat, PhD
Program Managerhttps://research.fs.usda.gov/about/people/chelcy.f.miniat
Staff
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Person
Caroline Aikins
Ecologist -
Person
Kimberly Ballare, PhD
Research Ecologisthttps://research.fs.usda.gov/about/people/kimberly.ballare -
Person
Sarah C. Barga, PhD
Research Botanisthttps://research.fs.usda.gov/about/people/sarah.barga -
Person
David Board
Ecologist (Data Analyst)https://research.fs.usda.gov/about/people/david.i.board -
Person
Jack L. Butler, PhD
Scientist Emeritushttps://research.fs.usda.gov/about/people/jack.butler -
Person
Jeanne C. Chambers, PhD
Scientist Emeritushttps://research.fs.usda.gov/about/people/jeanne.chambers -
Person
Ronda L. Cooper
Support Services Specialist -
Person
Katelyn P. Driscoll
Research Ecologisthttps://research.fs.usda.gov/about/people/katelyn.driscoll -
Person
Megan M. Friggens, PhD
Research Ecologisthttps://research.fs.usda.gov/about/people/megan.friggens -
Person
Robert Gauss
Program Specialisthttps://research.fs.usda.gov/about/people/robert.gauss -
Person
Brice Hanberry, PhD
Research Ecologisthttps://research.fs.usda.gov/about/people/brice.hanberry -
Person
John Hansen
Support Services Specialist -
Person
David L. Hawksworth
Wildlife Biological Technicianhttps://research.fs.usda.gov/about/people/david.l.hawksworth -
Person
Robert W. Heckman, PhD
Research Botanisthttps://research.fs.usda.gov/about/people/robert.heckman -
Person
Jessica Irwin
Botanisthttps://research.fs.usda.gov/about/people/jessica.j.irwin -
Person
Francis F. Kilkenny, PhD
Research Biologisthttps://research.fs.usda.gov/about/people/francis.f.kilkenny -
Person
Stanley G. Kitchen, PhD
Scientist Emeritushttps://research.fs.usda.gov/about/people/stanley.kitchen -
Person
Alexander Krichels, PhD
Research Ecologisthttps://research.fs.usda.gov/about/people/alexander.krichels -
Person
Sarah Larson
Biological Science Technician (plant)https://research.fs.usda.gov/about/people/sarah.larson -
Person
Elizabeth R. Milano, PhD
Research Biological Scientisthttps://research.fs.usda.gov/about/people/elizabeth.milano -
Person
Jacqueline P. Ott, PhD
Research Ecologisthttps://research.fs.usda.gov/about/people/jacqueline.ott -
Person
Jeffrey E. Ott, PhD
Research Biologisthttps://research.fs.usda.gov/about/people/jeffrey.e.ott -
Person
Janet Pawley
Support Services Specialisthttps://research.fs.usda.gov/about/people/janet.pawley -
Person
Bryce A. Richardson, PhD
Plant Research Geneticisthttps://research.fs.usda.gov/about/people/bryce.richardson2 -
Person
Kimberly Rizkowsky
Biological Technicianhttps://research.fs.usda.gov/about/people/kimberly.stocks -
Person
Justin B. Runyon, PhD
Research Entomologisthttps://research.fs.usda.gov/about/people/justin.runyon -
Person
Nancy L. Shaw, PhD
Scientist Emeritushttps://research.fs.usda.gov/about/people/nancy.shaw -
Person
Sharlene E. Sing, PhD
Research Entomologisthttps://research.fs.usda.gov/about/people/sharlene.sing -
Person
D. Max Smith
Ecologist (Cooperator/Contractor)https://research.fs.usda.gov/about/people/david.smith3 -
Person
Alexandra K. Urza, PhD
Research Ecologisthttps://research.fs.usda.gov/about/people/alexandra.urza -
Person
Stephanie Yelenik, PhD
Rangeland Scientisthttps://research.fs.usda.gov/about/people/stephanie.yelenik