3 terrestrial examples aimfalltraining2015 · 2015-11-03 · regional scale: lup effectiveness,...

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Demonstrate broad range of scales & topics to which AIM data are applicable

• Monitoring goals/applications• How sites were selected?• What indicators were measured?• Initial results

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• Monitoring goal

– Report on the status and condition of renewable resources on federal rangelands managed by the BLM and make available to the public

National Scale: BLM Rangeland Resource Assessment

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• National‐level reporting of rangeland condition (and trend)

• Low‐intensity sampling network across all BLM lands in lower 48– Landscape Monitoring Framework– Partnership between BLM, NRCS, Iowa State Univ.– Annual report of status– Trend reports every 5 years– 2011 report in review/revision

• AIM Core methods provide consistency, value to local monitoring efforts



• Sample Design– Probability‐based design

( 900 pts)

• Target Population– BLM rangelands

(lower 48)

• Stratification– Level II, III, or

combination of Level III EPA Ecoregions

• Data Collection– Funded by WO

– NRCS Crews

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How were the sites selected?

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• Core Indicators– Vegetation composition

– Non‐native, invasive plant species

– Inter‐canopy gaps

– Vegetation height

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Line‐Point Intercept

• Contingent Indicators– Soil aggregate stability

• Supplemental Indicators– Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland

Health


What were measured?BLM

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Percent of BLM Rangelands with Canopy Gaps > 2m


2011 Results:

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Percent of BLM rangelands with presence of non‐

native invasive plant species


2011 Results:BLM

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Stepping down National level data to assist in local decisions

5,043 total LMF Points from 2011‐

2014

2,000 points every year from 2015

onward

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Stepping down National level data to assist in local decisions

BLM

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IM) Stra

tegy• Establish quantitative, baseline conditions

– Sage Grouse Habitat Assessment Framework (HAF)

• Maintain sage grouse habitat– E.g., native perennial herbaceous plant cover on all sagebrush

habitats remains above 15% after 10 years with 80% confidence

Sage Grouse Habitat Assessments

Monitoring goals and applications:

Regional Scale: LUP Effectiveness

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• Sagebrush Cover• Forb/Grass Cover• Sagebrush Height• Forb/Grass Height• Forb Diversity

• Sagebrush Shape• Canopy Gaps• Special Status Species

• Soil Stability

AIM Core Indicators

HAF Indicators(Site Scale – Level 4)

AIM Core Indicators vs. HAF Indicators

Determine Habitat Suitability

• Define habitat indicator objectives

• Calculate indicatorvalues for sample locations

• Determine suitability for individual indicators

• Determine overall habitat suitability by sample location

Define or map GRSGseasonal habitats

Identify lands that can produce GRSG Habitat

Select project area & reporting units

sample Gather/evaluate sample data & point weights

Summarize by reporting unit

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Nesting/Early Brood‐rearing Habitat BLM

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Summer Habitat

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Supplemental IndicatorsBLM

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• Use AIM quantitative to determine reclamation success in White River FO, Colorado

• Reclamation success criteria– E.g., Vegetation with 80% similarity to desired foliar cover, bare

ground, and shrub and/or forb density in relation to the identified Desired Plant Community.

Disturbance & Reclamation Monitoring

Monitoring goals and applications:

Regional Scale: Reclamation/Treatment Effectiveness

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Oil & Gas Surface Disturbance


AIM Monitoring Design

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• Core Indicators– Vegetation Composition

– Vegetation Height

– Bare Ground

– Canopy Gap

– Species Richness

– Soil Stability

• Supplemental Indicators– Shrub/Forb Density



Seed rows

Transects

• Plot Layout Mods– Perpendicular to seed rows

• Sampling Design– AIM data as reference

– Desired Plant Comm. (DPC)

– DPC Specified in Plans

– DPC from AIM data on same ecological sites

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Results – Pinyon Juniper range site

Criteria Indicators Values

Foliar Cover 37%

Bare Ground 27%

Shrub/Forb density(stems/acre)

5,370

Reclamation


Foliar Cover 27%

Bare Ground 17%


4,156

Nearby Undisturbed #1

>>>

Foliar cover and shrub/forb density are all within 80% of success criteria.

Bare ground requires a decrease of 7% to achieve success.

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Results – Pinyon Juniper range site


Foliar Cover 37%

Bare Ground 27%


5,370

Reclamation


Foliar Cover (n=27) 51% ± 3%

Bare Ground (n=27) 15% ± 1%

Shrub/Forb density(stems/acre) (n=6)

4,795 ± 1,292

All Similar PJ AIM Sites

<>>

• Foliar cover too low.• Bare ground too high.• Shrub/forb density is within

80% of success criteria.

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• Establish baseline conditions prior to permitting activities in the NPR‐A

• Provide consistent indicators and data collection approach for engaging multiple partners

• Understand the NPR‐A system and design an effective, efficient monitoring program for multiple indicators (Extended Pilot Study)

National Petroleum Reserve ‐ Alaska

Initial Monitoring goals and applications:

Regional Scale: LUP Effectiveness, Condition & Trend

Regional Mitigation Climate ChangeWildlife

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NPR‐A Indicators


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NPR‐A Results – Strata Evaluation


Example of homogeneous strata

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NPR‐A Results


‐60.0

‐50.0

‐40.0

‐30.0

‐20.0

‐10.0

0.0

10.0

20.0

Coastal PlainWetland

Sand SheetWetland

Coastal PlainMoist Tundra

Sand SheetMoist Tundra

Foothills WetMeadow

FoothillsTussockTundra

Foothills LowShrub Tundra

Depth in

cm

Active Layer Depth & Moss/Duff Thickness

Moss DuffThickness

Active Layer Depth

FoothillsCoastal Plain

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NPR‐A Next Steps


• Short term:– Develop range of variation for each stratum

– Move from pilot phase to implementation

– Implement remote sensing component

• Long‐Term:– Change detection

• Re‐measure plots

• Evaluate direction and magnitude of change

• Identify drivers (climate warming, development)

– Expand protocols for monitoring across Alaska?

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• BLM monitoring programs/projects are not islands

• Consistent data collected using consistent methods can be used by various audiences with different objectives (as seen in examples)

• AIM provides a framework for collecting unbiased data at different scales to facilitate combination and reuse of monitoring data

Conclusion:

National Scale

Regional Scale

LocalScale

LocalScale

LocalScale

3 terrestrial examples aimfalltraining2015 · 2015-11-03 · regional scale: lup effectiveness,...

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