BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM Into the Brush: The Greater Sage-Grouse Land Use Plans Implementation Guide

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM Forthcoming IMs ●Priorities for Review and Processing of Grazing Authorizations ●Incorporating Thresholds and Responses into Grazing Permits and Leases ●Oil and Gas Leasing Prioritization (Smart from the Start)

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM BLM Internal-Use IMs ● Effectiveness Monitoring ●Habitat Assessment Framework ●NEPA Compliance and Land Use Planning

●Sage-Grouse Policy Roll-Out ●April Implementation Trainings and Workshops 4/4-4/15: Federal Family Interactive Discussions 4/18-4/29: External Stakeholder Dialogues May National Training and Workshop (Boise, ID) 5/24: National Line Managers Training 5/25: National External Stakeholder Dialogue The Next Steppe: Implementing for the Future Trainings and Workshops

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM Greater Sage-Grouse Land Use Plan Implementation Guide Version 1.0 A topic-by-topic summary of the new plans Six teams each wrote a chapter Version 1.0 (March 21 draft) is available at: Version 2.0 planned for more topics and updates

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM Chapters provide how-to information, not policy 1.Habitat and Assessment 2.Vegetation Management and Fire 3.Livestock Grazing 4.Disturbance 5.Mitigation 6.Monitoring and Adaptive Management 7.Data Greater Sage-Grouse Land Use Plan Implementation Guide Version 1.0

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM Chapter 1 - Habitat and Assessment Three topics in this chapter: 1.Habitat Management Areas 2.Habitat Objectives 3.Habitat Assessment All three topics were previously covered in a live broadcast (Sept. 30, 2015)

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM

The Steppe Forward Series BLM Chapter 1 - Habitat and Assessment Three topics in this chapter: 1.Habitat Management Areas 2.Habitat Objectives 3.Habitat Assessment

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM Habitat Objectives Chapter 1 - Habitat and Assessment

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM Three topics in this chapter: 1.Habitat Management Areas 2.Habitat Objectives 3.Habitat Assessment Chapter 1 - Habitat and Assessment

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM What’s new? Draft Policy! Develop a HAF Summary Report to inform: Land Health Assessments Proposed multiple use activities: –Density & disturbance of threats (fine scale metric), –Habitat objectives (site-scale metric) Vegetation management to improve GRSG habitat Habitat value of debits and credits for mitigation Chapter 1 - Habitat and Assessment

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM Chapter 2 - Vegetation Management & Fire Overarching Strategies Secretarial Order 3336 ➢ Seed Strategy ➢ Conservation & Restoration Strategy Sage Grouse Initiative (SGI) Fire and Invasives Assessment Tool (FIAT)

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM RODs define the Vegetation Objective in SFA & PHMAs for all plans: Maintain all lands ecologically capable of producing sagebrush with a minimum of 15% sagebrush canopy cover, but not less than 70% of lands. Chapter 2 - Vegetation Management & Fire

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM 100,000 Acre Landscape 10,000 Acres (10%) not capable of growing Sagebrush 90,000 Acres (90%) ecologically capable of growing Sagebrush I n this example, the Vegetation Objective would be to have 90,000 acres with at least 15% Sagebrush Canopy Cover. To meet the minimum of 70%, 63,000 Acres would have at least 15% Canopy cover. Chapter 2 - Vegetation Management & Fire

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM Design site-specific objectives based on GRSG Habitat Objectives and site potential Monitor progress toward achieving these objectives using the Habitat Objectives · Chapter 2 - Vegetation Management & Fire

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM Wildfire Management: Protection of human life continues to be our single, overriding priority Chapter 2 - Vegetation Management & Fire

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM Fire Management Plan (FMP) Updates FIAT Offices, updates are due: June 30, 2016 Non-FIAT Offices, updates are due: June 30, 2017 Chapter 2 - Vegetation Management & Fire

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM If prescribed fire is used in Greater Sage- Grouse habitat, the NEPA analysis for the Burn Plan will address: 1. Why alternative techniques were not selected as viable options; 2. How GRSG goals and objectives would be met by its use; Chapter 2 - Vegetation Management & Fire Prescribed Fire:

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM If prescribed fire is used in Greater Sage- Grouse habitat, the NEPA analysis for the Burn Plan will address: 3. How the COT Report objectives would be addressed and met; 4. A risk assessment to address how potential threats to GRSG habitat would be minimized. Chapter 2 - Vegetation Management & Fire Prescribed Fire:

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM Chapter 2 - Vegetation Management & Fire

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM Chapter 2 - Vegetation Management & Fire

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM Chapter 2: Vegetation Management & Fire Planning Reporting Integrated Program of Work (POW)

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM Chapter 2: Vegetation Management & Fire Training Collaborative TNC/BLM Best Practices Videos under development Implementation Workflows Webinars for NFPORS Program of Work (POW) planning and reporting

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BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM Livestock Grazing Guide Topics: Setting Priorities for Processing and Issuing Grazing Permits/Leases Incorporating Thresholds/Responses into Grazing Permits/Leases Setting Priorities for Effectiveness and Implementation Monitoring Relinquishments Range Improvements

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM #5 Broadcast - Vegetation Management Prioritizing review and processing of grazing permits/leases Incorporating thresholds/responses in the NEPA analysis and grazing permits Prioritizing field checks Relinquishments Livestock Grazing

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM Livestock Grazing

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM What is new? IM provides list of criteria to consider when setting priorities SFAs and PHMAs will generally be highest priority Portal developed that will display allotments, habitat management areas, and current grazing authorization information Setting Priorities for Processing and Issuing Grazing Permits

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM Setting Priorities for Processing and Issuing Grazing Permits Field offices will develop an annual program of work for prioritization The program of work will identify and document criteria for prioritization Field offices will submit initial list beginning in May 2016 and submit annual update by March 1 thereafter

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM Incorporating Thresholds/Responses into Grazing Permits/Leases What is new? Thresholds/responses will be analyzed in the NEPA analysis and incorporated into all grazing permits Highest priority is for allotments not meeting land health standards that has incorporated the HAF, and livestock grazing is a significant factor for not meeting standards

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM Livestock Grazing What is next? Rollout of IMs Trainings in April

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM Chapter 4: Disturbance Topics Cover in Chapter 4: Broad- and mid-scale disturbance estimate Project-level disturbance calculation Density of energy and mining facilities Disturbance caps

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM Disturbance: Steppe Forward #2 BSU, all lands, proprietary data – Annual estimates (NOC) – Available on the EGIS Portal Proposal, project area, all lands – Digitize features from NAIP (FO) – Density of energy and mining facilities (SDARTT) Disturbance and density are calculated in PHMA Disturbance is tracked at multiple scales:

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM Disturbance Updates ● Draft workflow developed at the DMD workshop ● Workflows are being refined and will be presented at the implementation workshops ● Workflows incorporate data collection and analysis at multiple scales

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM Disturbance and Reclamation Reclamation – Tracks interim and final reclamation SDARTT – Base map of disturbances is being populated – Ready for beta testing and use – Training will be in webinar format--May roll-out Disturbance Tracking IM in approval process and scheduled for release by the end of April

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM Chapter 5: Mitigation Topics Covered in Chapter 5 LUP Commitments – Net gain, durability, timeliness, and additionality – Regional mitigation strategies within one-year – Compensatory mitigation coordinated with state Implementation Topics – Defining principles of mitigation – Outline for regional strategies – Transparent and effective management of mitigation funds

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM Mitigation: Steppe Forward #6 ●BLM has a history of applying mitigation ○Avoidance and minimization are common practices ●GRSG plan commitments include: ○Net Conservation Gain, include uncertainty ○Timely, additional, and durable ○Debits, credits, and consistency in methods ○Landscape approach

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM Mitigation--What is New? ● Rangewide strategy in development ○Conservation & Restoration Strategy from SO 3336 will help guide investments ○Appendices for each WAFWA zones ● Outreach ○Meeting with state agencies, FWS, USFS and NRCS ○Establishing baseline metrics for state and private programs ●Policy and Handbook in final solicitor review

