[RWG] Map/data of roadside native grass percentages in West

[Craig Dremann]

Dear All,

>From the 1997 Western Roadside Megatransect, 
here are the overall percentages:

State/area--------% of Road miles with Native Grasses
Yellowstone NP--------89%
California*-----------45
Colorado--------------44
South Dakota----------43
Wyoming---------------40
Nevada----------------34
Utah------------------32
Idaho------------------6
==============================
Average in West-------36%

*California = Sacramento through Sierran 
National Forests to Nevada border via I-80
=============================================

There's a map in color at 
http://www.ecoseeds.com/megatransectmap.JPG

Yellowstone takes the prize for best roadside native grasses and
refugia---and on the other end of the scale, the southern agricultural
areas of Idaho had the lowest remaining native grass/plant cover along
their roadsides, and overall lack of native habitat.

Perhaps there's a direct relationship, between roadside native grass
percentage cover, and native habitat and ecosystem quality in an area?

Would it be interesting to color in all the States eventually?  

Sincerely,  Craig Dremann (650) 325-7333