Rangeland health reference sheet

Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health is a qualitative assessment protocol used to determine ecosystem condition based on benchmark characteristics described in the Reference Sheet. A suite of 17 (or more) indicators are typically considered in an assessment. The ecological site(s) representative of an assessment location must be known prior to applying the protocol and must be verified based on soils and climate. Current plant community cannot be used to identify the ecological site.

Indicators

1. Number and extent of rills:

   Rills are none to rare.

2. Presence of water flow patterns:

   Water flow patterns are often numerous after summer convection storms where run-in occurs on lake plains.

3. Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:

   Pedestals are rare with occurrence typically limited to areas within water flow patterns.

4. Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):

   Bare Ground 65 to 75%

5. Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:

   These soils have potential for gully formation where concentration of overland flows occurs.

6. Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:

   None

7. Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):

   Fine litter (foliage from grasses and annual & perennial forbs) expected to move distance of slope length during intense summer convection storms or rapid snowmelt events. Persistent litter (large woody material) will remain in place except during large rainfall events.

8. Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):

   Soil stability values should be 1 to 4 on most soil textures found on this site. Soils having thin surface sand sheet will have low stability values. (To be field tested.)

9. Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):

   Structure of soil surface typically is medium platy. Soil surface colors are pale browns and soils are typified by an ochric epipedon. Organic matter of the surface 2 to 3 inches is less than 1 percent. Surface soils are typically very fine sandy loams to silt loams. The surface layer of these soils will normally develop a vesicular crust, inhibiting water infiltration and seedling emergence.

10. Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:

    Sparse shrub canopy and associated litter provide some protection from raindrop impact.

11. Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):

    Compacted layers are none. Platy or massive sub-surface horizons are not to be interpreted as compacted layers.

12. Functional/Structural Groups (list in order of descending dominance by above-ground annual-production or live foliar cover using symbols: >>, >, = to indicate much greater than, greater than, and equal to):

    Dominant:

    Low-statured shrub (shadscale)

    Sub-dominant:

    associated shrubs > deep-rooted, cool season, perennial bunchgrass (Indian ricegrass) > shallow-rooted, cool season, perennial bunchgrasses > deep-rooted, cool season, perennial forbs > annual forbs

    Other:

    Warm season perennial grasses

    Additional:

13. Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):

    Dead branches within individual shrubs common and standing dead shrub canopy material may be as much as 35% of total woody canopy; mature bunchgrasses commonly (±25%) have dead centers.

14. Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):

    Between plant interspaces 10-20% and depth < ¼ in

15. Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):

    For normal or average growing season (February thru May) ± 375 lbs/ac; Favorable years ± 500 lbs/ac and unfavorable years ± 200 lbs/ac.

16. Potential invasive (including noxious) species (native and non-native). List species which BOTH characterize degraded states and have the potential to become a dominant or co-dominant species on the ecological site if their future establishment and growth is not actively controlled by management interventions. Species that become dominant for only one to several years (e.g., short-term response to drought or wildfire) are not invasive plants. Note that unlike other indicators, we are describing what is NOT expected in the reference state for the ecological site:

    Potential invaders include halogeton, Russian thistle, annual mustards, and cheatgrass.

17. Perennial plant reproductive capability:

    All functional groups should reproduce in average and above average growing season years. Little growth or reproduction occurs during extreme or extended drought periods.

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