Standardized Monitoring & Assessment Protocols

Patrick E. Clark, Ph.D.

Range Scientist
USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS)
Northwest Watershed Research Center
Boise, Idaho

Targeted Grazing for Rangeland Fuels Management

Motivation
Develop a Rigorous Scientific Foundation for Targeted Grazing.
Establish a Multi-Regional Experiment.
Capitalize on Local Projects and Demonstrations by Standardizing:
Grazing Treatment Types
Monitoring and Assessment Protocols
Treatment Application Targets (e.g. Fuel Height)
Ecosystem Responses
Individual Projects/Demos become Replicates in Larger Experiment.

More and Better Science.

Targeted Grazing for Rangeland Fuels Management

Monitoring and Assessment

Treatment Application
Mode
Treatment
Application

Parameter
Visual Record

Protocol
Photo Points,
Repeated

Purpose
Document
before-after
state of treated
area.
Document
phenological
timing of grazing.

Phenology

Grass, 6-class
Phenology

Residual Fuel Height

Stubble Height
with Pace
Transects

Iteratively assess
fuel heightreduction for
target species.

Utilization

Paired-Plots with
Utilization Cages

Assess utilization
by % weight
removed for
target species.

Comments
Important
technologytransfer
information.
See phenological
class description
below in Details
section.
NOT intended as
a stand-alone
measure of
utilization (see
below).
Treatment
applications of > 7
days during active
growth require
multiple
assessments using
movable cages.

Targeted Grazing for Rangeland Fuels Management

Monitoring and Assessment

Treatment Application
Mode
Treatment
Application

Parameter
Visual Record

Protocol
Photo Points,
Repeated

Phenology

Grass, 6-class
Phenology

Residual Fuel Height

Stubble Height
with Pace
Transects

Utilization

Paired-Plots with
Utilization Cages

Purpose
Comments
Document
Important
before-after state technologyof treated area.
transfer
information.
Document
See phenological
phenological
class description
timing of grazing. below in Details
section.
Iteratively assess NOT intended as
fuel heighta stand-alone
reduction for
measure of
target species.
utilization (see
below).
Assess utilization Treatment
by % weight
applications of > 7
removed for
days during active
target species.
growth require
multiple
assessments using
movable cages.

Targeted Grazing for Rangeland Fuels Management

Monitoring and Assessment

Treatment Application
Mode
Treatment
Application

Parameter
Visual Record

Protocol
Photo Points,
Repeated

Purpose
Document
before-after
state of treated
area.
Document
phenological
timing of grazing.

Phenology

Grass, 6-class
Phenology

Residual Fuel Height

Stubble Height
with Pace
Transects

Iteratively assess
fuel heightreduction for
target species.

Utilization

Paired-Plots with
Utilization Cages

Assess utilization
by % weight
removed for
target species.

Comments
Important
technologytransfer
information.
See phenological
class description
below in Details
section.
NOT intended as
a stand-alone
measure of
utilization (see
below).
Treatment
applications of > 7
days during active
growth require
multiple
assessments using
movable cages.

Targeted Grazing for Rangeland Fuels Management

Monitoring and Assessment

Treatment Application
Mode
Treatment
Application

Parameter
Visual Record

Protocol
Photo Points,
Repeated

Phenology

Grass, 6-class
Phenology

Purpose
Document
before-after
state of treated
area.
Document
phenological
timing of grazing.

Residual Fuel Height Stubble Height

with Pace
Transects

Iteratively assess
fuel heightreduction for
target species.

Utilization

Assess utilization
by % weight
removed for
target species.

Paired-Plots with
Utilization Cages

Comments
Important
technologytransfer
information.
See phenological
class description
below in Details
section.
NOT intended as a
stand-alone
measure of
utilization (see
below).
Treatment
applications of > 7
days during active
growth require
multiple
assessments using
movable cages.

Targeted Grazing for Rangeland Fuels Management

Monitoring and Assessment

Treatment Application
Mode
Treatment
Application

Parameter
Visual Record

Protocol
Photo Points,
Repeated

Purpose
Document
before-after
state of treated
area.
Document
phenological
timing of grazing.

Phenology

Grass, 6-class
Phenology

Residual Fuel Height

Stubble Height
with Pace
Transects

Iteratively assess
fuel heightreduction for
target species.

Utilization

Paired-Plots with
Utilization Cages

Assess utilization
by % weight
removed for
target species.

Comments
Important
technologytransfer
information.
See phenological
class description
below in Details
section.
NOT intended as
a stand-alone
measure of
utilization (see
below).
Treatment
applications of > 7
days during active
growth require
multiple
assessments using
movable cages.

Targeted Grazing for Rangeland Fuels Management

Monitoring and Assessment

Ecosystem Responses
Mode

Parameter

Response Assessment

Protocol

Purpose
Assess erosion
potential and habitat
quality.
Assess species
richness, abundance
and identify presence
of nonnative invasive
plant species, species
of management
concern (e.g., T&E).

