Micheal L Golden Deputy Chief

Soil Science & Resource Assessment USDA-NRCS

Society of Range Management

Oklahoma City, OK February 2, 2013

Ecological Site Acceleration

Chief Dave White approved a Decision Memo in Nov 2009

Announced the Agency would “Accelerate ESD Development”

A National Bulletin - signed by Deputy Chiefs for:

Soil Science & Resource Assessment (SSRA) and Science & Technology (S&T)

Guidance SSRA to lead Inventory QA-QC / Correlation

Guidance S&T to lead Implementation / Interpretations

Acceleration of

Ecological Site Descriptions (ESD’s)

NRCS Established “National Ecological Site Team”

Structure - Soil Science Division & Ecological Sciences Division

David Smith & Dr. Terrell Erickson - Division Directors

National Leadership from National Centers

Dr. Susan Andrews – National Soil Survey Center &

George Peacock – National Technical Service Center

Mainstream - Standards, Interpretations & Incorporation into:

Soil Survey, CEAP, FOTG, CDSI, NRI, etc;

Acceleration of

Ecological Site Descriptions (ESD’s)

Build on Existing ESD Data Collection Develop Management Interpretations with

State & Transition Models Consistent Standards for Data Collection Correlation process for ESD Approvals Standard Format for content

New SSRA positions were created at: National, Regional and Major Land Resource Areas

(MLRA’s)

Acceleration of

Ecological Site Descriptions (ESD’s)

National Leader

Forestland Specialist

Rangeland Specialist

Agronomy Specialist

Soil Scientist

(x3)

Soil Quality and Ecosystems Branch

Dr. Susan Andrews, Leader & Ecologist Craig Busskohl, Forester Dr. Faustin Iyamuremye, Soil Scientist Mike Kucera, Agronomist Curtis Talbot, Range Conservationist Dr. Skye Wills, Soil Scientist Vacant , Soil Biology

7 = Total

St Paul Stacey Clark

Phoenix Herman Garcia

Portland Kendra Moseley

Temple Mark Moseley

Amherst David Clausnitzer

Raleigh Michelle Clendenin

Lincoln Soil Quality & Ecosystems

Branch

6 = Total

8 = Vacant 51 = Filled

Editors to Review & Edit ESD’s

• English Editors – Improve final product

• Standard Template – Consistent Format – Generate custom reports

in Web Soil Survey – ESD’s Accessible in CDSI

MLRA 75

Loamy Upland

3 = Total

7 Soil Quality & Ecosystems Branch (Standards)

6 Vegetation Specialists in MLRA Region Offices (Quality Assurance)

51 Vegetation Inventory Specialists (Quality Control)

8 Vacant Vegetative Inventory Specialists (Quality Control)

3 Editors ----------- ▲ 75 Total FTE’s

SSRA Funding for Additional Staff (FY13)

ESD Progress

Updated ESD’s = 1,448 Provisional Approved ESD’s = 350 FY12 Net increase = 70 ecological sites ESD’s correlated on “118 million acres” by:

“Soil type/Map unit”

Field Training & Workshops Expanding ESD’s to Southeast and Northeast

NC, SC, WV, IN, KY, MS, CT, RI & PA

ESD’s Correlated to National Standards

• Goal is to Link Systematic Process for • ESD Correlation similar to Soil Survey

Establish ESD Standards – Similar to

“National Cooperative Soil Survey” – Quality Control

• ESD’s are collected and sites developed According to Approved Standards

– Quality Assurance • ESD’s are validated and Correlated to Approved

Standards

Soil and Ecological Site Inventory

Soil and ESD Correlation

– The process that develops, records, reviews and certifies information

– Based on Standards that define terms, concepts and processes

• Taxonomy (Soil & Plant) • Manuals • National Handbooks • Laboratory Methods • Other assorted technical notes

Use and Application of ESD’s

“… it is much better to have a stable taxonomy and to make your interpretations according to the level of management and

the properties which will exist under different levels of management.”

-Guy Smith Interviews, 1986

Ecological Site Standards

• National Ecological Sites Handbook In agreement with Interagency Range

Handbook

Need for Collaboration • ESD development by multiple disciplines

– Soil-Ecological Site Correlation – Vegetation gathered on numerous land types – Develop State & Transition Models – Develop Interpretations

• Including wildlife management • Carrying Capacity • Other Dynamics for each site

Thank YOU

We need Your Support to Accelerate

ESD’s in the USA

Ecological Site Acceleration