THE PURPOSE OF THIS AWARD IS THE PROMOTION OF HEALTHY ECOSYSTEMS THROUGH THE MANAGEMENT OF INVASIVE PLANTS PRIMARILY INVASIVE ANNUAL GRASSES ON PUBLIC LANDS IN SOUTHWEST MONTANA. OUR FOCUS IS IN HIGH PRIORITY CORE SAGEBRUSH ECOSYSTEMS IN FOUR WATERSHEDS: MEDICINE LODGE CREEKS BIG SHEEP CREEK. SAGE CREEK AND BLACKTAIL DEER CREEK. WE AIM TO DEEPEN OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE ONGOING INVASIVE ANNUAL GRASS PROBLEM THROUGH INCREASED INVENTORY AND CHEMICAL TREATMENT IN THESE FOUR WATERSHEDS. THIS PROJECT WILL HELP US CONNECT EXISTING INVENTORY WORK TO CREATE A LARGER AND MORE COHESIVE PICTURE OF THE INVASIVE ANNUAL GRASS PROBLEM WHILE ALSO DEFINING THE REAL CORE OF THE CORE AREAS.THROUGH THESE EFFORTS, WE EXPECT TO PRIORITIZE BLM S MISSION TO SUSTAIN THE HEALTH, DIVERSITY, AND PRODUCTIVITY OF PUBLIC LANDS FOR THE USE AND ENJOYMENT OF PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS WITH THE CONTINUED MANAGEMENT OF INVASIVE ANNUAL GRASSES IN CORE SAGEBRUSH RANGELANDS. LOCAL COMMUNITIES THAT RELY ON SAGEBRUSH RANGELANDS FOR LIVESTOCK GRAZING, RECREATIONAL USE SUCH AS HUNTING AND THE WILDLIFE POPULATIONS OF MULE DEER, ELK, PRONGHORN AND SAGE GROUSE SERVE AS THE DIRECT BENEFICIARIES. OUR OVERALL GOAL IS TO SUPPORT BLM MANAGED LANDS IN THE EVER-GROWING FIGHT AGAINST INVASIVE ANNUAL GRASSES WHILE UTILIZING THE DEFEND THE CORE, GROW THE CORE FRAMEWORK TO ENCOURAGE GREATER RESILIENCE IN CORE SAGEBRUSH RANGELANDS.