MULTIPLE INDICATOR MONITORING (MIM) PROTOCOLS

Monitoring approach: Monitoring approach: multiple observations at multiple observations at spaced spaced quadratsquadrats along the greenlinealong the greenline

Spaced quadrats

Greenline

8. Greenline-to-8. Greenline-to-Greenline 9. substrate – Greenline 9. substrate – in the x section, and 10. in the x section, and 10. residual depthresidual depth

1.1. Stubble ht, 2. bank alteration, 3. Stubble ht, 2. bank alteration, 3. woody browse, 4. greenline veg, 5. woody browse, 4. greenline veg, 5. woody species height, 6. bank woody species height, 6. bank stability, and 7. woody regeneration stability, and 7. woody regeneration – on the greenline– on the greenline

Setting Up the DMA

For a representative or critical DMA to be useful, livestock must have access to the stream.

The DMA should be randomly located within the selected complex.

After the DMA is selected, a permanently marked reach is established.

Reach Length

The reach extends at least 110 meters (361 feet) along the stream. – Longer reaches may be needed on larger streams (over 5.5

meters or 18 feet of greenline-to-greenline, or bankfull width). For such streams, the reach should be approximately 20 times the greenline-to-greenline (GGW) width, or two meander wavelengths (approximately 20 times the bankfull width - Gordon et al. 2004), if the bankfull width indicators are present. » A stream reach with an average GGW or bankfull width of 8.3 meters

would be 8.3 X 20, or 166 meters in length.

Reach Markers

Permanently mark the lower and upper ends of the reach with reach markers.

Place the lower marker on the left-hand side (looking upstream) and the upper marker 110 meters upstream (further if a longer reach is used).

The marker should be located at least 2 meters away from the top of the bank.

Reach markers should be made of securely capped or bent over larger-diameter rebar or similar material.

REFERENCE MARKER

• Used as a reference point to help relocate the DMA. • Should be located well away from the Transect (at

least 100 feet if a post that attracts livestock is used).

• Use steel posts, a marked post in a fence line, a marked tree or unique rock, or other natural feature, or

• GPS location (UTM or latitude-longitude) for both the reference marker, and the reach markers.

• Sketch the monitoring setup

PLANT LIST

Develop a plant list and record species codes for the site. The Data Entry Module contains a complete list of plant species codes and a worksheet for recording plant codes applicable to the DMA. Also refer to the plants table in Appendix H for appropriate plant species codes.

GREENLINE SUMMARY SHEET (Use when more than one greenline measurement is taken within one complex)

Forest / District BTNF / D2 Date 8-7-2006

Drainage Clark Draw Photos No’s

Examiners Jenkins & Ames

Complex Hoback C&H

Transect Nos T1 & T2

Community Type T1 (Steps) T2 (Steps) T3 (Steps) Total

Steps Comp.

% Left Right Left Right Left Right SABO/CAUT 74 29 70 84 257 42.83

SABO 3 16 18 37 6.17 CANE 3 12 15 2.50 CAUT 27 49 39 28 143 23.83

SADR/CAUT 5 5 0.83 ARTRT/CAUT 2 2 0.33 POFR/CAUT 5 7 12 2.00 BEOC/MG 12 16 28 4.67

DECE 11 1 2 14 2.33 POFR/POPR 3 3 9 15 2.50

CAMI 3 3 0.50 SABO/CANE 10 10 1.67 SAWO/CAUT 20 12 32 5.33

POPR 3 5 6 14 2.33 POFR/DECE 5 5 0.83 ARCA/POPR 3 3 0.50 ARCA/CAUT 5 5 0.83

Grand Total

BARS WITHIN TRANSECT (optional) STEPS FEET GRAVEL SAND SILT/CLAY

600

Clark Draw near Bondurant, WY

Final Thoughts on Pre-work/ stratification and DMA Selection

Don’t rush into Monitoring w/MIM! Spend an appropriate amount of time and effort

on determining existing and potential conditions, stratification, objective setting, and DMA selection

Document your DMA selection rationale The “Ready, Fire, Aim” sequence does not work

Systematic Procedures

1. Photos (4 photos minimum)2. Locate Coordinates using GPS

coordinates, upper and lower markers and reference markers

3. Select only those monitoring indicators that are needed to answer monitoring questions (you do not have to collect all 10 metrics at each DMA!)

