Interpreting indicators of rangeland health : version 3

132 Pages·2000·27.5 MB·English

by  Pellant, Michael L

I BLM LIBRARY
| 88077109
oN PER PREYTING
Phe ALTORS OF
Renta DeEEA LTH
—VERSION 3—
_ TECHNICAL REFERENCE 1734-6
2000
UB. DERARTIINT-OF THE INTERIOR) — : : Pa.
BUREAU OF CAND MANAGEMENT q
Though this document was produced through an interagency effort, the following BLM numbers have been ~
assigned for tracking and administrative purposes:
Technical Reference 1734-6
BLM/WO/ST-00/001+1734
This document is also available on the NRCS web site at www.ftw.nrcs.usda.gov/glti
44 RF° ID. VET FI OF
BY
Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health
Version 3
By
Mike Pellant Patrick Shaver
Rangeland Ecologist Rangeland Management Specialist
Bureau of Land Management Natural Resources Conservation Service
Boise, ID Corvallis, OR
David A. Pyke Jeffrey E. Herrick
Research Ecologist Research Scientist
USGS, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Agricultural Research Service
sveErles (anise Jornada Experimental Range
Corvallis, OR Las Cruces, NM
Contributors
BLM NRCS
Ned Habich Arnold Mendenhall
Tracey Wolfe George Chavez
Kris Eschelman Steve Barker
Al Amen Gary Brackley
Ken Spaeth
Produced By
United States Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
National Science and Technology Center
Information and Communications Group
P. O. Box 25047
Denver, Colorado
Technical Reference 1734-6
2000
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INTERPRETING INDICATORS OF RANGELAND HEALTH
NY
. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Interagency coordination between the Bureau : BLM and NRCS staff, Justin Van Zee (ARS),
of Land Management (BLM), the Natural : the Association of Rangeland Consultants,
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the : and the Western Coordinating Committee on
Agricultural Research Service (ARS), and the : Rangeland Ecological Research & Assessment
USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science ‘ for their helpful input that improved this
Center was essential to successfully completing : technique. The authors also wish to note the
this document. The order of authors cited for passing of Kris Eschelman and the retirement
this publication reflects the time spent on doc- : of Al Amen, both contributors to this docu-
ument preparation and organization, not the : ment from BLM, and Arnold Mendenhal,
important and equal contribution that each : retired NRCS employee.
author made to the scientific and procedural |
content of this technical reference. : Thanks to Kathy Rohling and Janine Koselak
: of BLM’s National Science and Technology
The authors wish to thank Drs. J. Alexander, L. : Center for the editing, design, and layout of this
Eddleman, W.C. Krueger, M. Kothmann, W. : technical reference and to BLM’s National
Laycock, P. Sims, E.L. Smith, T. Stohlgren, S. : Business Center for managing the production
Swanson, G. Tanner, T. Thurow, J. Trlica, various aspects of the final document.
wet TECHNICAL RERERENCE 1734-6 ——@— VERSION 3
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INTERPRETING INDICATORS OF RANGELAND HEALTH
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAMGEU OSTEN TS Sch. kt ig See, Wien. fieilnitiog) tinal lirelaynn lo witty, i
BANE AD PLICATIONS cud amivbatnr occa ciahar nce Cet Eee Dae k tH Rh os EAE, ]
EEOC UGtION at eu i: ihe aed tei rehired AMLIB, ict te 5 cash Hoch) ner te PRE NOL a 3
Reiatonshin to siinilaritvelncdex andpreda.otucies, AeAnION? Gacui<iowiit taO BLe.e 5
PctbUcestolRaneclanc esti meas tame pe tee Rind a ee BUTI ee. RIO y
Delite tabtlit yma lees cur opm TIME LT tee A oO MRO MyGen -<t Bicee rics 7
leh iGUrl erst Eesha (erel et Gee Get SOREN MMs stor en MAW sist getters Meera o) Fi tetnc eti i
TtegtitycOimt Me Digicel Omnia me naenie >)s ee Pel) SA VILLI, hoc eatery i
(eleh r A | OR eee ee Smee 2h sl Sa ate ee) on +10 gh byt ore a 9
ireasigia Milas Oldseaic OLaeGen wR dNE ne Sony eS. 2. 4G yc le od wake hwnd. 9
Tis es ee PE ein OE a a he ok 10 te En A Se, oe gel SYe d ope cxnpaye irmnliatonecaus 9
EPS ESS TLS TpES Laer BET At SEES Ea, rae (ee, Ae Gi Seeman eei y Se eee en eee Lot
Step 1. Identify the Evaluation Area, Verify Soil and Ecological Site Identification ....... 1]
Ste eceey isilaan Pecolorpical ReterencetAtear (itn Bajos indie la on apieie opeteiei xi Gee orale: lee
Step 3. Review/Modify Descriptors of Indicators at the Ecological Reference Area ...... is
Step 4. Return to the Area of Interest and Complete the Site Characterization
WV OLKGICCTS a quar mnn eeW e Ch tM CEA te he BG Se cs UEt en elec: Koysl doa 17
otege hatesncelWalnercators onmthoyares. Of INteresie ww. Liu wolueutyii: Superheracome : ly
EP NSS NE ADT Ee SNe Sh aE Oe ee oom ec ta ek SU: Ne a Pe 18
DeAVNAtetar lO WePattecisme mite tte a Wa: Bea et BA Bicone hs Glin macy hia & pacar 19
Bs [se egettenvelaye [Rope toascaw oe ks take, Me ee eee ee ee ee Deer 20
AL SEIS peaialales © a i Pee eon ee Ay ean eee Pee ON aeh oa en reas er are Zh
PRESEN oa a ee, ORCS Cea fn ae ee ee en er ae ae 22
basWind-scoured, Blowouts,and/or Deposition Arease., 4. ...h:- ys snus at eee Zs