Comments

Bare Ground, Foliar and

Basal Cover

Line-Point Intercept
(LPI)

AIM Terrestrial Core

Indicator.

Vegetation Composition

Line-Point Intercept
with Plot-Level
Inventory

Inter-Canopy Gaps

Canopy Gap Intercept Assess fuel continuity

AIM Terrestrial Core
and potential for wind Indicator.
erosion and weed
invasion.

Vegetation Height

Line-Point Intercept
with Cylindrical
Neighborhood

Assess vertical
structure, habitat
quality, and potential
for wind erosion.

AIM Terrestrial Core

Indicator.

Production

Protected Plot with

Cages

Assess fuel load and

annual aboveground
net primary
productivity.

Sort by species, for

shrub and tree species
also sort by fuel-size
class.

Soil Compaction

Bulk Density

Assess soil
compaction response
to livestock grazing.

Compaction is of
particular concern for
early-spring grazing on
moist soils.

AIM Terrestrial Core

Indicators.

Targeted Grazing for Rangeland Fuels Management

Monitoring and Assessment

Ecosystem Responses
Mode

Parameter

Response Assessment

Protocol

Purpose
Assess erosion
potential and habitat
quality.
Assess species
richness, abundance
and identify presence
of nonnative invasive
plant species, species
of management
concern (e.g., T&E).

Comments

Bare Ground, Foliar and

Basal Cover

Line-Point Intercept
(LPI)

AIM Terrestrial Core

Indicator.

Vegetation Composition

Line-Point Intercept
with Plot-Level
Inventory

Inter-Canopy Gaps

Canopy Gap Intercept Assess fuel continuity

AIM Terrestrial Core
and potential for wind Indicator.
erosion and weed
invasion.

Vegetation Height

Line-Point Intercept
with Cylindrical
Neighborhood

Assess vertical
structure, habitat
quality, and potential
for wind erosion.

AIM Terrestrial Core

Indicator.

Production

Protected Plot with

Cages

Assess fuel load and

annual aboveground
net primary
productivity.

Sort by species, for

shrub and tree species
also sort by fuel-size
class.

Soil Compaction

Bulk Density

Assess soil
compaction response
to livestock grazing.

Compaction is of
particular concern for
early-spring grazing on
moist soils.

AIM Terrestrial Core

Indicators.

Targeted Grazing for Rangeland Fuels Management

Monitoring and Assessment

Ecosystem Responses
Mode

Parameter

Response Assessment

Protocol

Purpose
Assess erosion
potential and habitat
quality.
Assess species
richness, abundance
and identify presence
of nonnative invasive
plant species, species
of management
concern (e.g., T&E).

Comments

Bare Ground, Foliar and

Basal Cover

Line-Point Intercept
(LPI)

AIM Terrestrial Core

Indicator.

Vegetation Composition

Line-Point Intercept
with Plot-Level
Inventory

Inter-Canopy Gaps

Canopy Gap Intercept Assess fuel continuity

AIM Terrestrial Core
and potential for wind Indicator.
erosion and weed
invasion.

Vegetation Height

Line-Point Intercept
with Cylindrical
Neighborhood

Assess vertical
structure, habitat
quality, and potential
for wind erosion.

AIM Terrestrial Core

Indicator.

Production

Protected Plot with

Cages

Assess fuel load and

annual aboveground
net primary
productivity.

Sort by species, for

shrub and tree species
also sort by fuel-size
class.

Soil Compaction

Bulk Density

Assess soil
compaction response
to livestock grazing.

Compaction is of
particular concern for
early-spring grazing on
moist soils.

AIM Terrestrial Core

Indicators.

Targeted Grazing for Rangeland Fuels Management

Monitoring and Assessment

Ecosystem Responses
Mode

Parameter

Response Assessment

Protocol

Bare Ground, Foliar and

Basal Cover

Line-Point Intercept
(LPI)

Vegetation Composition

Line-Point Intercept
with Plot-Level
Inventory

Inter-Canopy Gaps

Purpose

Comments

Assess erosion
potential and habitat
quality.
Assess species
richness, abundance
and identify presence
of nonnative invasive
plant species, species
of management
concern (e.g., T&E).

AIM Terrestrial Core

Indicator.

Canopy Gap Intercept

Assess fuel continuity

and potential for wind
erosion and weed
invasion.

AIM Terrestrial Core

Indicator.

Vegetation Height

Line-Point Intercept
with Cylindrical
Neighborhood

Assess vertical
structure, habitat
quality, and potential
for wind erosion.

AIM Terrestrial Core

Indicator.

Production

Protected Plot with

Cages

Assess fuel load and

annual aboveground
net primary
productivity.

Sort by species, for

shrub and tree species
also sort by fuel-size
class.

Soil Compaction

Bulk Density

Assess soil
compaction response
to livestock grazing.

Compaction is of
particular concern for
early-spring grazing on
moist soils.

AIM Terrestrial Core

Indicators.

