march 29, 2010 planning for priority species and vegetation: effects analysis a systematic framework...
TRANSCRIPT
March 29, 2010
Planning for Priority Species and Vegetation: Effects Analysis
A Systematic Framework to
Plan for Biological Resources
In the BLM’s Land Use Planning Process
On – Site Training
CORE CONCEPTS
• Develop monitoring framework
• Identify priority species and vegetation
• Assess health
• Identify management strategies
• Assess effects
LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION
Assess Effects
LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION
Effects Analysis under No Action Alternative
IDENTIFY ALTERED KEY ECOLOGICAL ATTRIBUTES:
IDENTIFY SOURCES OF ALTERED ATTRIBUTES:
Assess Effects to Priority Species and Vegetation
LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION
Altered key ecological attributes describe the ways that priority species or vegetation may be destroyed, degraded or impaired
Sources are the proximate cause of the altered key ecological attributes
- allowable uses and potential restrictions- management actions needed for protection/restoration
IDENTIFY ALTERED ATTRIBUTES:
- need for change; management opportunities- restoration needs to meet land health standards
IDENTIFY SOURCES OF ALTERED ATTRIBUTES:
Effects Analysis
LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION
Assess Effects to Priority Species and Vegetation
Key Ecological Attributes
Habitat Quality
Population Size
Connectivity of populations
LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION
Altered Key Ecological Attributes
Reduced Habitat Quality
Reduced Population Size
Altered Connectivity of populations
LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION
Severity of Impact• Destroy or eliminate• Seriously degrade• Moderately degrade• Slightly impair
Severity of Impact• Destroy or eliminate• Seriously degrade• Moderately degrade• Slightly impair
Scope of Damage• Very widespread —throughout priority species or vegetation• Widespread• Localized• Very localized
Scope of Damage• Very widespread —throughout priority species or vegetation• Widespread• Localized• Very localized
LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION
Level and geographic scope expected during the life of the plan under the no action alternative
RATINGS FOR ALTERATION OF KEY ECOLOGICAL ATTRIBUTES
Severity Scope Rank
High High HighHigh High HighHigh High High
Alterations to Key Ecological Attributes Landscape pattern (mosaic) & structure of X Condition of X population sage grouse habitat Population size & dynamics of X population sage
Ranking of Alterations to Key Ecological Attributes
LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION
Greater Sage-Grouse
Ranking Sources of Alteration of Key Ecological Attributes
Contribution -- reasonably expected within life of the plan under no action alternative
• Very large contributor• Large• Moderate• Small
Contribution -- reasonably expected within life of the plan under no action alternative
• Very large contributor• Large• Moderate• Small
Irreversibility -- reversibility of the stress caused by the source
• Not reversible, for all intents and purposes• Reversible, but not practically affordable • Reversible with reasonable commitment of resources• Easily reversible at relatively low cost
Irreversibility -- reversibility of the stress caused by the source
• Not reversible, for all intents and purposes• Reversible, but not practically affordable • Reversible with reasonable commitment of resources• Easily reversible at relatively low cost
LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION
Altered Key Ecological Attributes
Reduced Habitat Quality
Source = Oil and Gas Drilling
Reduced Population Size
Source = West Nile Virus
Altered Connectivity of populations
Source = Home Development
LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION
Ranking of Sources to Alterations to KEAs
LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION
Greater Sage-Grouse
Effects - Sources of Alterations
Altered Connectivity of
populations
Reduced habitat quality
Reduced population size
Effect to System Rank
Altered KEA Rank..
1 2 3
High High High
Effect Home development
High Contribution High High
Irreversibility High Very High
Effect Rank High - High
Effect Oil or gas drilling
Medium Contribution Medium Medium
Irreversibility High High
Effect Rank Medium Medium -
Effect West Nile Virus
High Contribution Medium
Irreversibility Very High
Effect Rank - - High
BLM CONSERVATION LEARNING NETWORK
Source
Alt
ered
KE
A Very High High Medium Low
Very High Very High Very High High Medium
High High High Medium Low
Medium Medium Medium Low Low
Low Low Low Low -
How ‘altered’ are the Key Ecological Attributes?
How ‘serious’ is the causal factor?
LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION
LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION
Continue this process for all Priority Species and Vegetation
This information is then rolled up to provide information across the landscape
Assess Effects
Assess Effects
Effects Across SystemsGreater Sage-
Grouse
Pinyon-Juniper Wood-lands
Overall Effect Rank
Project-specific Effects 1 2
1 Grazing practices High High High
2 Home development adjacent to public lands High Medium Medium
3 Invasive species (plants) Low High Medium
4 West Nile Virus High Medium
5 Oil and gas exploration and drilling Medium Low Low
6 Development of roads and utilities Medium Medium Low
7 Fuels treatments Medium Low
Effect Status for Species or Vegetation and Project High High Medium
Summary: No Action Alternative
LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION
‘NO ACTION’ ALTERNATIVE
EFFECTS ASSESSMENT
- Evaluate predicted effects for the life of the plan under the No Action alternative
Use this information to help formulate alternatives
LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION
This analysis will also be done for each alternative to compare the effects under different alternatives
LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION