This document is contained within the Visitor Use This document is contained within the Visitor Use Management Toolbox on Wilderness.net. Since other Management Toolbox on Wilderness.net. Since other related resources found in this toolbox may be of interest, related resources found in this toolbox may be of interest, you can visit this toolbox by visiting the following URL: you can visit this toolbox by visiting the following URL: http://http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fusewww.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse==toolboxes&sectoolboxes&sec==vumvum. All toolboxes are products of the . All toolboxes are products of the Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center.Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center.

Identifying Indicators & StandardsIdentifying Indicators & Standards

Jeff Marion, Unit Leader/Scientist Virginia Tech Field Unit, USGS, Patuxent WRC

jmarion@vt.edu, 540-231-6603

Selecting Indicators & StandardsSelecting Indicators & Standards

Presentation Objectives:Presentation Objectives:

1. Define indicators and describe their role, review 1. Define indicators and describe their role, review criteria for their selection, and illustrate with trail criteria for their selection, and illustrate with trail impact examples.impact examples.

2. Define indicator standards and describe their role, 2. Define indicator standards and describe their role, describe alternative types of standards, and illustrate describe alternative types of standards, and illustrate with trail and campsite examples. with trail and campsite examples.

LAC & VERP Planning LAC & VERP Planning And Management And Management Decision Making Decision Making FrameworksFrameworks

Standards Exceeded

Select Appropriate Management Action

Establish Prescriptive Management Objectives

Choose Biophysical and Social Indicators of Change

Choose Biophysical and Social Indicators of Change

Formulate StandardsFormulate Standards

Monitor Conditions

Compare Conditions to Standards

StandardsNot Exceeded

Evaluate and Identify Causal Factors

Implement Management Action

What Are Indicators?What Are Indicators?

What are indicators and why do we use them?What are indicators and why do we use them?

Indicators are measurable physical, ecological, or social Indicators are measurable physical, ecological, or social variables used to track trends in conditions caused by variables used to track trends in conditions caused by human activity so that progress toward goals / desired human activity so that progress toward goals / desired conditions can be assessed.conditions can be assessed.

Indicators provide a means for restricting information Indicators provide a means for restricting information collection and analysis to the most essential elements collection and analysis to the most essential elements needed to answer management questions.needed to answer management questions.

Indicator Selection: A ProcessIndicator Selection: A Process

Begin by defining monitoring questions:Begin by defining monitoring questions:

““Are visitors experiencing an environment where the Are visitors experiencing an environment where the evidence of human activity is evidence of human activity is substantially substantially unnoticeableunnoticeable?”?”

““Are trails in good usable condition?” or, “Are the Are trails in good usable condition?” or, “Are the number and length of visitor-created trails number and length of visitor-created trails increasing?”increasing?”

Indicator Selection: Sources of Indicators

Indicator Selection: Sources of Indicators

Employ one or more of the following sources:Employ one or more of the following sources:

Consult Scientific Literature:Consult Scientific Literature: There is a large and There is a large and growing body of applicable literature.growing body of applicable literature.

Conduct Scientific Research:Conduct Scientific Research: Conduct site-specific Conduct site-specific research or inventories where necessary to address research or inventories where necessary to address information gaps.information gaps.

Consult the Public:Consult the Public: Involve stakeholders. Involve stakeholders.

Apply Management Judgment:Apply Management Judgment: Consult with experienced Consult with experienced managers, both local and distant.managers, both local and distant.

Indicator Selection: Screening Questions

Indicator Selection: Screening Questions

Does the indicator tell you what you want to know? Is it Does the indicator tell you what you want to know? Is it

ecologically or experientially meaningful?ecologically or experientially meaningful?

Is the indicator independent of environmental variation?Is the indicator independent of environmental variation?

Can the indicator be measured reliably?Can the indicator be measured reliably?

Is the indicator responsive to manage - Is the indicator responsive to manage -

ment action within a reasonable time ment action within a reasonable time

frame?frame?

Indicator Selection: Screening Questions

Indicator Selection: Screening Questions

Does the indicator act as an early warning, alerting you to Does the indicator act as an early warning, alerting you to

deteriorating conditions before unacceptable change deteriorating conditions before unacceptable change

occurs? occurs?

Can the indicator be measured with Can the indicator be measured with

minimal impact to the resource or the minimal impact to the resource or the

visitor’s experience?visitor’s experience?

Can the indicator provide information Can the indicator provide information

worth the time and cost required?worth the time and cost required?

Indicator Selection: Screening Criteria

Indicator Selection: Screening Criteria

Primary CriteriaPrimary Criteria Secondary CriteriaSecondary CriteriaSpecificSpecific Easy to train for monitoringEasy to train for monitoring

ObjectiveObjective Cost-effectiveCost-effective

Reliable and repeatableReliable and repeatable Minimal variabilityMinimal variability

Related to visitor useRelated to visitor use Responds over a range of Responds over a range of conditionsconditions

SensitiveSensitive Large sampling windowLarge sampling window

ResilientResilient Availability of baseline dataAvailability of baseline data

Low-impactLow-impact

SignificantSignificant (Source: VERP Handbook, 1997)(Source: VERP Handbook, 1997)

Trail IndicatorsTrail Indicators

Selected from a review of the scientific and Selected from a review of the scientific and

management literature.management literature.

LAC/VERP frameworks typically include a small LAC/VERP frameworks typically include a small

number of indicators, far fewer than those shown in number of indicators, far fewer than those shown in

the following lists.the following lists.

Indicator assessment/monitoring methods need to be Indicator assessment/monitoring methods need to be

considered during the indicator selection process.considered during the indicator selection process.

Forms of Trail ImpactsForms of Trail Impacts

Informal trails (number,

length, condition)

Trail widening

Soil erosion

Trail muddiness

Trail IndicatorsTrail Indicators

Monitoring approaches must be considered in selecting Monitoring approaches must be considered in selecting indicators and setting standards. Two common indicators and setting standards. Two common types:types:

Problem Assessment:Problem Assessment: Assess location and lineal Assess location and lineal extent of all occurrences of pre-defined tread extent of all occurrences of pre-defined tread impacts (e.g., eroded or muddy sections). impacts (e.g., eroded or muddy sections).

Point Sampling:Point Sampling: Assess tread conditions through Assess tread conditions through individual measures of indicators at sampling individual measures of indicators at sampling points. points.

Trail Assessment Survey TypesTrail Assessment Survey Types

Point SamplingPoint Sampling Problem AssessmentProblem Assessment

PA - Problem Assessment, PS - Point Sampling

Common Trail IndicatorsCommon Trail Indicators

Soil Erosion Soil Erosion

Cross Sectional Area (sq ft) Cross Sectional Area (sq ft) PS PS

Maximum Incision (in)Maximum Incision (in) PS PS

Excessive Erosion (# ft/mi, lineal ft, % of trail length) Excessive Erosion (# ft/mi, lineal ft, % of trail length) PAPA

T2 T3 T5

I2 I3 I4I1 I6

T4

I5

T1T6

PA - Problem Assessment, PS - Point Sampling

Common Trail IndicatorsCommon Trail Indicators

Tread MuddinessTread Muddiness

Muddiness (% of tread width)Muddiness (% of tread width) PS PS

Excessive Muddiness Excessive Muddiness

(# ft/mi, lineal ft, % of trail length) (# ft/mi, lineal ft, % of trail length) PAPA

Tread WidthTread Width

Tread Width (ft) Tread Width (ft) PSPS

Excessive Width (# ft/mi, lineal ft, % of trail length) Excessive Width (# ft/mi, lineal ft, % of trail length) PAPA

PA - Problem Assessment, PS - Point Sampling

Common Trail IndicatorsCommon Trail Indicators

Multiple TreadsMultiple Treads

Multiple Treads (# at sample points) Multiple Treads (# at sample points) PSPS

Multiple Treads (# ft/mi, lineal ft, %) Multiple Treads (# ft/mi, lineal ft, %) PAPA

Visitor-Created Trails Visitor-Created Trails

Informal Trails (#, #/mi, lineal extent, % of formal trail miles)Informal Trails (#, #/mi, lineal extent, % of formal trail miles)

Other concerns related to informal trails: density, proximity to Other concerns related to informal trails: density, proximity to

sensitive resources, and conditionsensitive resources, and condition

What Are Indicator Standards?What Are Indicator Standards?

What are indicator standards and why do we use them?What are indicator standards and why do we use them?

Indicator Standards Indicator Standards - Measurable statements that define - Measurable statements that define minimally acceptable conditions.minimally acceptable conditions.

Standards narrow the focus of management from Standards narrow the focus of management from broad, qualitative statements of management intent to broad, qualitative statements of management intent to specific statements of desired conditions that provide specific statements of desired conditions that provide a basis for decision making.a basis for decision making.

What Are Indicator Standards?What Are Indicator Standards?

Standards reflect desired conditions. Standards:Standards reflect desired conditions. Standards:

Are specific and achievable.Are specific and achievable.

Describe ends (desired resource and social conditions) Describe ends (desired resource and social conditions) rather than means (management actions).rather than means (management actions).

Standards are established for setting attributes that Standards are established for setting attributes that reflect degree of naturalness or that influence reflect degree of naturalness or that influence experience quality.experience quality.

Setting attributes must be subject to management Setting attributes must be subject to management control. For example, a standard could be written for control. For example, a standard could be written for encounter rates but not for solitude or satisfaction, encounter rates but not for solitude or satisfaction, which are direct attributes of the experience.which are direct attributes of the experience.

What Are Indicator Standards?What Are Indicator Standards?

Standards quantitatively specify a limit on the amount Standards quantitatively specify a limit on the amount of change that will be tolerated.of change that will be tolerated.

Standards define the compromise between Standards define the compromise between resource/visitor experience protection and access to resource/visitor experience protection and access to recreational opportunities, i.e., they represent an recreational opportunities, i.e., they represent an explicit trade-off between two conflicting goals. explicit trade-off between two conflicting goals.

Standards are statements of minimally acceptable Standards are statements of minimally acceptable conditions (thresholds of acceptability). They define conditions (thresholds of acceptability). They define the point past which conditions the point past which conditions becomebecome unacceptable, unacceptable, they do not define desired or unacceptable conditions.they do not define desired or unacceptable conditions.

Characteristics of Good StandardsCharacteristics of Good Standards

Quantitative: Quantitative: Measurable. Measurable.

Time or Space-Bounded: Time or Space-Bounded: Expressed as “x”/day or Expressed as “x”/day or “y”/unit area.“y”/unit area.

Expressed as a probability:Expressed as a probability: Allows flexibility when Allows flexibility when needed for random or peak-use events.needed for random or peak-use events.

Impact-Oriented:Impact-Oriented: Focus on impacts, not on Focus on impacts, not on management actions (e.g., conditions, not # of management actions (e.g., conditions, not # of visitors)visitors)

Realistic:Realistic: Focus on attainable conditions. Focus on attainable conditions.

Interpreting StandardsInterpreting Standards

Standards are absolute limits, not just warnings. Standards are absolute limits, not just warnings.

Violation of standards should not be tolerated. Violation of standards should not be tolerated.

Tolerances can be written into standards in the form of Tolerances can be written into standards in the form of probabilities. e.g., <10 encounters/day on 90% of the probabilities. e.g., <10 encounters/day on 90% of the summer use season days. Such standards allow for summer use season days. Such standards allow for more crowded conditions during a few peak use more crowded conditions during a few peak use weekends.weekends.

When a standard is exceeded managers should When a standard is exceeded managers should implement actions to avoid compromising resource or implement actions to avoid compromising resource or experience conditions further.experience conditions further.

Interpreting StandardsInterpreting Standards

Standards are value-based management decisions.Standards are value-based management decisions.

Setting standards ultimately involves inherently Setting standards ultimately involves inherently subjective and value-based management decisions. subjective and value-based management decisions.

It is desirable that standards be developed through a It is desirable that standards be developed through a collaborative process with input from stakeholders.collaborative process with input from stakeholders.

