George Peacock, Team Leader Grazing Lands Technology Development Team Central National Technology...

George Peacock, Team LeaderGrazing Lands Technology Development

TeamCentral National Technology Support Center

2010 Southern Regional Cooperative Soil Survey Conference

College Station, TexasJuly 13, 2010

Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline

What is an Ecological Site?

How are ESDs developed?

Why do we need them?

What is an Ecological Site?

How are ESDs developed?

Why do we need them?

WHATWHAT

Ecological SitesEcological Sites

Bailey, R.G., 1996 Ecosystem Geography

Product of all the Product of all the environmental factorsenvironmental factors

responsible for its responsible for its development.development.

SoilsSoils TopographyTopography ClimateClimate HydrologyHydrology VegetationVegetation Natural DisturbancesNatural Disturbances

Animal CommunityAnimal Community Fire RegimeFire Regime

Product of all the Product of all the environmental factorsenvironmental factors

responsible for its responsible for its development.development.

SoilsSoils TopographyTopography ClimateClimate HydrologyHydrology VegetationVegetation Natural DisturbancesNatural Disturbances

Animal CommunityAnimal Community Fire RegimeFire Regime

Ecological SiteEcological Site

Ecological Site Description

Comprehensive reference document containing :

Ecological Site Description

Comprehensive reference document containing : Ecological Site Characteristics

Physiographic Features Climatic Features Water Features Soils

Plant Communities Site Interpretations Supporting Information

Ecological Site Characteristics Physiographic Features Climatic Features Water Features Soils

Plant Communities Site Interpretations Supporting Information

Community Phase 1.1

Community Phase 1.2

State 1

State 2

Community Phase 2.1

1.11.2

T1 R2

State and Transition Diagram

State and Transition Diagram

States Communitie

s phases Transitions Restoration

Pathways

States Communitie

s phases Transitions Restoration

Pathways

2.1 - One-seed juniper > 5’ tallShrubs

warm season tall and mid grasses

1.1 - Warm season tall and mid grasses

1.2 - Warm season mid and tall grasses and

one-seed juniper < 5’ tallShrubs

1.0 Reference State

2.0 Juniper/Shrub State

2.2 - One-seed juniperShrubs

and warm season mid grasses

3.0 Eroded State

3.1 - One-seed juniperactive wind and water erosion

1.1a

1.2aT1a R2a

R3a

T2b

2.1a2.2a

2.1 - One-seed juniper > 5’ tallShrubs

warm season tall and mid grasses

1.2 - Warm season mid and tall grasses and one-seed juniper < 5’ tall

Shrubs

1.1 Warm season mid and tall grasses

1.0 Reference State

2.0 Juniper/Shrub State

2.2 - One-seed juniperShrubs

and warm season mid grasses

3.0 Eroded State

3.1 - One-seed juniperactive wind and water erosion

Reference State: Two community phases maintained by frequent fire and weather fluctuations (drought and wet years).Indicators: High perennial grass cover and production. Litter accumulation.Feedbacks: Organic matter inputs allows for increased soil moisture, production, root turnover and litter increasing soil surface stability.At-risk Community Phase: Either community phase is at risk when bare ground increases and organic matter inputs decline.Trigger: Elimination of fire and overgrazing causing increase juniper canopyThreshold: Increasing bare ground > ??% and increase in juniper canopy cover to 15%.

Alternative State 2: Juniper canopy cover controls the soil moisture, herbaceous production and organic matter inputs. Management practices applied to maintain current canopy cover and herbaceous production. Manipulation of brush species and prescribed fire and grazing management planned to maintain or improve warm season mid grass production.Indicators: Juniper canopy cover>15%, bare ground > 35%.Feedbacks: Juniper use of moisture, decreasing herbaceous production, decreasing organic matter inputs.At-risk Community Phase: Either community phase is at risk if juniper seedling increase and canopy cover increases.Trigger: Juniper seedling established.Threshold: Bare ground > 50% and soil surface stability <3.0.Restoration Pathway: Decrease juniper canopy cover, increase organic matter inputs.

Alternative State 3: Active wind and water erosion taking place. Active sand dunes with juniper trees.Indicators: Juniper canopy closed, soil surface stability indicators <3.0, active wind and water erosion prevalent.Feedbacks: Juniper use of all available moisture, eliminates organic matter inputs, decreases soil surface stability.Restoration Pathway: Management and restoration practices planned must decrease juniper canopy with little or no surface disturbance, grazing must plan for increasing herbaceous production and allow for litter accumulation to improve organic matter inputs to stabilize soil surface.