Targeted Grazing for Rangeland Fuels Management

Monitoring and Assessment

Ecosystem Responses
Mode

Parameter

Response Assessment

Protocol

Purpose
Assess erosion
potential and habitat
quality.
Assess species
richness, abundance
and identify presence
of nonnative invasive
plant species, species
of management
concern (e.g., T&E).

Comments

Bare Ground, Foliar and

Basal Cover

Line-Point Intercept
(LPI)

AIM Terrestrial Core

Indicator.

Vegetation Composition

Line-Point Intercept
with Plot-Level
Inventory

Inter-Canopy Gaps

Canopy Gap Intercept Assess fuel continuity

AIM Terrestrial Core
and potential for wind Indicator.
erosion and weed
invasion.

Vegetation Height

Line-Point Intercept
with Cylindrical
Neighborhood

Assess vertical
structure, habitat
quality, and potential
for wind erosion.

AIM Terrestrial Core

Indicator.

Production

Protected Plot with

Cages

Assess fuel load and

annual aboveground
net primary
productivity.

Sort by species, for

shrub and tree species
also sort by fuel-size
class.

Soil Compaction

Bulk Density

Assess soil
compaction response
to livestock grazing.

Compaction is of
particular concern for
early-spring grazing on
moist soils.

AIM Terrestrial Core

Indicators.

Targeted Grazing for Rangeland Fuels Management

Monitoring and Assessment

Ecosystem Responses
Mode

Parameter

Response Assessment

Protocol

Purpose
Assess erosion
potential and habitat
quality.
Assess species
richness, abundance
and identify presence
of nonnative invasive
plant species, species
of management
concern (e.g., T&E).

Comments

Bare Ground, Foliar and

Basal Cover

Line-Point Intercept
(LPI)

AIM Terrestrial Core

Indicator.

Vegetation Composition

Line-Point Intercept
with Plot-Level
Inventory

Inter-Canopy Gaps

Canopy Gap Intercept Assess fuel continuity

AIM Terrestrial Core
and potential for wind Indicator.
erosion and weed
invasion.

Vegetation Height

Line-Point Intercept
with Cylindrical
Neighborhood

Assess vertical
structure, habitat
quality, and potential
for wind erosion.

AIM Terrestrial Core

Indicator.

Production

Protected Plot with

Cages

Assess fuel load and

annual aboveground
net primary
productivity.

Sort by species, for

shrub and tree species
also sort by fuel-size
class.

Soil Compaction

Bulk Density

Assess soil
compaction response
to livestock grazing.

Compaction is of
particular concern for
early-spring grazing on
moist soils.

AIM Terrestrial Core

Indicators.

Targeted Grazing for Rangeland Fuels Management

Monitoring and Assessment

Ecosystem Responses
Mode

Parameter

Response Assessment

Protocol

Purpose
Assess erosion
potential and habitat
quality.
Assess species
richness, abundance
and identify presence
of nonnative invasive
plant species, species
of management
concern (e.g., T&E).

Comments

Bare Ground, Foliar and

Basal Cover

Line-Point Intercept
(LPI)

AIM Terrestrial Core

Indicator.

Vegetation Composition

Line-Point Intercept
with Plot-Level
Inventory

Inter-Canopy Gaps

Canopy Gap Intercept Assess fuel continuity

AIM Terrestrial Core
and potential for wind Indicator.
erosion and weed
invasion.

Vegetation Height

Line-Point Intercept
with Cylindrical
Neighborhood

Assess vertical
structure, habitat
quality, and potential
for wind erosion.

AIM Terrestrial Core

Indicator.

Production

Protected Plot with

Cages

Assess fuel load and

annual aboveground
net primary
productivity.

Sort by species, for

shrub and tree species
also sort by fuel-size
class.

Soil Compaction

Bulk Density

Assess soil
compaction response
to livestock grazing.

Compaction is of
particular concern for
early-spring grazing on
moist soils.

AIM Terrestrial Core

Indicators.

Targeted Grazing for Rangeland Fuels Management

Monitoring and Assessment

Ecosystem Responses Contingent Assessments
Mode
Contingent
Assessments

Parameter
Soil Stability

Protocol
Soil Aggregate
Stability

Purpose
Assess soil
structural
development,
resistance to
erosion, and
biotic integrity.

Comments
AIM Terrestrial
Contingent
Indicator.

Others

Targeted Grazing for Rangeland Fuels Management

Targeted Grazing
(Fuel Break)

Area to Protect from Burning

Random Transects (6 per km)

Prevailing
Winds

Targeted Grazing for Rangeland Fuels Management

1 km

Standardized Monitoring & Assessment Protocols

Patrick E. Clark, Ph.D.
Range Scientist
USDA Agricultural Research Service
Northwest Watershed Research Center
800 E. Park Blvd., Suite 105
Boise, ID 83712

pat.clark@ars.usda.gov
(208) 422-0717

Targeted Grazing for Rangeland Fuels Management