Little current data exist concerning the status and ecology of Owens Valley vole (OVV; Microtus californicus vallicola), despite its California Department of Fish and Game listing as a Species of Special Concern. No formal studies have been undertaken to understand the ecology of OVV or other small mammal species occurring in mesic-vegetative communities in Owens Valley, California. I investigated the relative abundance of small mammal species in mesic-plant associations of Owens Valley, OVV distribution, and OVV use of vegetative types as habitat. Low OVV capture rates decreased the efficiency of systematic trapping surveys. Live trapping and sign surveys yielded contradictory results. The distribution of OVV was associated with irrigation and microhabitat features such as waterways, fence lines, and brush patches. The distribution and use of vegetation types by OVV was similar to that of the California vole (M. californicus).

Work presented in this dissertation was performed in the salt-desert environment of the Owens Valley of California. The area experiences low-rainfall, hot summers, but has a high water table, seldom more than 5 meters from the surface. To test differences in plant species wateruse, a steady-state porometer was used for transpiration measurements while a 2-meter point-frame was used to estimate leaf area index on each species studied. The five species studied (Atriplex torreyi, Chrysothamnus nauseosus, Distichlis stricta, Sporobolus airoides, and Sarcobatus vermiculatus) varied with regard to photosynthetic pathways and leaf morphology. Water-use differences among species are hypothesized to be related to the differing physiological and morphological characteristics observed in the different species studied. This work focuses upon methods for integrating porometric transpiration rates and point-frame measured leaf area to estimate daily plant water-use. Daily water-use values are correlated with environmental growth conditions. A computer program was developed for scenario testing so that conclusions could be drawn concerning how given plants respond to different conditions of soil moisture and atmospheric evaporative demand. The computer-aided calculations led to conclusions that low water-use behavior characterizes A. torreyi, and high water-use behavior characterizes C. nauseosus. C4 photosynthesis and low leaf conductance may contribute to the success of A. torreyi on fine-textured soils when water transfer rates to roots are limiting to transpiration. Fine-textured soils may inhibit production in C. nauseosus because the species requires higher rates of transpiration to achieve optimal growth than soil hydraulic conductivity allows. These conclusions have implications for land managers who should recognize that climax plant communities in saltdesert regions are better at conserving water and stabilizing soil than is colonizing vegetation. Management should seek to maintain climax vegetation cover because restoration is difficult once vegetation disturbance occurs.

Thesis (Ph. D)--University of Washington, 1994. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [191]-203).

This report integrates and summarizes findings from the 1987 and 1988 Native American cultural resource studies related to the Yucca Mountain high level radioactive waste isolation facility. The purposes of the report are to describe the traditional cultural values associated with the Cultural Studies Area, describe the methods used in the research, and provide a theoretical discussion of the role of cultural resources in American Indian groups' past and contemporary society (DOE 1988:3 -9). Findings from these Native American cultural resource studies are presented in what are termed "interim reports." Each of these were submitted for concurrent review by the sixteen involved American Indian tribes, Science Applications International Corporation, and the Department of Energy. This report is based on five reports, including three interim reports.

This report presents Native American interpretations of and concerns for plant resources on or near Yucca Mountain, Nevada. This is one of three research reports regarding Native American cultural resources that may be affected by site characterization activities related to the Yucca Mountain high -level radioactive waste disposal facility. Representatives of the sixteen involved American Indian tribes identified and interpreted plant resources as part of a consultation relationship between themselves and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). This report integrates data from the ethnobotanical fieldwork and visits conducted over a three -week period. The bulk of this report divides plants into their logical components: plant parts used; places where used; purposes of uses; and persons who used, do use, and will use the plants. The remainder of this Introduction is devoted to conveying an American Indian holistic perspective on plants as a part of the world.

