Dan CaudleRangeland Management SpecialistUSDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Central National Technology Support CenterFort Worth, Texas

Dan CaudleRangeland Management SpecialistUSDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Central National Technology Support CenterFort Worth, Texas

Ecological Site Descriptions:Contents and Data Requirements

Presented by George Peacock

Ecological Site Descriptions:Contents and Data Requirements

Presented by George Peacock

Ecological SiteEcological Site

A distinctive kind of land with specific physicalcharacteristics that differs from other kinds of landin its ability to produce a distinctive kind and amount of vegetation

A distinctive kind of land with specific physicalcharacteristics that differs from other kinds of landin its ability to produce a distinctive kind and amount of vegetation

Ecological Site

Product of all the environmental factorsresponsible for its development.

SoilsTopographyClimateHydrologyVegetationNatural Disturbances

Animal CommunityFire Regime

Product of all the environmental factorsresponsible for its development.

SoilsTopographyClimateHydrologyVegetationNatural Disturbances

Animal CommunityFire Regime

Ecological Site Description NRCS Guidance DocumentsEcological Site Description

NRCS Guidance Documents

National Range and Pasture Handbook – Chapter 3, Section 1 (Rev. 1) – guidance and procedures for development of ESDs

National Range and Pasture Handbook – Chapter 4, Part 600.0402 – procedures for evaluating and rating ecological sites

National Forestry Manual - Part 537.3 – policy, definition,requirements for forestland ESDs

National Forestry Handbook - Part 637.3 – methodology andprocedures for development of forestland ESDs

National Range and Pasture Handbook – Chapter 3, Section 1 (Rev. 1) – guidance and procedures for development of ESDs

National Range and Pasture Handbook – Chapter 4, Part 600.0402 – procedures for evaluating and rating ecological sites

National Forestry Manual - Part 537.3 – policy, definition,requirements for forestland ESDs

National Forestry Handbook - Part 637.3 – methodology andprocedures for development of forestland ESDs

Ecological Site Description NRCS Guidance DocumentsEcological Site Description

NRCS Guidance DocumentsNational Biology Manual – Part 512.3 – concepts andprinciples used in ESD interpretations

National Soil Survey Manual - Chapter 6 - concepts and principles used in ESD interpretations

National Soil Survey Handbook – Part 622.07 – policies and responsibilities for soil-ecological site correlation

Agricultural Handbook 296 - Major Land Resource Regions andMajor Land Resource Areas of the United States

National Biology Manual – Part 512.3 – concepts andprinciples used in ESD interpretations

National Soil Survey Manual - Chapter 6 - concepts and principles used in ESD interpretations

National Soil Survey Handbook – Part 622.07 – policies and responsibilities for soil-ecological site correlation

Agricultural Handbook 296 - Major Land Resource Regions andMajor Land Resource Areas of the United States

Ecological Site NameEcological Site NameBrief – Easily UnderstoodBased on readily identifiable physical features

Soil FeaturesClimateTopographyCombinations of these features

EXAMPLE: GYP UPLAND

Not AcceptablePlant names by themselves

Brief – Easily UnderstoodBased on readily identifiable physical features

Soil FeaturesClimateTopographyCombinations of these features

EXAMPLE: GYP UPLAND

Not AcceptablePlant names by themselves

Ecological Site Identification NumberEcological Site Identification Number

EXAMPLE - R042XC006NMR – identifies site type as Rangeland042X – MLRA - Southern Desertic Basins, Plains, and

MountainsC – Land Resource Unit assigned by state005 – Unique number assigned by stateNM – Postal code for responsible state – New Mexico

EXAMPLE - R042XC006NMR – identifies site type as Rangeland042X – MLRA - Southern Desertic Basins, Plains, and

MountainsC – Land Resource Unit assigned by state005 – Unique number assigned by stateNM – Postal code for responsible state – New Mexico

Ecological Site Description

comprehensive reference document containing :

Ecological Site Description

comprehensive reference document containing :

Ecological Site CharacteristicsPhysiographic FeaturesClimatic FeaturesWater FeaturesSoils

Plant CommunitiesSite InterpretationsSupporting Information

Ecological Site CharacteristicsPhysiographic FeaturesClimatic FeaturesWater FeaturesSoils

