# Presentation: 626412

## Ecological Site Descriptions

**Ecological Site Descriptions**
**Foundation for Resource **
**Management Decisions**

- George Peacock, Grazing Lands Team Leader
- Richard Hungerford, State Resource Conservationist
- USDA-NRCS

**Notes:**
Title slide

## Looking across any landscape an individual can see, without too much difficulty that

- some parts are different from other parts in the kinds and amount of vegetation

**Notes:**
As you look across a pasture, watershed, or any landscape it is not difficult to recognize that some parts of the landscape differ from other parts in  kinds and amount of vegetation.  To understand the spatial variation across a landscape, we classify and map these different parts into units called ecological sites.  Site delineations have been utilized as the basic subdivision for inventory and analysis of landscapes.  Any land inventory, analysis of that inventory, and resulting management decisions requires the knowledge of these individual sites and their interrelationships to one another on the landscape.  Where can you go to find information on each individual ecological site?

## Question:

**Notes:**
Where can you go to find information on native plants adapted to each ecological site?  For example, a CRP field that is to be restored to a native plant community.  Where would you find information on the kinds and proportions of plants adapted to that site?

## Question:

- Where to go to find information for predicting change in plant communities due to disturbances?

**Notes:**
Where would you go to find information on how different plant communities on a site respond to different disturbances?  This is a sandy ecological site in southern New Mexico.  Historically supported a stand of black and blue grama.  Any type of disturbance that removes the vegetative cover, fire followed by dry weather conditions or continued overgrazing, can result in a very significant change in plant community on this site.  Recovery to original plant community is very difficult, if possible.

## Question:

**Infiltration rates**
**Aquifer recharge**
**Surface runoff**
**Downstream flooding**

**Notes:**
What about information on hydrologic changes as plant community changes occur on an ecological site?  What changes would you expect to see in infiltration rates, aquifer recharge, surface runoff, and downstream flooding.

## Ecological Site Descriptions

**   **

**Notes:**
The ecological site description document will provide the necessary information to assist in answering these types of questions.

## Ecological Site Descriptions

**   **

**From an ecological perspective:**

-   **Understand the past**
**  ****Understand present ecological dynamics**
**  ****Discuss future possibilities**

**Notes:**
From an ecological perspective, there are things we need to know or understand about each ecological site.

We need to have some understanding of the past and what each site is or was capable of producing.

We need to understand what the present dynamics or changes that are occurring.

And, discuss future possibilities.

## RELEASE OF NATIONAL FORESTRY MANUAL (1997) AND NATIONAL RANGE AND PASTUREHANDBOOK (1997)

***RELEASE OF NATIONAL FORESTRY MANUAL (1997) AND NATIONAL RANGE AND PASTURE******HANDBOOK (1997)***

*RANGE SITES TO ECOLOGICAL SITES*
*WOODLAND SUITABILITY GROUPS TO ECOLOGICAL SITES*
*PASTURE SUITABILITY GROUPS TO FORAGE SUITABILITY GROUPS*

**Notes:**
With the release of the National Forestry Manual and National Range and Pasture Handbook in 1997, NRCS made the change from range sites and woodland suitability groups to ecological sites.  Changing to ecological site is based on the fact that site classification is not particular to any kind of land or use of the land.

## ECOLOGICAL SITE

***ECOLOGICAL SITE***

***DEFINITION:***

**	****A distinctive kind of land with specific physical characteristics that differs from other kinds of land in its ability to produce a distinctive kind and amount of vegetation.**

**Notes:**
What is the definition of an ecological site?  It is defined as a “distinctive kind of land with specific physical characteristics that differs from other kinds of land in its ability to produce a distinctive kind and amount of vegetation”. 

## ECOLOGICAL SITE

***ECOLOGICAL SITE***

***Product of all environmental factors***

**  ****Soils**
**  ****Topography**
**  ****Climate**
**  ****Natural Disturbances**
**	****Herbivory**
**	****Fire**
**	****Drought**

**Notes:**
Environmental factors responsible for development of a site’s potential vegetation is a function of soil, climate, relief or topography, and natural disturbances such as herbivory, fire, and drought.  Particular plant communities seem to reappear when the environmental factors are the same.  This is the basis for delineation of sites.  Later, as we look at the ecological site description, you will see that the major sections of the site description are based on these factors.
Again, these are the same factors we have always utilized to differentiate sites.

## WHAT HAS CHANGED?

***ECOLOGICAL SITE***

***WHAT HAS CHANGED?***

**Notes:**
So, what has changed?

Why are we making the change from range sites and woodland suitability groups to ecological sites?

