1. 1 What this Broadcast Will Cover Day One Indicators and Attributes Changes from Version 3 to Version 4 Ecological Sites, State and Transition Models, and Reference Sheet Introduction Break Reference Sheet Development Reference Sheet Exercise (homework)

2. 2 What this Broadcast Will Cover Day Two Reviewing your Reference Sheets Evaluation Matrix Break Quantitative Data Applications What’s Next? Closing Thoughts

3. 3 Version 3 1999 Peer Review

4. 4 Developing Version 4 Montana Arizona

5. 5 Changes from Version 3.0 to 4.0 – page iii 1) Added the Reference Sheet 2) Evaluation matrices are ecologically site- specific 3) Litter movement indicator moved from Hydrologic Function to Soil and Site Stability Attribute 4) Added Quantitative and Qualitative linkages 5) Revised worksheets to improve usability

6. 6 Reference Sheet

7. 7 Ecological Site-specific Evaluation Matrices

8. 8 Litter Movement Indicator Moved from the Hydrologic Function to Soil and Site Stability Attribute

9. 9 Added Quantitative and Qualitative Linkages IndicatorQuantitative IndicatorMeasurement (References)Interpretation Bare Ground % Bare GroundLine Point Intercept (Monitoring Manual and Measuring & Monitoring Plant Populations) Bare ground is positively correlated with runoff and erosion

10. 10 Improved Worksheet Usability Eliminated ‘Species Dominance’ and ‘Cover’ Worksheet’s Added noxious weeds and invasive plants to Functional and Structural Groups Sheet Evaluation Sheet Emphasizes written justifications The “Extreme Departure” rating was changed to “Extreme to Total Departure”

11. 11 Terminology Inventory Monitoring Assessment What's the difference?

12. 12 Inventory The systematic acquisition and analysis of resource information needed for planning and management. This information is generally not collected as frequently as monitoring data.

13. 13 Monitoring The orderly and quantitative collection, analysis and interpretation of resource data to evaluate progress toward meeting management objectives. Percent of Cover Attribute198019902000 Bare Ground122026 Live Plants (canopy)473427

14. 14 Assessment The process of estimating or judging the value or functional status of ecological processes (e.g., rangeland health). It is generally a “moment-in- time” evaluation that is not repeated in the future (not a monitoring tool).

15. 15 Interpretations Applications Indicators Attributes

16. 16 Applying the Five Steps – pg 17 1. Verify soils 2. Obtain or develop Reference Sheet 3. Collect supplementary information 4. Rate the 17 indicators 5. Evaluate the 3 rangeland health attributes

17. 17 STEP 1 Verify soils to identify the Ecological Site at the evaluation area

18. 18 Step 1 – Verify Soils to Identify Ecological Site at Evaluation Area Consider slope, aspect, elevation, & topographic position Verify soil with a shallow soil pit: Surface Texture Depth to restrictions Diagnostic horizons Identify ecological site Document soil-ecological site information on Evaluation Sheet- Appendix 1 (page 66)

19. 19 STEP 2 Obtain or develop Reference Sheet

20. 20 Reference Sheet Reference Sheet is the Standard Reference Area(s) Ecological Site Description Studies Research Knowledge Soil Information

21. 21 STEP 2 Modify Evaluation Matrix

22. 22 STEP 3 Collect Supplementary Information

23. 23 Step 3. Collect Supplementary Information Spatial and temporal variability Ecological reference areas Functional and structural groups sheet Quantitative Data

24. 24 STEP 4 Rate the 17 indicators

25. 25 STEP 5 Evaluate the 3 Rangeland Health Attributes

26. 26 Soil Surface Loss or Degradation Soil /Site Stability Hydrologic Function Biotic Integrity THREE RANGELAND HEALTH ATTRIBUTES ASSESSED BY 17 INDICATORS Rills Water-Flow Patterns Pedestals and/or Terracettes Pedestals and/or Terracettes Bare Ground Gullies Wind-Scoured, Blowouts &/or Deposition Areas Litter Movement Soil Surface Resistance to Erosion Plant Community Composition Relative to Infiltration/Runoff Compaction Layer Functional/Structural Groups Plant Mortality/Decadence Litter Amount Annual Production Invasive Plants Reproductive Capability