**[Topic List:]{.underline}**

1.  Improving Sediment Source Control Projects- Michael Hogan, IERS

2.  Goals Discussion & Monitoring Question List- LTIMP Group

3.  Tiims Website Features- Tricia York, et al.

4.  Attendees

5.  Future Topics

**[Topic Summaries:]{.underline}**

**Improving the Quality of Sediment Source Control Projects Through
Adaptive Management- Michael Hogan**

Michael Hogan delivered a very interesting presentation that included a
clear model of adaptive management and an initial look at his findings
from a series of sediment control plots. The first part of the
presentation centered around the adaptive management model which clearly
laid out the circular process of determining goals, finding information
gaps, filling those gaps through research and other methods, and then
using the resulting information to make recommendations for improving
future processes, procedures and materials as well as adjusting project
goals if necessary. Michael stressed the need to clearly define goals
and definitions at the beginning of a research project which helped
motivate the discussion described in item #2 (Goals Discussion) below.

In the particular case of this presentation, Michael had been noticing
that many EIP projects were specifying revegetation to achieve sediment
source control without having specific scientific results to prove that
the plan cover would achieve that goal. To fill this information gap,
Michael is currently running several plot studies that compare different
treatments for their ability to stop erosion from road cuts and ski
runs. The experiments include treatments such as 40% plant cover,
tilling, wood chip mulching, bare soil, and many more. The various plots
were tested for runoff with a rainfall simulator and also tested with a
penetrometer, which is intended to create a functional infiltration
index. In the first year of the plot studies, particularly at one set of
ski run plots the data shows that bare soil and \>40% plant cover have
similar time to runoff and sediment movement. These values were
significantly worse than plots with full soil restoration treatment
including tilled in wood chips and compost treatment. The penetrometer
index for infiltration also showed that treatments other than plant
cover work well for reducing time to runoff and sediment movement from
the site. Michael did not show statistical analysis or confidence
intervals for this work because the results are preliminary but was
confident in saying that plant cover was far from the key variable in
sediment source control. In fact, he showed a slide which pointed out
soil, plants, infiltration, mulch, and bare areas as the key links of
the chain that would control sediment on any particular project. Please
contact Michael (Integrated Environmental Restoration Services) for
additional assistance at revegetate@earthlink.net.

**Goals Discussion & Monitoring Question List-** There has been a
growing concern within the Tahoe scientific community that too many
monitoring and research projects are ending without addressing the most
pertinent questions of resource managers, or providing useful design
recommendations for future EIP projects. These concerns are particularly
shared by funders at the state and federal levels. This discussion was
intended to encourage the LTIMP group to provide guidance to its members
and create mechanisms in the monitoring process that will insure that we
answer the right questions and pass along useful recommendations.

The discussion was very lively and included excellent input from many
members. The most important result of the discussion was the commitment
of many members to create a list of the top 3 questions that they feel
the monitoring community can answer for project designers and resource
managers. Chad will compile a master list and we will discuss/rank the
questions into an "LTIMP Top-Ten" at our next meeting. This list can be
used by researchers to guide future proposals, and funders to help
select projects that are the most pertinent. Two considerations were
raised during the meeting. Should we categorize the questions, and
should we start with the list of the Key Management Questions (KMQs)? I
have included the KMQs as an attachment, but several members recommend
that we try to start from a different perspective.

**Please send your 3 top questions to <cpraul@ntcd.org> by February
29^th^ to have them included in the ranking.**

Other important parts of the discussion included a key contribution from
John Stanly that goals were important because they keep the project team
focused on long-term outcomes and help us avoid getting lost in
immediate problem solving. He also mentioned that good goals are created
inclusively and then lead to SMART objectives. These objectives are
Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Result-oriented and Time-certain.
Projects that have already defined specific goals and have written
objectives that stand up to the SMART test should be commended. (See the
attached Terminology document for a very good series of definitions.)

Another excellent suggestion was to include a section in every Sampling
and Analysis Plan (SAP) that would describe how the project's
information will be used by designers and managers. This section would
require the investigators to think through the kind of conclusions they
will be able to make, before time and equipment are committed.

Thanks to all the members who spoke during the meeting, this kind of
discussion will keep LTIMP a functional Adaptive Management tool instead
of letting it become an information sharing group.

**TIIMS Demo and Upload Request-** Tricia York, Melissa Blake, and Rita
Whitney provided a demonstration of the Tahoe Integrated Information
Management System website ([www.tiims.org](http://www.tiims.org/)).
Notable features of the mapping section include:

1.  USGS real-time stream data links

2.  LTADS real time Air monitoring links

3.  Photos

4.  Parcel Data

5.  NDEP water quality data

6.  a separate link (at the bottom of the page) to USGS map layers- To
    view USGS map layers the user must click "USGS Data" at the bottom
    of the page and then click on the red plus at the lower right to add
    a host. If you are using pop-up blocker, it may block some
    information unless it is turned off.

There are also a significant number of documents that have been uploaded
to the site for research purposes. Please make requests for additional
documents you would like to see available and ask questions to
<tyork@trpa.org>.

In Attendance:

Chad Praul, NTCD

Amy Roberts, NTCD

Steve White, JWA

Philip Bachand, UCD

Kip Allander, USGS

Michelle Kramer, WET Lab

David Vaccarello, Placer Co.

Charlie Donohue, NDSL

Sloan Gordon, TRPA

Brent Wolfe, CTC

Rita Witney, TRPA

Nicole Zaborsky, TRPA

Birgit Widegren, TRPA

Katie Ross, Entrix

John Stanly, TRPA

Mike Elam, TRPA

John Dyer, Klienfelder

Jason Kuchnicki, NDEP

Hamid Hakim, CalTrans

Alan Heyvaert, TRG

Dan Sussman, League

Jennifer Quickel, EDOT

Michael Hogan, IERS

Steve Patterson, EDAW

Robert Erlich, Lahontan

Jack Landy, Lahontan

Russ Wigart, CSLT

Sarah Tone, IVGID

Dipen Patel, CSUS-OWP

Tricia York, TRPA

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