SCIENTIFIC BACKGROUND FOR SOIL MONITORING ON NATIONAL FORESTS AND RANGELANDSSetting the stage for how we got here and why we are here…Setting the stage for how we got here and why we are here…

Sharon DeHartSharon DeHartFormer R1 Soils Program ManagerFormer R1 Soils Program Manager

Current Assistant DirectorCurrent Assistant DirectorForest Service Job CorpsForest Service Job Corps

Timeline

1991 – Dan Neary1991 – Dan Neary

Timeline

1994 – Carl Trettin1994 – Carl Trettin

Timeline

1995 – Marty 1995 – Marty JurgensenJurgensen

Dakota Prairie Grasslands

1999 – Arrived at the 1999 – Arrived at the Dakota Prairie Dakota Prairie GrasslandsGrasslands No completed No completed

mappingmapping No monitoring No monitoring

programprogram Writing of Grasslands Writing of Grasslands

Management PlanManagement Plan

Help Is On The WayHelp Is On The Way

Iron SpringsIron Springs 2001 Fire2001 Fire Magpie CreekMagpie Creek Space AliensSpace Aliens

Region 1 Soil Program ManagerRegion 1 Soil Program Manager

In 2001 there are no significant lawsuits In 2001 there are no significant lawsuits pending.pending.

Work on monitoring in Region 1Work on monitoring in Region 1

National Soil Scientist MeetingNational Soil Scientist Meeting20012001

Randy runs off to the HillRandy runs off to the Hill

Meredith Webster: Soils/BAERMeredith Webster: Soils/BAER

Washington, DC breaks the heat recordWashington, DC breaks the heat record

LawsuitsLawsuits

The public begins suing the FS over The public begins suing the FS over soil soil productivity issues productivity issues because we cannot because we cannot document:document: that 15% areal extent is really where productivity that 15% areal extent is really where productivity

declinesdeclines that a 15% increase in bulk density is where tree that a 15% increase in bulk density is where tree

growth is limitedgrowth is limited that we have been to each unitthat we have been to each unit that out sampling protocol is correctthat out sampling protocol is correct that our sampling protocol is statistically validthat our sampling protocol is statistically valid blanket standards for disparate soil conditionsblanket standards for disparate soil conditions

2002-20042002-2004

Conducted a Region 1-wide study on the Conducted a Region 1-wide study on the best monitoring methods to use for post-best monitoring methods to use for post-fire salvage logging.fire salvage logging.

Those monitoring methods were melded Those monitoring methods were melded with the work Steve Howes had started in with the work Steve Howes had started in Region 6.Region 6.

Jim Keys and Randy Davis found funds to Jim Keys and Randy Davis found funds to develop a protocol so that soils would be develop a protocol so that soils would be recognized as a resource.recognized as a resource.

20052005

R1 Regional Forester Gail Kimbell R1 Regional Forester Gail Kimbell requested assistance from R & D, requested assistance from R & D, Universities, BC Ministry of Forests, and Universities, BC Ministry of Forests, and NFS to develop a plan to help reduce the NFS to develop a plan to help reduce the number of lawsuits dealing with soils number of lawsuits dealing with soils issues.issues.

We included Timber and Range, Forest We included Timber and Range, Forest Engineers, Intermountain Forest Tree Engineers, Intermountain Forest Tree Nutrition Cooperative, R4, R6, R8, FIANutrition Cooperative, R4, R6, R8, FIA

20062006

Developed a easy, cost-effective, Developed a easy, cost-effective, statistically defensible, protocol that ties statistically defensible, protocol that ties into Region 6 and BC Ministry of Forests into Region 6 and BC Ministry of Forests assessmentsassessments

Made sure we were developing and Made sure we were developing and maintaining a common languagemaintaining a common language

20072007

Work began on a Field Guide to Soil Disturbance – From a proposal by Steve Howes and Jeff TenPas Carolyn Napper at San Dimas lead the effort to go to every

Region in the FS to get pictures of soil disturbance Steve Howes, Dick Miller, et al. working on a Risk Rating

System Steve Howes submitted a proposal to have San Dimas

develop a standardized curriculum Tom Rice, Emmanuel Hudson/Darrius Truss (R8) and

Randy Davis – working on a standardized database for soil monitoring data

R & D continuing work on validation

20082008

Needed to ensure Needed to ensure that we have the that we have the state-of-the-state-of-the-knowledge on soil knowledge on soil monitoring, soil monitoring, soil productivity, and soil productivity, and soil qualityquality

What did the pebble say to the big rock?

Someday do you think I’ll be a little boulder?