## RANGE SITE DESCRIPTIONS

***RANGE SITE DESCRIPTIONS***

**ADAPTATION OF CLIMATIC CLIMAX THEORY**
**GRAZING INTERPRETATIONS**
**PLANT COMMUNITY SCALE**
**SOIL MAP UNIT COMPONENTS**

**Notes:**
Traditional range site descriptions were based on an adaptation of the climatic climax theory, sometimes referred to as site climax theory.  Within the site description there was a single plant community described, referred to as the climax plant community, that was considered to be in dynamic equilibrium with surrounding environment.

Most of the information in the site description was geared toward grazing interpretations.  There was other information found in the site description such as hydrologic information, aesthetic information, etc.  However, by and far, most of the information was in reference to grazing interpretations.

Were described at the plant community scale and correlated to soil map unit components.

## ECOLOGICALSITE DESCRIPTIONS

***ECOLOGICAL******SITE DESCRIPTIONS***

**STATE AND TRANSITION MODEL**
**MULTIPLE BENEFIT INTERPRETATIONS**
**PLANT COMMUNITY SCALE**
**SOIL MAP UNIT COMPONENTS**

**Notes:**
In the ecological site description, the state and transition model will be used to describe the vegetation dynamics of the site.  The model describes how different disturbances and stresses affect the soil/vegetation interactions on a particular site.  A more robust model allowing us to better illustrate the dynamics associated with each site.  We will discuss the state and transition model in more depth later.

Also looking at multiple benefits provided by each site instead of mainly grazing interpretations.  Trying to broaden the scope of the site description to include other values and uses of the site, such as water yield, wildlife habitat, recreation values, wood products, etc.

Still described at the plant community scale and correlated to soil map unit components.

The main changes in new site descriptions is based on how the vegetation dynamics will be described and emphasizing multiple benefits.

## ECOLOGICAL SITE DESCRIPTION

***ECOLOGICAL SITE DESCRIPTION***

** **** ****PHYSIOGRAPHIC FEATURES**
**  ****CLIMATE FEATURES**
**  ****WATER FEATURES**
**  ****SOIL FEATURES**
**  ****PLANT COMMUNITIES**
**  ****SITE INTERPRETATIONS**
**  ****SUPPORTING INFORMATION**

**Notes:**
Briefly, want to go over the different sections of the site descriptions.  There are seven main sections of the site descriptions.  Physiographic features, Climate features, Water features, Plant communities, Site interpretations, Supporting information.

## ECOLOGICAL SITE DESCRIPTION

***ECOLOGICAL SITE DESCRIPTION***

***PHYSIOGRAPHIC FEATURES***

**  ****LANDFORM**
**  ****ASPECT**
**  ****ELEVATION**
**  ****SLOPE**
**  ****WATER TABLE DEPTH**
**  ****FLOODING (frequency and duration)**
**  ****PONDING ****	****(duration and depth)**
**  ****RUNOFF CLASS**

**Notes:**
Describes the position on the landscape that you would normally find the site.  Does the site generate runoff, does it receive runoff, or both.

Information will include landform, aspect, elevation, slope, water table depth, flooding frequency and duration, ponding duration and depth, and runoff class.

## ECOLOGICAL SITE DESCRIPTION

***ECOLOGICAL SITE DESCRIPTION***

***CLIMATE FEATURES***

**  ****FROST FREE PERIOD**
**  ****FREEZE FREE PERIOD**
**  ****MEAN ANNUAL PRECIPITATION**
**  ****MONTHLY PRECIPITATION**
**  ****MONTHLY TEMPERATURE**

**Notes:**
Describe the climatic conditions across the spatial range of the site.

Information will include frost free periods, freeze free periods, mean annual precipitation, monthly precipitation, and monthly temperature.

## ECOLOGICAL SITE DESCRIPTION

***ECOLOGICAL SITE DESCRIPTION***

***WATER FEATURES***

**  ****COWARDIN WETLAND CLASSIFICATION**
**  ****ROSGEN STREAM CLASSIFICATION**

**Notes:**
Describe the water features that may have an influence on the vegetation of the site.

Cowardin wetland classification system-system, subsystem, and class.

If a riverine system is identified, the rosgen stream classifications can be identified.

## ECOLOGICAL SITE DESCRIPTION

***ECOLOGICAL SITE DESCRIPTION***

***SOIL FEATURES***

**  ****PARENT MATERIAL (kind and origin)**
**  ****SURFACE TEXTURE AND MODIFIERS**
**  ****SURFACE FRAGMENTS**
**  ****SUBSURFACE FRAGMENTS**
**  ****DRAINAGE CLASS**
**  ****PERMEABILITY CLASS**
**  ****SOIL DEPTH**

**Notes:**
Describe the soil features representative of the site.  Both physical and chemical soil properties.

Information will include parent material kind and origin, surface texture and modifiers, surface fragments, subsurface fragments, drainage class, permeability class, soil depth, ...

