George Peacock, Team Leader Grazing Lands Technology Development Team Central National Technology Support Center 2010 Southern Regional Cooperative Soil Survey Conference College Station, Texas July 13, 2010

Presentation 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?

WHAT

Ecological Sites Bailey, R.G., 1996 Ecosystem Geography

Product of all the environmental factors responsible for its development. Soils Soils Topography Topography Climate Climate Hydrology Hydrology Vegetation Vegetation Natural Disturbances Natural Disturbances Animal Community Animal Community Fire Regime Fire Regime Product of all the environmental factors responsible for its development. Soils Soils Topography Topography Climate Climate Hydrology Hydrology Vegetation Vegetation Natural Disturbances Natural Disturbances Animal Community Animal Community Fire Regime Fire Regime Ecological Site

Ecological Site Description C omprehensive 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 T1R2 State and Transition Diagram States Communities phases Transitions Restoration Pathways States Communities phases Transitions Restoration Pathways

2.1 - One-seed juniper > 5’ tall Shrubs warm season tall and mid grasses Warm season tall and mid grasses Warm season mid and tall grasses and one-seed juniper < 5’ tall Shrubs 1.0 Reference State 2.0 Juniper/Shrub State One-seed juniper Shrubs and warm season mid grasses 3.0 Eroded State One-seed juniper active wind and water erosion 1.1a 1.2a T1a R2a R3a T2b 2.1a 2.2a

2.1 - One-seed juniper > 5’ tall Shrubs warm season tall and mid grasses 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 One-seed juniper Shrubs and warm season mid grasses 3.0 Eroded State One-seed juniper active 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 canopy Threshold: 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. 1.1a1.2a T1aR2a 2.2a2.1a T2a R3a

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

HOW

Accomplishing the Task 1. Creation of initial Ecological Site concepts  Reconnaissance  Literature review

Data 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

Accomplishing the Task 1. Creation of initial Ecological Site concepts 2. Develop a list of experts 3. Draft initial State and Transition Model

Involve experts from the area and other interested parties

Accomplishing the Task 1. Creation of initial Ecological Site concepts 2. Develop a list of experts 3. Draft initial State and Transition Model 4. Initial data collection and analysis  Primary objective to cover as much area as rapidly as possible  Visit all state and community phases  New states or communities may be identified

Accomplishing the Task 1. Creation of initial Ecological Site concepts 2. Develop a list of experts 3. Draft initial State and Transition Model 4. Initial data collection and analysis 5. Refine State and Transition Model and Ecological Site concept (if needed) 6. High intensity data collection  Quantify and test the relationships among properties identified as key feedbacks

Accomplishing the Task 1. Creation of initial Ecological Site concepts 2. Develop a list of experts 3. Draft initial State and Transition Model 4. Initial data collection and analysis 5. Refine State and Transition Model and Ecological Site concept (if needed) 6. High intensity data collection 7. Draft Ecological Site Description

Accomplishing the Task 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.

Accomplishing the Task Linking Scientific Knowledge with Local Knowledge Linking Scientific Knowledge with Local Knowledge

WHY

Landscapes are Divided Into Ecological Sites for the Purposes of : Inventory Evaluation Management Inventory Evaluation Management

Potential 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 program 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 program dollars

How 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… 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.

Questions