Systematic Procedures

4. Monitoring Frame 2 side-by-side Daubenmire

quadrats Subdivided into 4 equal

parts (5 Lines) Handle used to measure

stubble height

20 cm

20 cm

50 cm

1 2 3 4 5

12.5 cm

1 inch or 2 cm

Systematic Procedure5. Sample Interval

a. Typical DMA is 110 meters (361 feet)

b. Usually at least 80 samples (40 each side)

c. Interval 2.75 meters (9 feet)d. Shorter interval 2 meters provide

55 samples each side6.Measuring the Sample Interval

a. A typical measuring rod in 2 meters and may be used to measure the interval

b. Interval may be stepped. Determine the length of your step, must be consistent.

Average Step

length

To obtain at least 40 Plots per 110 meter (361 feet)Transect

Steps betwe

en plots

Spacing between plots

Feet Meters

15 inch 7 9 2.75

18 inch 6 9 2.75

21 inch 5 9 2.75

24 inch 4.5 9 2.75

27 inch 4 9 2.75

30 inch 3.5 9 2.75

Systematic Procedure

7. First Samplea. Determine a random number between 1

and 10b. Step that number of steps up stream and

place frame on left hand side (up stream)c. Center bar on greenline

Stream Flow

Systematic Procedure

8. Monitoring the DMAa. Sample entire length of DMA, Both sides

b. When the end is reached, measure the distance

from last plot to marker, cross to the other side

measure the remaining part of the plot interval,

measure the remaining distance, place the

frame and continue downstream to the lower

marker

Systematic Procedure

9. Sample Sizea. After completing 80 + samples with an inadequate

number of samplesb. Determine from the sample size predictor the number

neededc. Divide the DMA length by the number of samples

needed, begin measuring the determined interval from lower marker

d. Place the frame and obtain datae. Measure the interval to the next sample location place

the frame on the opposite bankf. Alternate from side-to-side for the length of the DMA

Field form Header

Step length(m): 0.68 2.72 (plot interval)

DESIGNATED MONITORING AREAS: Downstream Marker Upstream Marker Reference Marker

DMA ID PASTURE NAME STREAM DATE Latitude Longitude Latitude Longitude Latitude Longitude

DMA NAME and/ or Description: UTM Northing UTM Easting UTM Northing UTM Easting UTM zone: Datum

* Are hydric woody plants supposed to be present at this site (y/ n)? Plant Region: Plant Region Codes

* Are there any hydric woody plants present (y/ n)? SW = southwest,

* Are all age classes of hydric woody plants present (y/ n)? INT = Intermountain,

Stream Substrate NW = northwest,

Unitis used to record Stubble Height ( I - Inches, C = Centimeters): Gradient* Class* Predicted from "Substr" C = California,

6th Field HUC: #DIV/0! NP = North Plains, * - Required for calculating Ecological Status (see "Codes" worksheet (column i for instructions) CP = Central Plains

Slope should range from .5 to 4Substrate class: bd(boulder), cb(cobble), gr(gravel), cons(consolidated sand/ silt/ clay), nonc(nonconsolidated sand/ silt/ clay)

1. Greenline Vegetation Composition1. Develop a species list

– Plant codes, species, groupings, etc.

2. Record herbaceous vascular plants (perennial)– Amount of foliar cover– Exclude bare ground, litter, duff

3. Record woody species understory– Cover of seedlings not considered overstory

4. Record woody species overstory– Use height class table to record height

– Rooted in or overhanging plot

5. Record embedded rock and anchored wood– Rock > 15cm or anchored wood is recorded

6. Record grouped plants– Group plants with less than 10 percent foliar cover

(mesic forbs early MFE, mesic graminoids MG)

1. Greenline Vegetation Composition

Woody Species Overstory

Woody Species Overstory– Record all woody plant species rooted in or overhanging

the quadrat.– If any part of the plant occurs over the quadrat it is

counted.– Foliar cover is not used

» 2 species = 50% per species» 3 species = 33% per species

Total plant composition (understory + overstory) less than or = 200%

2. Wood Species Height Determine the tallest part of each woody

species that has cover OVER the quadrat.

