Cheatgrass?Medusahead?
Sandberg bluegrass?
The Exotic Annual Grass (EAG) dataset, released by EROS, maps invasive species, such as cheatgrass and medusahead—and one native perennial bunchgrass, Sandberg bluegrass—across the western United States.
Why is it important to know where exotic annual grasses grow and have expanded? They increase the intensity of fires, decrease rangeland productivity, and outcompete native plants. Land managers and agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service use the EAG dataset to improve land health, assess the effectiveness of herbicide treatments, and stage firefighting supplies ahead of wildfire season. The latest EAG dataset includes annual estimates from 2016 to 2023. Learn more here: https://ow.ly/WS6j50V5JnZ