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BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM Monitoring and Data: Chapters 6 & 7 Monitoring and Data are separate chapters, but presented together here because of the intrinsic link between the two topics More details in Episode 3: Monitoring & Adaptive Management Episode 6: Data

The Steppe Forward Series BLM Monitoring and Data: Chapters 6 & 7 Vegetation Disturbance Implementation Population Effectiveness DATA

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM Monitoring and Data: Chapters 6 & 7 Good Management Decisions are those based on sound data and analysis At the project/local level data is collected with a consistent methodology (AIM for example) State directors are responsible for accurate and timely data collection following established data protocols. National data stewards, in coordination with state data stewards, will establish interim data standards and reporting processes where none exist and where field-reported data is required. The NOC is responsible for compiling state data, resolving issues in developing national data sets, and serving state and national data.

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM Next Steps The BLM is developing a multi-year schedule for standardizing and publishing national data sets. Data standardization and delivery are discussed in the Guide and the Integrated Rangeland Fire Strategy (SO3336 Report). Monitoring and Data: Chapters 6 & 7

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM Field Creation / Collection - AIM/HAF Indicators National Aggregation - Internal & External Data Analyses - BSU Disturbance Calculations Reporting - Annual & 5 Year Analyses - NEPA & HAF Suitability Decisions & Reporting - ePlanning Monitoring and Data: Chapters 6 & 7

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM Data Already Compiled and Available via EGIS Management Zones Sage-Grouse Populations (Geometry Only; Estimates, Trends & Other Information to be acquired) Priority Areas for Conservation Sagebrush Focal Areas Biologically significant units PHMA, GHMA and other habitat areas (Proposed Plan; ARMP & ARMPA data being compiled) Existing Vegetation Types - Sagebrush (Updated through 2013 fire season) Biophysical Settings Capable of Supporting Sagebrush Disturbances at broad and mid-scales Data Created / Held by States, D.O., F.O. - National Aggregation in Progress or Planned Plan Allocation Decisions AIM field collected data, including HAF (Training in progress) HAF suitability reports and seasonal suitability determinations (Post field season) Data & Systems in Development Disturbances at fine and site scale (SDARTT - Limited deployment in progress) Vegetation Treatments (VTS in development, Existing Systems on line) Project Locations (ePlanning currently being deployed) Regional Habitat Models and Intactness Measures (Initiated with USGS) Monitoring and Data: Chapters 6 & 7

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM Monitoring and Data: Chapters 6 & 7

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM /geoportal/catalog/main/portal. page Monitoring and Data: Chapters 6 & 7

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM Chapter 6: Monitoring and AM Topics covered in Chapter 6 Data collection and sample design ➢ HAF, land health assessments, land health standard Monitoring and reporting commitments Use of legacy data LUP effectiveness monitoring Adaptive management Engaging partners in population monitoring

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM Monitoring and AM: Steppe Forward #3 Types of Monitoring Monitoring and Reporting Scales Data Collection, Integration, and Use Consistent and Compatible Data Effectiveness Monitoring Adaptive Management

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM ●Land Use Plan Effectiveness IM ●HAF IM ●Funding to field for effectiveness monitoring ●Data, Monitoring, and Disturbance mini-summit ●Workflows and data for 6-basic work processes ○Need to develop one for data standardization ●Terrestrial AIM data set released to public. ●Developing materials for internal outreach Monitoring Updates

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM Habitat Assessment Framework Monitoring: Next Steps Vegetation Projects

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM Land Health Assessments and Standards Monitoring: Next Steps Authorizing New Disturbance

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM Effectiveness Monitoring Monitoring: Next Steps Tracking Implementation

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM AIM Training Registration is On-Going! ods-training/ Monitoring: Training

BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM Chapter 6: Monitoring and AM Topics covered in Chapter 6 Soft and hard triggers Assessed annually, post fire season Triggers analyzed in NEPA Soft triggers are implemented at the permit scale Hard triggers are hard wired into the LUP Check your approved ARMP for details

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BLM The Steppe Forward Series BLM placeholder for Kit’s final thoughts to close out broadcast

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