1.1a 1.2a

T1aR2a

2.2a 2.1a

T2aR3a

Feedbacks

Juniper Encroachment

Juniper captures moisture

Decrease in understory vegetation

Decrease in litter & SOM

Increase in bare ground

Deterioration in soil structure

Decreased soil stability

Feedbacks

Decrease in juniper

canopy

Increase in herbaceous production

Decrease in bare ground

Increased organic matter inputs

Increased soil surface stability

Increased annual production

HOWHOW

Accomplishing the TaskAccomplishing the Task

1.1. Creation of initial Ecological Site Creation of initial Ecological Site conceptsconcepts

ReconnaissanceReconnaissance Literature reviewLiterature review

Data SourcesData Sources

Vegetation Transects and Clipping Plots NRCS, NPS, FS, BLM, ARS, DOD, USFWS, State Agencies, Organizations, etc.

Research Data Historical

records/accounts/journals

Vegetation Transects and Clipping Plots NRCS, NPS, FS, BLM, ARS, DOD, USFWS, State Agencies, Organizations, etc.

Research Data Historical

records/accounts/journals



2.2. Develop a list of expertsDevelop a list of experts

3.3. Draft initial State and Transition Draft initial State and Transition ModelModel

Involve experts from the area and other interested parties

Involve experts from the area and other interested parties




3.3. Draft initial State and Transition ModelDraft initial State and Transition Model

4.4. Initial data collection and analysisInitial data collection and analysis Primary objective to cover as much area as Primary objective to cover as much area as

rapidly as possiblerapidly as possible Visit all state and community phasesVisit all state and community phases New states or communities may be identifiedNew states or communities may be identified





4.4. Initial data collection and analysisInitial data collection and analysis

5.5. Refine State and Transition Model and Refine State and Transition Model and Ecological Site concept (if needed)Ecological Site concept (if needed)

6.6. High intensity data collectionHigh intensity data collection Quantify and test the relationships among Quantify and test the relationships among

properties identified as key feedbacksproperties identified as key feedbacks





4.4. Initial data collection and analysisInitial data collection and analysis

5.5. Refine State and Transition Model and Refine State and Transition Model and Ecological Site concept (if needed)Ecological Site concept (if needed)

6.6. High intensity data collectionHigh intensity data collection

7.7. Draft Ecological Site DescriptionDraft Ecological Site Description


Multidisciplinary

Interagency effort

Involve others groups such as university, research, private groups, etc.

Multidisciplinary

Interagency effort

Involve others groups such as university, research, private groups, etc.


Linking

Scientific Knowledge

with

Local Knowledge

Linking

Scientific Knowledge

with

Local Knowledge

WHYWHY

Landscapes are Divided Into Ecological Sites

for the Purposes of :

Landscapes are Divided Into Ecological Sites

for the Purposes of : Inventory Evaluation Managemen

t

Inventory Evaluation Managemen

t

Potential Uses for ESDsPotential Uses for ESDs Standard reference for natural resource

information for all federal agencies and other interested groups/organizations

Training tool and information source

Tool to assess lands for potential values or resource specific concerns

wildlife habitat carbon sinks vulnerability to loss or degradation Site restoration

Tool to prioritize and target limited Tool to prioritize and target limited program dollarsprogram dollars

Standard reference for natural resource information for all federal agencies and other interested groups/organizations

Training tool and information source

Tool to assess lands for potential values or resource specific concerns

wildlife habitat carbon sinks vulnerability to loss or degradation Site restoration

Tool to prioritize and target limited Tool to prioritize and target limited program dollarsprogram dollars

How ESDs HelpHow ESDs Help

Understanding ecological processes within plant communities on specific soils (ecological sites) can highlight opportunities for improvement

Understanding how ecological sites become susceptible to degradation can help avoid problems

Understanding ecological processes within plant communities on specific soils (ecological sites) can highlight opportunities for improvement

Understanding how ecological sites become susceptible to degradation can help avoid problems

Finally…Finally… ESDs can provide valuable

information regarding what ecological functions are critical in maintaining discrete ecological states

Restoration of ecological functions should be addressed if long term plant restoration is to be realized.

ESDs can provide valuable information regarding what ecological functions are critical in maintaining discrete ecological states

Restoration of ecological functions should be addressed if long term plant restoration is to be realized.

QuestionsQuestions

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