og VeattS e 1S ANen Suet nie’ Bee 2 eae EP RA lyk Aer een ree oe ee 2R enee ee are eee 24
Sell otiracesh esistance tO ET Os1O0s he Aenea tad poe nits aie eee) haga dui < 2)
OMe OU Surat esl Oss10ig)) 6 CT aC aU OMEE he wank! His onB oe sini) car pena seat sala Biv «is te)
10. Plant Community Composition and Distribution Relative
IPOS EARS Uae Mnk@yT PUATE) TRMUAMUGTNPL P29 98 ete ae eee ke ROC Pe, BU Beene ec ean 28
Hk NCrovesVtase ery e) be yigere <1. a eee oe Boe eink okt Bree eget en Woe ae ee ee See a)
UPL, URaE(Sa e ese makeh arel aC Ts ihieke) tase bay ah oh: SRP arenes ae nator ans Baar ae ey 30
[Oe iantNlostait WDc cacence memes PRs eA Mala ie cece. oki inks Gemire odhedogae 32
[OU airs OTS eahV eyaels Bev ees ck See oss Poe hem e, ee ees) A el en ne eee ee re 33
ee i aE LOCIICtiON gems aie ee enn ree aR eee er aE kad ss fas 34
I Sea Fre erhvicd MET tip teh Peter Bates aet y Le Ee ON ey eae a 35
IR eprocjuctie Capability oubercmualsPlantsstae wins a oe, es 36
eS Oe eraser Patleeei leey ey ka oe 2 teed. cc a Re ye een 31
Step 6. Determine the Functional Status of the Three Rangeland Health Attributes ..... 38
PGai i@ intOmlear Sete \c cas mean tic ier me aee te te ee ree a 2 F pew canisvtng ahw ok 39
oa Se Pon ted rat ce ee eR Ne 8 on aso ad cad od ab RSA 4 ]
Te peek bec men Mees hee htt cr oe Re mie NI NTS Len ie Og Suk Ga Ae weed we 43
URLS Sg LG ee eae ook oo a Seay no a a a 49
pommCer TberEen RETERN Cre 1734-6 ——@}— version 3
So.
INTERPRETING ANDIC ALDORSOCOR RANGELANDSHEALIA
NY
Appendix 1—Rangeland Health Evaluation Summary Worksheet ..........:........5. 57
Appendix 2—Ecological Reference Area Worksheet .........+ [email protected] .C.ee s 63
Appendix 3— Cover Worksheetipag 4 ....5 0. 4-0 tes ca ees) os es ee 69
Appendix 4—Species Dominance Worksheet Qa ae oe wee yeni an) eee 73
Appendix 5—Functional/Structural Groups Worksheet ..<... . gieae). Geeienee 2 eee re
Appendix 6—Rangeland Health Indicator Evaluation Matrix .........0..0. c.bad : 81
Appendix /—Photographs of Indicators =)... 4.4 0.25.1 aes 1. 2 oe ee ee 91
Appendix 8—Soil Stability Kit Diagram and Rating Categories
to Determineourlacesoil Stability, ee. ue. eee is
penne feu et Nal eeeneeel ee WINE C ie 1734-6 ——@J— version 3
,
INTERPRETING INDICATORS OF RANGELAND HEALTH
eee
INTENDED APPLICATIONS
Qualitative assessments of rangeland health : e Improve communication among interest groups
provide land managers and technical assistance : by focusing discussion on critical ecosystem
specialists with a good communication tool for : properties and processes.
use with the public. Many of these tools have ? @ Select monitoring sites in the development of
been used successfully for this purpose over the : monitoring programs.
past 100 years. This technique, in association : e Help understand and communicate rangeland
with quantitative monitoring and inventory } health issues.
information, can be used to provide early warn- :
ings of resource problems on upland range- : The approach is NOT to be used to:
lands. Rangelands are defined as “land on which
the indigenous vegetation (climax or natural : e Identify the cause(s) of resource problems.
potential) is predominantly grasses, grass-like : ¢ Make grazing and other management decisions.
plants, forbs, or shrubs and is managed as a : e Monitor land or determine trend.
natural ecosystem. If plants are introduced, i e Independently generate national or regional
they are managed similarly. Rangelands include : assessments of rangeland health.
natural grasslands, savannas, shrublands, many :
deserts, tundra, alpine communities, marshes, ? This procedure has been developed for use by
and wet meadows” (Society for Range : experienced, knowledgeable land managers. It
Management 1999). Included in this definition : is not intended that this assessment procedure
are oak and pinyon-juniper woodlands. : be used by individuals who do not have experi-
: ence or knowledge of the rangeland ecological
The approach described in this technical reference : sites they are evaluating. This approach requires
IS designed to: : a good understanding of ecological processes,
i vegetation, and soils for each of the sites to
¢ Be used only by knowledgeable, experienced | which it is applied. Furthermore, as compre-
people. : hensive ecological site descriptions (which are
e Provide a preliminary evaluation of soil/site ! used for reference) are not available for most
stability, hydrologic function, and integrity of | sites, the user is frequently required to generate
the biotic community (at the ecological site : reference information based on their knowl-
level). : edge of the range of spatial and temporal vari-
e Help land managers identify areas that are : ability apparent in a particular ecological site.
potentially at risk of degradation. : This will frequently require two or more
e Provide early warnings of potential problems : individuals (e.g., ecologist and soil scientist) to
and opportunities. : work together to make the evaluation.
e Be used to communicate fundamental ecolog- }
ical concepts to a wide variety of audiences in :
the field.
ee Crdeeokt RIB PEREINUCE 1734-6——@— VERSION 3