Height Class Plant Height

1 0 – 0.5 m

2 0.51 – 1.0 m

3 1.01 – 2.0 m

4 2.01 – 4.0 m

5 4.01 – 8.0 m

6 > 8 m

3. Streambank Alteration

What is MIM Streambank Alteration?o The number of lines on the plot that intercept

hoof prints, hoof shears – disturbances caused by trampling.

o 5 lines per frame – one sampleo At least 80 samples per site – total of 400+ lineso % Streambank Alteration = the proportion of the

400+ lines that intercept hoof prints/shears

MIM Bank Alteration

80+ plots -400 Samples

Bank Shear and Tramples

Proper Use of Bank Alteration

As a short-term indicator of disturbance effects on bank stability and vegetation

Any value assigned as a trigger to move livestock or as a measure of grazing use is a “guideline” which must be able to change through time (See Cowley 2002)

Thus a “Term and Condition” should incorporate an adaptive process.

Bank Alteration and Bank StabilityHartrig g er C reek

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Yea r

Per

cen

t

B ank A lteration

B ank S tability

As bank alteration goes down, then bank stability goes up.

Amount of Alteration that streambanks can repair annually depends upon:

Stream gradient Streambed material composition, Streambank soil composition, Vegetation cover and type Channel geometry, Flow rate and timing, and “. . . concentrated impacts under rotation systems can cause

sufficient woody plant or streambank damage in a single season or year that recovery might take several years. Therefore, the best approach is to limit grazing stress to the site’s capability for annual recovery.” (Clary and Kruse 2004)

McHaley Creek

Bank alteration: 28%Stubble height: 4.2”

Bank Stability 100%

Dominant greenline vegetation: CANE

Nick Stiner, Malheur NF

EF Deer CreekDominant VegetationPOPR– 65%MFE – 22%JUBA – 12%SCMI – 3%% Hydric – 19%

October 2009Bank alteration:1%Bank stability: 70%

Nick Stiner, Malheur NF – Fall 2009

June 2009

Sept. 2008Bank alteration: 24%Bank stability: 51%

June 2009Bank alteration: 4%Bank stability: 67%

LOWER LONG TOM CREEKBank Alteration = 77%Bank Stability = 2%% Hydric Herbaceous = 10%

A Rational Approach to Bank Alteration Criteria and Standards

1. Existing Condition: Compare existing condition to a reference (best method)

– Bank Stability (%): – Bank Cover (%): – Hydric herbaceous vegetation (%)

a) (closer these are to reference the higher the allowable level of bank alteration)

Channel Type: > gradient = higher allowable level > particle sizes = higher allowable level

The Confidence Interval

Any criteria requires consideration of the precision of the measurement. CI for Streambank Alteration

32 tests

○ Maximum – 11%

○ Minimum - .5%

○ Average – 6% Using the CI:

Set trigger at allowable level minus 6%Set standard at allowable level plus 6%e.g. If allowable level is 20%, trigger might be set at 14%, and term

and condition set at 26%.

4. Streambank Stability Stream scour line up to the edge of the

floodplain.– What kind of bank is it?

» Erosional or Depositional

– Is the bank covered?» Covered or Uncovered

– Is it stable?Fracture Slump

Slough Eroding

Absent

Block detached

from streambank

Fracture

5. Stubble Height

Determine “key” species ahead of time. Measure key species nearest the quadrat

handle. Using handle, record average leaf length to

nearest inch (centimeter). If key species does not occur, then leave

cell blank.

6. Woody Species Age Class

0.42 meter(1 frame width)

GREENLINE

6. Woody Species

1. Determine frame placement

2. Distinguish individual plants

3. Determine age class

4. Record woody root sprouting and rhizomatous species

5. Record low growing shrubs

7. Greenline-Greenline Width

8. Substrate Composition Beginning with the 2nd plot, collected

every other GGW transect (20 times) Measure median diameter of 10 particles

at each transect (200 particles total) May use gravelometer or ruler

9. Woody Species Browse 2 meters (1 meter either

side of greenline) x length between sample points (2.75 meters)

– Evaluate first available woody plant (A). Repeated for each key woody species (B and C).

– May want to use a 2 meter “stick” to be centered on greenline.

10. Residual Stream Depth Begin at downstream

marker and move upstream

Record depth at riffle crest

Record depth at pool bottom

Record tape distance