Plant CommunitiesSite InterpretationsSupporting Information

Ecological Site Description Components

Ecological Site Description Components

HeadingSite TypeSite ID NumberSite NameMLRA

HeadingSite TypeSite ID NumberSite NameMLRA

Ecological Site Description Components

Ecological Site Description Components

Physiographic FeaturesLand FormElevationAspectSlopeWater Table DepthFlooding (frequency and duration) Ponding (depth and duration)Runoff Class

Physiographic FeaturesLand FormElevationAspectSlopeWater Table DepthFlooding (frequency and duration) Ponding (depth and duration)Runoff Class

Ecological Site Description Components

Ecological Site Description Components

Climatic FeaturesFrost-Free PeriodFreeze-Free PeriodPrecipitation - Mean AnnualPrecipitation - Monthly Minimum/MaximumTemperature - Monthly Minimum/Maximum

Climatic FeaturesFrost-Free PeriodFreeze-Free PeriodPrecipitation - Mean AnnualPrecipitation - Monthly Minimum/MaximumTemperature - Monthly Minimum/Maximum

Ecological Site Description Components

Ecological Site Description Components

Water FeaturesCowardin Wetland ClassificationRosgen Stream Classification

Water FeaturesCowardin Wetland ClassificationRosgen Stream Classification

Ecological Site Description Components

Ecological Site Description Components

Representative Soil FeaturesParent Materials, Soil DepthTexture, FragmentsDrainage, PermeabilityAvailable Water CapacitySoil Reaction (pH)Calcium Carbonate EquivalentElectrical Conductivity

Representative Soil FeaturesParent Materials, Soil DepthTexture, FragmentsDrainage, PermeabilityAvailable Water CapacitySoil Reaction (pH)Calcium Carbonate EquivalentElectrical Conductivity

Ecological Site Description Components

Ecological Site Description Components

Plant CommunitiesEcological Site Dynamics

Narrative DescriptionState and Transition Diagram

NarrativeDiagram

Plant CommunitiesPlant CommunitiesEcological Site Dynamics

Narrative DescriptionState and Transition Diagram

NarrativeDiagram

Deep Redland Ecological Site - DraftMLRA 81C

Ecological Site Description Components

Ecological Site Description Components

Plant CommunitiesHistoric Climax Plant Community

Narrative DescriptionPhotoPlant Species Composition and Production TableProduction By Plant TypeGrowth Curve InformationCover and Structure

Plant CommunitiesHistoric Climax Plant Community

Narrative DescriptionPhotoPlant Species Composition and Production TableProduction By Plant TypeGrowth Curve InformationCover and Structure

Ecological Site Description Components

Ecological Site Description Components

Plant Communities

Narrative DescriptionPhoto(s)Production By Plant TypeGrowth Curve InformationCover and Structure

Plant Communities

Narrative DescriptionPhoto(s)Production By Plant TypeGrowth Curve InformationCover and Structure

Ecological Site Description Components

Ecological Site Description Components

Ecological Site InterpretationsAnimal Community

Plant Preference By Animal KindWildlifeLivestock

Ecological Site InterpretationsAnimal Community

Plant Preference By Animal KindWildlifeLivestock

Ecological Site Description Components

Ecological Site InterpretationsHydrologic FunctionsRecreational UsesWood ProductsForest Site ProductivityOther ProductsOther Information

Ecological Site InterpretationsHydrologic FunctionsRecreational UsesWood ProductsForest Site ProductivityOther ProductsOther Information

Ecological Site Description Components

Ecological Site Description Components

Supporting InformationAssociated SitesSimilar SitesState CorrelationInventory Data ReferencesType LocalityRelationship to Other ClassificationOther ReferencesSite Description Approval

Author & Date, Approval & Date

Supporting InformationAssociated SitesSimilar SitesState CorrelationInventory Data ReferencesType LocalityRelationship to Other ClassificationOther ReferencesSite Description Approval

Author & Date, Approval & Date

Data SourcesData Sources

Vegetation TransectsNRCS, NPS, FS, BLM, ARS, DOD, USFWS,State Agencies, Organizations, etc.