This report presents a review of the literature concerning Native American occupancy and use of the Yucca Mountain area and vicinity. It draws on a wide range of material, including early traveler reports, government documents, ethnographic and historical works, and local newspapers. The report complements two other concurrent studies, one focused on the cultural resources of Native American people in the study area and the other an ethnobotanical study of plant resources used by Native American people in the study area. Both concurrent studies are based on interviews with Native American people. The literature review was designed to contribute to the understanding of the presence of Native American people in the Yucca Mountain area. A review of the existing literature about the Yucca Mountain area and southern Nye County, supplemented by the broader literature about the Great Basin, has verified three aspects of the study design. First, the review has aided in assessing the completeness of the list of Native American ethnic groups that have traditional or historical ties to the site. Second, it has aided in the production of a chronology of Native American activities that occurred on or near the site during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Third, it has helped to identify the location of cultural resources, including burials and other archaeological sites, in the study area and vicinity.

The Yucca Mountain region was used by Owens Valley Paiute, Western Shoshone, and Southern Paiute people for thousands of years. The area contains numerous plants, animals, and sacred resources traditionally used by these people. This report presents the location and interpretation of Native American cultural resources on or near Yucca Mountain, Nevada. This work built upon the archaeological reconnaissance and identifications of cultural resources by the Desert Research Institute. Interpretations provided by Native American Indian people are not intended to refute other scientific studies, such as botanical, wildlife, and archaeological studies. Rather, they provide additional hypotheses for future studies, and they provide a more complete cultural understanding of the Yucca Mountain area. Representatives of sixteen American Indian tribes identified the cultural value of these resources as part of a consultation relationship with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). This interim report is to be used to review research procedures and findings regarding (1) initial consultation with the sixteen tribes, (2) in -depth interviews with tribal elders, and (3) findings from the first on -site visit with representatives of the sixteen tribes.

This is a report of findings from an American Indian Rapid Cultural Assessment that was conducted in 1997. The focus of the study is a location on the Nevada Test Site (NTS) where the Kistler Aerospace Corporation proposes to build a launch site for a communications satellite. As such, this is a rapid cultural assessment of Water Bottle Canyon on which construction is expected in the near future. The purpose of this study is to summarize American Indian cultural resources, as these exist on and near to site 26NY10133 and to consider potential mitigation strategies. This report is a summary of the cultural assessments made by members of the American Indian Writers Subgroup (AIWS) which is representing in this study the cultural resource interests of the 17 tribes and 3 Indian organizations that constitute the CGTO.

A government-to-government consultation between the Department of Energy, Nevada Operations Office (DOE/NV) and the Consolidated Group of Tribes and Organizations (CGTO) focused on the interpretation and determination of eligibility for nomination to the National Register of Water Bottle Canyon. The consultation entailed a systematic ethnographic study of the cultural resources found in the Water Bottle Canyon area. The main goal of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of the cultural significance of this unique area for contemporary Indian people and its role in Numic cultural landscapes. During the field visits Native American consultants were interviewed with standardized survey instruments and they provided ethnographers with observations, comments, and recommendations regarding the various features found at Water Bottle Canyon. The project involved 10 tribes and one organization. They represent the Indian people who have aboriginal and historic ties to the lands currently under use by the Nevada Test Site (NTS). The study was originally funded as rapid cultural assessment for an environmental assessment for the proposed construction of a rocket launch facility by the Kistler Aerospace Corporation. This present report builds upon first study and the studies that have followed. The four studies expanded upon previous work conducted on the NTS and will contribute to the DOE/NV’s further understanding of and continued efforts to manage and protect American Indian cultural resources.

This government-to-government consultation between the Department of Energy, Nevada Operations Office (DOE /NV) and the Consolidated Group of Tribes and Organizations (CGTO) focused on the interpretation of 10 rock art sites; seven on the Nevada Test Site (NTS), and three on the Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Office (YMSCO). The consultation entailed a systematic ethnographic study of petroglyphs, pictographs, and other rock art manipulations. The objective of the project was to gain an understanding of the cultural significance of rock art for contemporary American Indians and its place in their traditional cultural landscapes. Research activities involved visits to rock art sites by tribal elders and tribal cultural experts. During the field visits, Indian consultants responded to standardized interviews and provided observations, comments, and recommendations regarding each of the sites under study. The project involved 14 American Indian tribes and two Indian organizations that represent Indian people having aboriginal and historic ties to lands currently occupied by the NTS. The study was initiated as part of the overall DOE /NV American Indian Program, which includes a decade of project - specific and general consultation efforts. This study built upon previous efforts and contributed to DOE /NV's understanding of American Indian cultural resources on the NTS.