Natural Resource Assessment and Analysis

John E. Mitchell, Ph.D.

Rangeland Scientist

jemitchell@fs.fed.us
(970) 295-5957 -- Fax: (970) 295-5959

Dr. John Mitchell, Rangeland Scientist with the Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fort Collins, CO, conducts research on the extent and effects of urban development and subdivisions on plant communities and rangelands in the Rocky Mountains. He is also a co-convener of the Sustainable Rangelands Roundtable, a program involving federal agencies, universities and non-governmental organizations working to develop consistent, acceptable measures of rangeland's long-term contributions to society. He is a recognized leader in assessing the status of U.S. rangelands nationally. The award notes his service in providing information and direction that foster sustainability of rangeland resources throughout the western United States.

In addition to his duties as a researcher, Mitchell flew helicopters for the Wyoming Army National Guard. Until his recent retirement at 62, he was the oldest helicopter pilot flying in the Army.

Research Interests

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Honors and Awards

• Rangeland Research Scientist John Mitchell, Fort
  Collins, CO, was honored by the Society for
  Range Management with its Sustained Lifetime
  Achievement Award for providing information and
  direction that foster sustainability of rangeland
  resources throughout the western U.S.

Selected Publications

Integration and Interpretation of Indicators of Sustainable Forest and Rangeland Management Publications

Mitchell, John E.. 2002. In: Proceedings: SRR Symposium Proceedings and Presentations for the Society for Range Management Conference: Sustainability Research for Rangelands. 21-27

Bartlett, E. T.; Mitchell, John E.. 2002. In: Proceedings: SRR Symposium Proceedings and Presentations for the Society for Range Management Conference:Future Plans and Milestones for the Sustainable Rangelands Roundtable. 67-68

van Tassell, Larry W.; Bartlett, E. Tom; Mitchell, John E.  2001.  Projected Use of Grazed Forages in the United States: 2000 to 2050: A Technical Document Supporting the 2000 USDA Forest Service RPA Assessment  Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-82. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 73 p. .

Mitchell, John E.  2000.  Rangeland Resource Trends in the United States: A Technical Document Supporting the 2000 USDA Forest Service RPA Assessment  Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-68. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 84 p..

Mitchell, J. E.; Joyce, L. A. 2000. Applicability of Montreal process biological and abiotic indicators to rangeland sustainability: Introduction. International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology. 7(2): 77-80

Joyce, L. A.; Mitchell, J. E.; Loftin, S. R. 2000. Applicability of Montreal Process criterion 3 - maintenance of ecosystem health - to rangelands. International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology. 7: 107-127.

Quantitative Ecological Research Publications

Mitchell, John E.; Roberts, Thomas C., Jr. 1999. Distribution of Pinyon-juniper in the Western United States. In: Proceedings: Ecology and management of Pinyon-Juniper communities within the Interior West; 1997 September 15-18; Provo, UT. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station; RMRS-P-9: 145-154.

Mitchell, J. E.; Joyce, Linda A.; Bryant, L. D. 1999. Applicability of Montreal process criteria and indicators to rangelands. In: People and rangelands building the future: Proceedings of the VI international rangeland congress; 1999 July 1923; Townsville, Queensland. Australia. Townsville, Queensland, Australia: 6th International Rangeland Congress; Volume 1: 183-185.

Mitchell, John E.; Wallace, George. 1998. Managing grazing and recreation across boundaries in the Big Cimarron watershed. In: Knight, Richard L.; Landres, Peter B., eds., Stewardship across boundaries. Washington, DC: Island Press: 217-236. Chapter 10.

Joyce, Linda A.; Mitchell, John. 1998. Criteria and indicators in ecosystem health. The Range Rider. 49(3): 3 p.

Mitchell, John E.; Popovich, S.J. 1997. Effectiveness of basal area for estimating canopy cover of Ponderosa pine. Forest Ecology and Management. 95(1997): 45-51.

Knight, Richard L.; Mitchell, John E.,1997. Essay 9B: Subdividing the west. In: Meffe, G.K.; Carroll, C.R., comp., ed. Principles of Conservation Biology. Sunderland, MA: Sinauer Associates: 272-274.

Mitchell, John E.; Wallace, George N.; Wells, Marcella D. 1996. Visitor perceptions about cattle grazing on national forest land. Journal of Range Management. 49 (1): 81-86.

Wallace, G.N.; Mitchell, J.E.; Wells, M.D. 1996. Visitor perceptions about grazing on a Forest Service cattle allotment. Res. Pap. RM-321. Fort Collins, CO/USA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 12.

Mitchell, John E.; Shields, Deborah J. 1995. A hierarchical model of ecosystem management. In: Thompson, Joyce E., comp. Analysis in support of ecosystem management; 1995 April 1013; Fort Collins, CO. Analysis Workshop III. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Ecosystem Management Analysis Center: 322-346.

Brady, Ward W.; Mitchell, John E.; Bonham, Charles D.; Cook, John W. 1995. Assessing the power of the point-line transect to monitor changes in plant basal cover. Journal of Range Management. 48 (2): 187-190.

Mitchell, John E.; Brady, Ward W.; Bonham, Charles D. 1994. Robustness of the point-line method for monitoring basal cover. Res. Note RM-528. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 6 p.

Wells, Marcella; Mitchell, John E.; Wallace, George N. 1994. Cows, conflict, and communication: a case study in Southern Colorado. In: Rogers, Elaine, ed. Exchanging capital ideas: Proceedings of the National Interpreters Workshop.; 1993 May 25-29; Bellvue (Pingree Park), CO. Madison, WI: Omnipress, Inc.: 343-346.

Renewable Resource Management Science Research Publications

Mitchell, J. E.; Louda, S. M.; Gillam, B. 1999. Background and synopsis: Symposium on the great plains grasslands at the millennium. Great Plains Research. 9(2): 211-222.

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Professional Affiliations

• Society for Range Management

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