Public involvement and/or participation is preferred Public involvement and/or participation is preferred but managers have been delegated the authority and but managers have been delegated the authority and responsibility for making final decisions. responsibility for making final decisions.

Setting Standards: Role of Science

Setting Standards: Role of Science

Science can characterize the range of indicator conditions to Science can characterize the range of indicator conditions to allow evaluation of draft standards. Indicator data may allow evaluation of draft standards. Indicator data may also be examined to look for “thresholds”:also be examined to look for “thresholds”:

e.g., level of vegetation disturbance beyond which e.g., level of vegetation disturbance beyond which annual recovery cannot occur. annual recovery cannot occur.

Standards can be Standards can be informedinformed by science but cannot be by science but cannot be derivedderived from science.from science.

Standards are evaluative, they must consider resource Standards are evaluative, they must consider resource impacts in the context of the recreational “costs” of impacts in the context of the recreational “costs” of not exceeding them.not exceeding them.

Types of StandardsTypes of Standards

Maximum ConditionMaximum Condition - Specifies maximum acceptable - Specifies maximum acceptable indicator value at a single site.indicator value at a single site.

e.g., trail width < 10 ine.g., trail width < 10 in

Aggregate ConditionAggregate Condition - Specifies maximum acceptable - Specifies maximum acceptable aggregate indicator value for a group of sites.aggregate indicator value for a group of sites.

e.g., Sum of informal trail lengths in travel zone x < 3.5 mie.g., Sum of informal trail lengths in travel zone x < 3.5 mi

Rate of ChangeRate of Change - Specifies maximum acceptable rate of - Specifies maximum acceptable rate of change between monitoring cycles. e.g., increase in change between monitoring cycles. e.g., increase in trail incision < 0.25 in/yrtrail incision < 0.25 in/yr

Examples of Standards: TrailsExamples of Standards: Trails

Potential IndicatorsPotential Indicators Examples of StandardsExamples of Standards

Informal trails/unit area Informal trails/unit area <2500 ft/5 acres<2500 ft/5 acres

Increase in informal trail lengths Increase in informal trail lengths < 100% < 100%

Trail widthTrail width <4 ft<4 ft

Trail width >3 ftTrail width >3 ft <500 ft/mi <500 ft/mi

Soil erosionSoil erosion <2 ft<2 ft

Soil erosion > 2 ftSoil erosion > 2 ft <300 ft/mi<300 ft/mi

Trail muddinessTrail muddiness <5% of trail length<5% of trail length

Note:Note: Standards are generally set and vary by zones. Standards are generally set and vary by zones.

Examples of Standards: Campsites

Examples of Standards: Campsites

Potential IndicatorsPotential Indicators Examples of StandardsExamples of Standards

Campsites/unit area Campsites/unit area <12 sites/5 acres<12 sites/5 acres

Campsite size/siteCampsite size/site <1800 ft<1800 ft22

Campsite size/unit areaCampsite size/unit area <8000 ft<8000 ft22/5 acres/5 acres

Increase in campsite size Increase in campsite size < 100% < 100%

Soil exposure/siteSoil exposure/site <1200 ft<1200 ft22/campsite/campsite

Soil exposure/unit area Soil exposure/unit area <6000 ft<6000 ft22/5 acres/5 acres

Tree damage Tree damage <10 damaged trees/site<10 damaged trees/site

Fire sitesFire sites <3/site<3/site

Note:Note: Standards are generally set and vary by zones. Standards are generally set and vary by zones.

ConclusionsConclusions

Scientific literature and research can help identify Scientific literature and research can help identify alternative resource indicators and provide objective alternative resource indicators and provide objective measurement methodsmeasurement methods

Scientific surveys can describe the distribution of Scientific surveys can describe the distribution of values for each indicator – illustrating outcomes of values for each indicator – illustrating outcomes of alternative standards.alternative standards.

Science cannot be used to identify indicator standards. Science cannot be used to identify indicator standards. Standards are evaluative, they represent tradeoffs Standards are evaluative, they represent tradeoffs between competing management objectives.between competing management objectives.