BLM Bridger Antelope Trap Dendrochronology Study Grant

A. Legislative Authority: Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (Public Law 94-579)

B. Project Background Information: A tree-ring study is needed at the Bridger Antelope Trap to determine when this early historic site was constructed and used. The site, located in southwest Wyoming, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The trap is composed of a juniper fence made of wood cut from adjacent trees, some of which are incorporated into the trap. The study will require field work this year to evaluate the site’s feasibility for tree-ring analysis and if determined appropriate, the study has the potential to be funded through 2012, to complete the project’s objectives.

C. Project Objective: The objective is to determine the dates when the trap was built and used through tree-ring analysis. This year’s budget will fund field work to visit the site to examine the wood in the trap and surrounding juniper trees, collect and analyze tree-ring samples as appropriate, and write a report that evaluates the feasibility of the site for further study. The report must provide justification for further tree-ring studies at the site in future years and include a proposal detailing how those studies will be implemented. BLM will then determine whether or not to fund the project for future years.

D. Benefits: The BLM will benefit by acquiring a range of dates during which the trap was built and used historically, improving opportunities for site management, protection, and interpretation, and providing better information for public outreach. Public education could also benefit through the involvement of university students in accomplishing the project. In addition to the main objective for determining when the trap was used, tree-ring data have the potential to contribute to our understanding of environmental history, fire history, and range condition through time.

E. Statement of Joint Objectives/Project Management Plan: The agreement will provide an opportunity for cooperative research at a BLM site that will also contribute tree-ring information to the recipient’s database. Joint objectives are to determine when the Bridger Antelope Trap was used through tree-ring analysis, provide information about hunting practices during the early historic period, and contribute to understanding environmental history of the area.

Under the Project Management Plan, the BLM agrees to:

1. Provide funding allocated in the FY 2008 budget to the recipient in accordance with the terms of the agreement and applicable OMB and Treasury Regulations.
2. Assist the recipient during this year’s field work by showing them the antelope trap fence and other relevant aspects of the site and surrounding area.
3. Review all draft and final reports resulting from the project in a timely manner.
4. Complete all administrative requirements necessary to implement the project.

The Recipient agrees to:

1. Accompany the BLM representative to the site to evaluate its feasibility for tree-ring study.
2. Collect and analyze tree-ring samples as appropriate to evaluate the site’s feasibility for further study.
3. Assure that all tree-ring samples are properly collected, analyzed, reported, and curated.
4. Document all activities associated with this year’s feasibility evaluation of the site in a report to the BLM that will provide justification for further tree-ring studies at the site in future years, if determined feasible, and include a proposal detailing how those studies will be implemented.

The BLM and the Recipient mutually agree to:
1. Coordinate on the progress of the study throughout all phases.
2. Prepare a professional report detailing this year’s feasibility evaluation.
3. Develop a proposal to complete future phases of the tree-ring study at the site, if determined feasible.
4. Coordinate in the development of any public presentations or professional papers describing the project.

Project Deliverables: Within 90 days after completion of field work, the recipient must submit a draft report documenting all activities associated with this year’s feasibility evaluation of the site to the BLM. The report will provide justification for further tree-ring studies at the site in future years, if determined feasible, and include a proposal detailing how those studies will be implemented. The BLM will review the draft report within 30 days of receipt and provide editorial comments to the recipient, who will revise the report in accordance with BLM’s comments and submit a final report to the BLM within 30 days after receiving BLM’s comments.