MANAGING CHEATGRASS TO PROTECT
THE GUNNISON SAGEBRUSH ​ECOSYSTEM
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CALL TO ACTION

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Cheatgrass invasion in the Gunnison Valley poses an immediate and growing concern. Its aggressive and rampant expansion throughout Western Colorado threatens the sagebrush ecosystem. From altered fire regimes to habitat loss and decreased resiliency, cheatgrass intrusion poses an immediate threat. Many sagebrush landscapes of the West have converted to cheatgrass monocultures, but the relatively early phase of invasion in the Gunnison Basin means there is still time to address this threat swiftly and decisively. Do your part and help us protect our public lands for the present and the future.

About gb-sea 

Compelled by the serious threat of cheatgrass, community members, university scientists and natural resource agency employees have come together to form an active coalition. GB-SEA's goal is to educate practitioners and the public on necessary and imperative actions the community can take in combating cheatgrass including sharing Integrated Pest Management (IPM) best practices, facilitating seminars and workshops, and coordinating restoration efforts. Comprised of individuals from diverse backgrounds, this group aims to delineate the most effective practices to prevent cheatgrass expansion in the Gunnison Basin.
Basin on the Brink
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Watch the Basin on the Brink video created by Sam Liebl. Featuring local experts from Western Colorado University,  federal public land managers, and passionate residents. This video provides a in depth exploration of cheat grass and how it affects the Gunnison valley. The future of the Gunnison Sage Grouse relies on our understanding of sage and how cheat grass harms these habitats.

Why the Gunnison Valley

Gunnison County, Colorado is roughly 80% public land. The majority of the local economy is dependent of public lands. The sagebrush ecosystem dominates much of this landscape.  Across the Western slope of Colorado the invasive grass from Eurasia, cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), has invaded public and private lands and converted diverse ecosystems to homogeneous stands of this non-native grass.  The invasion of the Gunnison Basin is in the early stages and the time for action is now. Removal of growing stands of cheatgrass and maintaining and restoring a healthy understory will ensure protection and resilience of the sagebrush ecosystem.