1. Handbook of Survey Methods for Monitoring Wild Rice
Tribal Water Workshop
Hinckley Grand Casino, Mille Lacs
October 9, 2014
Tonya Kjerland
M.S. Student, Water Resources Science
University of Minnesota

2. Goals of the project
Who’s involved
Timeline
Uses for the data collected
How to implement these methods
How to get involved

3. Project Goal
To establish a standardized method for measuring wild rice productivity.
From the handbook:
GLOSSARY
Standardized method. A standardized method is one that defines procedures for collecting data in a statistically valid manner that can be easily reproduced and will provide consistent, accurate measurements each time.
Monitoring wild rice productivity trends
Relating trends to annual harvest or water quality
Evaluating outcomes of management actions
Informing adaptations to stressors such as climate change
Quantifying success of restoration projects

4. The Handbook’s Philosophy
Consistent, Accurate Data
Standardized Methods
Flexible Study Design

5. Who’s involved? GLIFWC 1854 Treaty Authority Fond du Lac Grand Portage
Mille Lacs
WCTAC
Wisconsin DNR
University of Minnesota
Melissa Lewis, Intern with WCTAC

6. Timeline Feedback from Pilot Testers (Fall 2014)
Advisory Committee meeting #3
Desktop version
Fund-raising for publication
Review and Editing Phase (Winter 2015)
External reviewers
UMN Graduate committee
Final edits
Publish Handbook - Summer 2015

8. Uses for the data collected
Density (# stalks per square meter)
Plant weight = Biomass (measure of health)
Seed number, # viable seeds, seed biomass (reproductive capacity)
Plant size (height, weight)
Spatial variability
Relationships with water quality and sediment
Quantify trends in populations
Relate parameters to harvest data
Stressors – pests, pathogens, human impacts

9. What is biomass?

10. Population oscillation pattern on a lake in Northern Minnesota

11. Plant height may be measured as a shortcut to calculate biomass

12. Number of potential seeds is positively related to plant weight
Example of uses for this data – may be used to calculate plant weight by counting pedicel number

13. How to implement these methods

14. Study Design

17. Using Existing Biomass Equations vs. Creating New Ones: A Comparison
Advantages:
- Easy to use
- Saves time
- Not necessary to collect plants
- Useful for showing trends over time
Disadvantages:
- Not site-specific
- Less accurate than the method of collecting plants from a particular site of interest
Use Existing Biomass Equation
- Site-specific
- More accurate for an individual population
- More time-consuming to collect, dry, and weigh plants
- Requires higher level of statistical training
Create New Biomass Equation

18. Decision Trees Deciding how many and which wild rice waters to sample
Choose plot design (grid vs. line transect)
Decide how to measure biomass
Choose number of sample sites (also see Table 2)
Pass out copies

20. Sample site location – Lake
Line Transect - Lake
Grid Map - Lake

21. Sample site location – River
Grid Map - River
Line Transect - River

22. Decision Tree for Selecting Plot Design

23. Step-by-Step Directions

24. Determining number of sample sites
Precision
Standard Error is 20% of the Mean
Quadrat Area (m2)
0.5 m2
Estimated Wild Rice Biomass (grams/m2)*
9 or less
10 to 14
15 to 24
25 to 49
50 to 79
80 to 115
116+
Required # of Sample Plots
60+
59 to 51
50 to 41
40 to 30
29 to 24
24 to 21 20
Percentage of years when this number of sample plots would be required 4% 9%
10%
16%
20%
29%
Table 2. Number of sample sites required based on biomass
*Based on Downing and Anderson (1985) and analysis of 15 years of data from the 1854 Treaty Authority; (Vogt, 2013; Kjerland, unpublished research.)

26. Process for collecting the core variables
Locate sample site
Crew member in back of canoe navigates using handheld GPS, map, and GPS coordinates
Measure density and record field notes
Count stalks → crew in front
Record field notes →crew in back
Identify other plants in quadrat
Collect other plants if needed for identification → crew in front
Record common names of plants identified →crew in back
Measure sample plant and water depth
Stem height, water depth, number of tillers → crew in front
Record measurements → crew in back
Collect wild rice plant and seed heads (optional)
Collect entire wild rice plant → crew in front
Or collect only the seed heads → crew in front
Store collected plants on ice
Process for collecting the core variables

28. What to do when a site does not have wild rice – Open Water Sites
Open water sites are valid data points and should be included in the data collection.
To avoid sampling bias, do not skip a site only because it is an open water site.
Exceptions: When the site is not in suitable wild rice habitat due to an obstruction (point is on shore, floating vegetative mat, dock, etc.)
Other exceptions: Pre-determined while setting up the site locations, based on historic data showing no wild rice for 10 or more years.

33. How to get involved
Review complete version (read and provide comments, winter 2015)
Review specific chapters
Cultural and Spiritual Significance
How to create a new biomass equation
Others chapters per your interests
Help with publication funding

34. Acknowledgements Chi Miigwetch to:
John Pastor, UMN-Duluth, Graduate Advisor
Valerie Brady and Rich Axler, NRRI, Graduate Committee Members
Technical Advisory Committee: Peter David, Tom Howes, Elaine Ryzucki, Nancy Schuldt, and Darren Vogt
Pilot Testers: Technical Advisory Committee, Melissa Lewis, and Kelly Applegate (Mille Lacs)
Intern with WCTAC: Melissa Lewis
Jason Fleener, Wisconsin DNR
Steve Eggers, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

35. Contact Info
Tonya Kjerland Water Resources Science University of Minnesota – Twin Cities kjer0016<at>umn.edu (218)