1

What this Broadcast Will Cover

• Day One• Indicators and Attributes•Changes from Version 3 to Version 4•Ecological Sites, State and Transition

Models, and Reference Sheet Introduction

•Break•Reference Sheet Development•Reference Sheet Exercise (homework)

2

What this Broadcast Will Cover

• Day Two•Reviewing your Reference Sheets•Evaluation Matrix•Break•Quantitative Data•Applications•What’s Next?•Closing Thoughts

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Version 3

1999 Peer Review

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Developing Version 4

Montana

Arizona

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Changes from Version 3.0 to 4.0 – page iii

1) Added the Reference Sheet

2) Evaluation matrices are ecologically site-specific

3) Litter movement indicator moved from Hydrologic Function to Soil and Site Stability Attribute

4) Added Quantitative and Qualitative linkages

5) Revised worksheets to improve usability

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Reference Sheet

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Ecological Site-specific Evaluation Matrices

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Litter Movement Indicator

Moved from the Hydrologic Function to Soil and Site Stability Attribute

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Added Quantitative and Qualitative Linkages

Indicator Quantitative Indicator Measurement (References) Interpretation

Bare Ground

% Bare Ground Line Point Intercept (Monitoring Manual and Measuring & Monitoring Plant Populations)

Bare ground is positively correlated with runoff and erosion

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Improved Worksheet Usability

• Eliminated ‘Species Dominance’ and ‘Cover’ Worksheet’s

• Added noxious weeds and invasive plants to Functional and Structural Groups Sheet

• Evaluation Sheet •Emphasizes written justifications•The “Extreme Departure” rating was

changed to “Extreme to Total Departure”

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Terminology

• Inventory

• Monitoring

• Assessment

What's the

difference?

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Inventory The systematic acquisition and analysis of

resource information needed for planning and management. This information is generally not collected as frequently as monitoring data.

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Monitoring

The orderly and quantitative collection, analysis and interpretation of resource data to evaluate progress toward meeting management objectives.

Percent of Cover

Attribute 1980

1990

2000

Bare Ground 12 20 26

Live Plants (canopy)

47 34 27

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Assessment The process of estimating or judging the

value or functional status of ecological processes (e.g., rangeland health). It is generally a “moment-in-time” evaluation that is not repeated in the future (not a monitoring tool).

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Interpretations

Applications

Indicators

Attributes

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Applying the Five Steps – pg 17

1. Verify soils2. Obtain or develop Reference Sheet3. Collect supplementary information4. Rate the 17 indicators5. Evaluate the 3 rangeland health

attributes

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STEP 1

Verify soils to identify

the Ecological Site at the evaluation

area

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Step 1 – Verify Soils to Identify Ecological Site at

Evaluation Area• Consider slope, aspect, elevation, &

topographic position

• Verify soil with a shallow soil pit:• Surface Texture• Depth to restrictions• Diagnostic horizons

• Identify ecological site

• Document soil-ecological site information on Evaluation Sheet- Appendix 1 (page 66)

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STEP 2

Obtain or develop

Reference Sheet

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Reference Sheet

Reference Sheet is the Standard

Reference Area(s)

Ecological Site Description

Studies

Research

Knowledge

Soil Information

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STEP 2

Modify Evaluation

Matrix

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STEP 3

Collect Supplementa

ry Information

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Step 3.Collect Supplementary

Information• Spatial and temporal variability

• Ecological reference areas

• Functional and structural groups sheet

• Quantitative Data

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STEP 4

Rate the 17 indicators

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STEP 5

Evaluate the 3 Rangeland

Health Attributes

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Soil Surface Loss or Degradation

Soil /SiteStability

HydrologicFunction

BioticIntegrity

THREE RANGELAND HEALTH ATTRIBUTES ASSESSED BY 17 INDICATORS

RillsRills

Water-FlowWater-Flow PatternsPatterns

Pedestals and/or TerracettesPedestals and/or Terracettes

Bare GroundBare Ground

GulliesGullies

Wind-Scoured, Wind-Scoured, Blowouts &/or Blowouts &/or

Deposition AreasDeposition Areas Litter MovementLitter Movement

Soil Surface Resistance to Erosion

Plant Community Plant Community Composition Relative to Composition Relative to

Infiltration/RunoffInfiltration/Runoff

Compaction Layer

Functional/Structural Functional/Structural GroupsGroups

Plant Mortality/Decadence

Litter AmountLitter Amount

Annual Production

Invasive Plants

Reproductive Capability