Continued on next slide

## ECOLOGICAL SITE DESCRIPTION

***ECOLOGICAL SITE DESCRIPTION***

***SOIL FEATURES - continued***

**  ****ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY**
**  ****SODIUM ADSORPTION RATIO**
**  ****SOIL REACTION (pH)**
**  ****AVAILABLE WATER HOLDING CAPACITY**
**  ****CALCIUM CARBONATE EQUIVALENT**

**Notes:**
Soil features continued.

Electrical conductivity, sodium adsorption ratio, soil reaction, available water holding capacity, and calcium carbonate equivalent.

## ECOLOGICAL SITE DESCRIPTION

***ECOLOGICAL SITE DESCRIPTION***

**PLANT COMMUNITIES**

** **** ****ECOLOGICAL DYNAMICS OF SITE**
**  ****STATE AND TRANSITION DIAGRAM**
**  ****PLANT COMMUNITIES**
**  ****COMMUNITY NARRATIVE**
**  ****ANNUAL PRODUCTION**
**  ****SPECIES COMPOSITION**
**  ****GROWTH CURVES**
**  ****COVER AND STRUCTURE**
**  ****PHOTO**

**Notes:**
One of the sections in the ecological site description that you will see a major change in compared to the traditional range site description.

Ecological Dynamics-Is a narrative section in which the vegetation dynamics of the site can be described in generalities.  If I picked up the site description and just wanted to read about the general vegetation dynamics associated with the site, I would go to the dynamics section.

State and Transition Diagram-There will be a state and transition diagram showing the different plant communities that may exist on site.  We will look at an example in more detail later.

Plant communities-For each plant community identified you can enter a more detailed narrative description, annual production by growth form, detailed species composition list, growth curves, cover and structure information, and a photo of that plant community.

## Deep Redland Ecological Site - Draft

**Deep Redland Ecological Site - Draft**
**  ****MLRA 81C**

**OAK SAVANNA **

**Notes:**
The next few slides will take you through a pictorial example of a state and transition model.  

The slide is a picture of a deep redland ecological site in MLRA 81C of central Texas.  The site was historically a tall-mid grass savanna with scattered oaks, grazed by buffalo and fire played a predominant role in maintaining the savanna aspect.  Even though the pictures and the site is from Texas you will find out that there are similarities to here in Illinois.

## OAK / GRASSLAND 

**OAK / GRASSLAND **

**Notes:**
Juniper invasion from adjacent sites historically occurred on the site.  However, the frequent fire interval removed most of juniper.

## Deep Redland Ecological Site - Draft

**Deep Redland Ecological Site - Draft**
**  ****MLRA 81C**

**Notes:**
Historic dynamics of the site included the invasion of juniper with a frequent fire interval that removed the juniper maintaining the savanna aspect.

## OAK / JUNIPER/GRASSLAND 

**OAK / JUNIPER/GRASSLAND **

**Notes:**
What happens if the fire frequency interval is interrupted?  The juniper eventually gets to a height in which fire is no longer an occurrence that maintains control of the juniper.  The interruption could be due to fire suppression efforts, reduction in fine fuels for carrying the fire (prolonged drought, overgrazing), etc.

## Deep Redland Ecological Site - Draft

**Deep Redland Ecological Site - Draft**
**  ****MLRA 81C**

**Notes:**
We have imposed a disturbance to the site (reduction in fire frequency) and are on a transition to another state.  Once the junipers have reached a height in which fire is no longer capable of removing them then the threshold has been crossed.

## OAK / JUNIPER COMPLEX 

**OAK / JUNIPER COMPLEX **

**Notes:**
Once you have crossed the threshold, without any type of management intervention, you will end up with an almost solid canopy of oak and junipers.

## Deep Redland Ecological Site - Draft

**Deep Redland Ecological Site - Draft**
**  ****MLRA 81C**

**Notes:**
So, the slide represents what we currently know about the vegetation dynamics of the site.  Once you have interrupted the fire frequency interval and junipers reach a certain height you have crossed a threshold and significant cultural input is needed to return to the previous state.

## Deep Redland Ecological Site - Draft

- <date/time>

**Deep Redland Ecological Site - Draft**
**MLRA 81C**

**Legend**
**BM - Brush Management****	****PB - Prescribed Burning**
**INV - Invasion****	****	****PG - Prescribed Grazing**
**NF - No Fire****	****	****S - Seeding**

**Oak **
**Savanna**

**Oak/Juniper Complex**
**20 ft + Ashe juniper**
**20 + Year old stand**
**30% + Canopy**

**NF-INV**

**BM-S-PB-PG**

**Notes:**
So, how will the information be portrayed in the ecological site description?  We know basically there are two states: oak savanna and oak/juniper complex.  Normally There is a legend describing the acronyms utilized with the transitions.