Research DataHistorical records/accounts/journalsExpert knowledge

Vegetation TransectsNRCS, NPS, FS, BLM, ARS, DOD, USFWS,State Agencies, Organizations, etc.

Research DataHistorical records/accounts/journalsExpert knowledge

Determining Characteristic States of an Ecological Site

Determining Characteristic States of an Ecological Site

Determine HCPC for site where possibleDetermine other known vegetation states Reference sites identified and evaluatedProductivity and species composition of each plant community evaluated

Descriptions are an approximation – subject to modification as additional knowledge is acquired.

Determine HCPC for site where possibleDetermine other known vegetation states Reference sites identified and evaluatedProductivity and species composition of each plant community evaluated

Descriptions are an approximation – subject to modification as additional knowledge is acquired.

Differentiation Between Ecological Sites

Differentiation Between Ecological Sites

Significant Differences

plant species or groups in HCPC.

relative proportion of plant species or groups in HCPC.

total annual production of HCPC.

Significant Differences

plant species or groups in HCPC.

relative proportion of plant species or groups in HCPC.

total annual production of HCPC.

Differentiation Between Ecological Sites

Differentiation Between Ecological Sites

Guidelines for determining significantdifferences

Presence or absence of one or more species that make up 10% or more of HCPC by air-dry weight.

20% change in composition, by air-dry weight, between any two species in HCPC.

Guidelines for determining significantGuidelines for determining significantdifferencesdifferences

Presence or absence of one or more species that make up Presence or absence of one or more species that make up 10% or more of HCPC by air10% or more of HCPC by air--dry weight.dry weight.

20% change in composition, by air20% change in composition, by air--dry weight, between dry weight, between any two species in HCPC.any two species in HCPC.

Differentiation Between Ecological Sites

Differentiation Between Ecological Sites

Guidelines for determining significant differences

Difference in average annual production50% at 200-500 lb./ac.30% at 500-1000 lb./ac.20% at more than 1000 lb./ac.

Guidelines are not absolute…differences may be greater or less than guidelines indicate

Guidelines for determining significant differences

Difference in average annual production50% at 200-500 lb./ac.30% at 500-1000 lb./ac.20% at more than 1000 lb./ac.

Guidelines are not absolute…differences may be greater or less than guidelines indicate

Ecological Site Descriptions Provide

State–of-the-science technical information

Common framework for communication of resource information among disciplines, agencies, and organizations

Comprehensive descriptions of interactions among soils, vegetation, and management

State–of-the-science technical information

Common framework for communication of resource information among disciplines, agencies, and organizations

Comprehensive descriptions of interactions among soils, vegetation, and management

Ecological Site Descriptions ProvideEcological Site Descriptions Provide

Benchmark to assess the current condition of natural resources and monitor changes

Framework to assess management opportunities and predict the outcome of management decisions

Framework for transfer of experience and knowldege

Benchmark to assess the current condition of natural resources and monitor changes

Framework to assess management opportunities and predict the outcome of management decisions

Framework for transfer of experience and knowldege

Ecological Site Descriptions ProvideEcological Site Descriptions Provide

Databases for essential data to populate computerized conservation planning tools

ArcGIS (Toolkit)Soil Data ViewerWeb Soil SurveyGrazingland Spatial Analysis Tool (GSAT)

Databases for essential data to populate computerized conservation planning tools

ArcGIS (Toolkit)Soil Data ViewerWeb Soil SurveyGrazingland Spatial Analysis Tool (GSAT)

Potential Uses for ESDs and FSGDsPotential Uses for ESDs and FSGDsStandard reference for natural resource information

Training tool and information source for all NRCS field personnel

Tool to assess lands for potential values or resourcespecific concerns

wildlife habitatcarbon sinksvulnerability to loss or degradation

Tool to prioritize and target limited program dollars

Standard reference for natural resource information

Training tool and information source for all NRCS field personnel

Tool to assess lands for potential values or resourcespecific concerns

wildlife habitatcarbon sinksvulnerability to loss or degradation

Tool to prioritize and target limited program dollars

THANKSTHANKS

Dan CaudleRangeland Management SpecialistUSDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Central National Technology Support CenterFort Worth, Texas

Dan CaudleRangeland Management SpecialistUSDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Central National Technology Support CenterFort Worth, Texas