pre-work & selecting the designated monitoring area (dma)

PRE-WORK & SELECTING THE PRE-WORK & SELECTING THE DESIGNATED MONITORING DESIGNATED MONITORING

AREAAREA (DMA) (DMA)

Stratify to Riparian Complex Stratify to Riparian Complex By an ID TeamBy an ID Team Delineate the ComplexDelineate the Complex Document the RationaleDocument the Rationale

– Purpose and objectivesPurpose and objectives– Type of Complex (representative, reference, critical)Type of Complex (representative, reference, critical)– DescriptionDescription

Select the most sensitive complexSelect the most sensitive complex

Once the most sensitive complexes are located, the location of Once the most sensitive complexes are located, the location of the DMA is randomly selected as described in this chapter. This the DMA is randomly selected as described in this chapter. This results in a stratified random sampling design to determine the results in a stratified random sampling design to determine the location of DMAs. location of DMAs.

Stratify ComplexesStratify Complexes

Complex A

Complex B

Complex C

Complex B

Complex C

Complex B Complex C

Nongrazed highway unit

Grazed unit

Figure 1. Reach stratification on Telephone Draw near Montpelier, Idaho. Note repeating complexes within the grazed unit (pasture). Complex “A” is likely the same riparian/stream type as “B” but because it is located outside of the grazed unit, it is a different land use and is thus given a different name or identifier.

Stream Profile - Horse Basin Creek

6400

6500

6600

6700

6800

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000

Distance (Ft)

Ele

vati

onInflection on profile reflects valley change

Broad V-shape or narrow u-shape in colluvial valleys Broad V-shape or narrow u-shape in colluvial valleys

Narrow V-shaped valleyNarrow V-shaped valley

Same Pasture: Same Pasture: two valley types & two valley types & two different two different complexescomplexes

Imagery – Identify Vegetative PatternsImagery – Identify Vegetative Patterns

Complex 1

Morgan Creek

Blu

e Cre

ek

Complex 2

Complex 3

Designated Monitoring Area - DMADesignated Monitoring Area - DMA

3 Kinds of DMAs:3 Kinds of DMAs:1.1. Representative DMA:Representative DMA: Reach chosen to Reach chosen to

be representative of a riparian complex be representative of a riparian complex – typifies a larger area– typifies a larger area

2.2. Critical DMA:Critical DMA: Reach is Reach is not not representative but important enough representative but important enough that specific data is needed at the sitethat specific data is needed at the site

3.3. Reference DMA:Reference DMA: Reach chosen to Reach chosen to obtain data for use in helping to obtain data for use in helping to establish initial desired conditions for a establish initial desired conditions for a similar area/complex similar area/complex

Selecting Designated Selecting Designated Monitoring Areas (DMAs)Monitoring Areas (DMAs)

When the monitoring objective is to assess When the monitoring objective is to assess management effects over time, both a management effects over time, both a representative DMA and reference DMA representative DMA and reference DMA might be used. might be used.

If the monitoring objective is to assess If the monitoring objective is to assess management effects on a value, such as management effects on a value, such as cutthroat trout habitat, a critical DMA cutthroat trout habitat, a critical DMA might be established in a complex where might be established in a complex where spawning or some other critical life history spawning or some other critical life history requirement is concentratedrequirement is concentrated

Locate the DMA in the OfficeLocate the DMA in the Office

Select a Random Starting Point:Select a Random Starting Point: Randomly locate the starting point Randomly locate the starting point (lower end) of the DMA within the (lower end) of the DMA within the selected complexselected complex

The stream segment length should The stream segment length should be at least 110 meters or 20 times be at least 110 meters or 20 times Greenline-greenline width whichever Greenline-greenline width whichever is greatest (>110 m when stream is is greatest (>110 m when stream is > 5.5 meters wide)> 5.5 meters wide)

Locate DMA in the FieldLocate DMA in the Field

Permanently mark the lower and upper ends Permanently mark the lower and upper ends of the sample reach with markers:of the sample reach with markers:

Place a permanent marker as a reference Place a permanent marker as a reference point to help relocate the DMApoint to help relocate the DMA

Document the Location of the Markers with Document the Location of the Markers with coordinates (e.g. GPS)coordinates (e.g. GPS)

DMA CriteriaDMA Criteria Livestock have access to the DMALivestock have access to the DMA The riparian complex most sensitive to The riparian complex most sensitive to

management influencesmanagement influences DMA has the potential to respond to DMA has the potential to respond to

measurable trends in condition resulting measurable trends in condition resulting from changes in management from changes in management

Not located on reaches impervious to Not located on reaches impervious to disturbance if bank/channel disturbance disturbance if bank/channel disturbance if a monitoring purposeif a monitoring purpose

DMAs are not located at locations DMAs are not located at locations intended for livestock concentration intended for livestock concentration (such as along fences or in water gaps (such as along fences or in water gaps where livestock grazing use is not where livestock grazing use is not representative of the riparian area)representative of the riparian area)

DMAs are not located in areas DMAs are not located in areas compounded by activities that make it compounded by activities that make it difficult to establish cause-and-effect difficult to establish cause-and-effect relationships (eg adjacent to a relationships (eg adjacent to a campground)campground)

DMA CriteriaDMA Criteria

Thoughts to Ponder on DMA Thoughts to Ponder on DMA SelectionSelection

If the DMA is not carefully If the DMA is not carefully selected, all subsequent data selected, all subsequent data collected at the site may be, at collected at the site may be, at best, of limited value or at best, of limited value or at worst, completely uselessworst, completely useless

A poorly selected DMA A poorly selected DMA represents a substantial waste represents a substantial waste of money and resources of money and resources including opportunity costsincluding opportunity costs

Meadow-Forest SequencesMeadow-Forest Sequences

Which complex is the most sensitive to grazing effects?

Where should it be located in that complex?

Where to Where to put the put the

DMA in this DMA in this Unit?Unit?

BLM - Scotchman Creek – cutthroat trout

Scotchman DMA’sScotchman DMA’s

Reference

Representative - Critical

1. Most sensitive unit = Meadows

2. Reference DMA – fenced exclosure

3. Randomly selected Representative reach

Good DMA for grazing impacts?Good DMA for grazing impacts?

Ephemeral stream with no Ephemeral stream with no livestock use –livestock use – NOT a good NOT a good DMADMA

Stream banks must NOT be in boulder or bedrock

Or dominated by rock larger than cobble in size


Heavy timber – no Heavy timber – no livestock use –livestock use – Not a good Not a good DMADMA


No – not a perennial No – not a perennial stream and no livestock stream and no livestock use!use!


No – unavailable to No – unavailable to livestock livestock

Good DMA?Good DMA?

Sheep Allotment in non-use Sheep Allotment in non-use during the past 6 years - during the past 6 years -

Is a reference DMAIs a reference DMA


No – site is a water No – site is a water gap gap


Yes, to compare effects of grazing using Yes, to compare effects of grazing using an exclosure as an initial referencean exclosure as an initial reference


Yes – site Yes – site meets all meets all criteriacriteria

Good DMA?Good DMA?Not for grazing since recreation impacts compound grazing effects. This could be a good site to monitor ORV impacts on the streambanks & channel – works as a CRITICAL DMA

WF Morgan Creek – Is this the WF Morgan Creek – Is this the correct DMA location?correct DMA location?

1. Stream is dominated by shrubs, except at this point just upstream of a beaver dam.

2. There is a hunter camp adjacent to the site.

3. Livestock concentrate at this convenient watering location.

4. The stream channel is mostly B3, but locally here it is C4.

Where is the DMA?Where is the DMA?

Its Here, Why?

This is the only spawning reach in the pasture – a “critical” reach.

PLANT LISTPLANT LIST

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

pre-work & selecting the designated monitoring area (dma)

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