## Deep Redland Ecological Site - Draft

- <date/time>

**Deep Redland Ecological Site - Draft**
**MLRA 81C**

**Legend**
**BM - Brush Management****	****PB - Prescribed Burning**
**INV - Invasion****	****	****PG - Prescribed Grazing**
**NF - No Fire****	****	****S - Seeding**

**Oak/Juniper Complex**
**20 ft + Ashe juniper**
**20 + Year old stand**
**30% + Canopy**

**NF-INV**

**BM-S-PB-PG**

-    **Oak Savanna**

**PB-PG**

**Oak/Grassland **
**<3 ft + Ashe juniper**
**<5% Canopy**

**NF-INV**

**Notes:**
To make the diagram a better communication tool with a landowner, the site authors decide to include a plant community description in the oak savanna state that they felt was very close to the threshold, which is the plant community that represents a critical decision point for a landowner, or an opportunity to make a decision to prevent crossing a threshold or the hazard or consequences if no action is taken.

## Deep Redland Ecological Site - Draft

- <date/time>

**Deep Redland Ecological Site - Draft**
**MLRA 81C**

**Legend**
**BM - Brush Management****	****PB - Prescribed Burning**
**INV - Invasion****	****	****PG - Prescribed Grazing**
**NF - No Fire****	****	****S - Seeding**

**Oak/Juniper Complex**
**20 ft + Ashe juniper**
**20 + Year old stand**
**30% + Canopy**

**BM-S-PB-PG**

**Oak/Juniper/ Grassland**
**8-12 ft Ashe juniper**
**5-20 Year old stand**
**10-20% Canopy**

**BM-PB-PG**

**NF-INV**

-    **Oak Savanna**

**PB-PG**

**Oak/Grassland **
**<3 ft + Ashe juniper**
**<5% Canopy**

**NF-INV**

**NF-INV**

**Notes:**
In the oak/juniper complex the site authors decided to represent two plant communities with the difference being that in the oak/juniper complex, range seeding may be required.  Range seeding may not be required from the oak/juniper/grassland plant community.  However, in both cases brush management is needed to return the plant community to the original oak/grassland complex

## Deep Redland Ecological Site - Draft

- <date/time>

**Deep Redland Ecological Site - Draft**
**MLRA 81C**

**Legend**
**BM - Brush Management****	****PB - Prescribed Burning**
**INV - Invasion****	****	****PG - Prescribed Grazing**
**NF - No Fire****	****	****S - Seeding**

-    **Oak Savanna**

**PB-PG**

**NF-INV**

**Oak/Juniper Complex**
**20 ft + Ashe juniper**
**20 + Year old stand**
**30% + Canopy**

**BM-S-PB-PG**

**Oak/Juniper/ Grassland**
**8-12 ft Ashe juniper**
**5-20 Year old stand**
**10-20% Canopy**

**BM-PB-PG**

**NF-INV**

**Open Grassland**

**BM-S-PG**

**BM-S-PG**

**Oak/Grassland **
**<3 ft + Ashe juniper**
**<5% Canopy**

**NF-INV**

**Notes:**
From any of the two states one can seed to an introduced species in corporation with brush management.  Notice that with all communities prescribed grazing is a management practice that is needed to maintain the plant community state.

## Deep Redland Ecological Site - Draft

- <date/time>

**Deep Redland Ecological Site - Draft**
**MLRA 81C**

**Legend**
**BM - Brush Management****	****PB - Prescribed Burning**
**INV - Invasion****	****	****PG - Prescribed Grazing**
**NF - No Fire****	****	****S - Seeding**

-    **Oak Savanna**

**PB-PG**

**NF-INV**

**Oak/Juniper Complex**
**20 ft + Ashe juniper**
**20 + Year old stand**
**30% + Canopy**

**BM-S-PB-PG**

**Oak/Juniper/ Grassland**
**8-12 ft Ashe juniper**
**5-20 Year old stand**
**10-20% Canopy**

**BM-PB-PG**

**NF-INV**

**Open Grassland**

**NF-INV**

**BM-S-PG**

**Open Grassland**
**Juniper Invasion**

**PB-PG**

**BM-S-PG**

**Oak/Grassland **
**<3 ft + Ashe juniper**
**<5% Canopy**

**NF-INV**

**Notes:**
Once seeded, prescribed burning is needed to maintain control of juniper invasion that will occur.

As you can see, the state and transition diagram provides you with a road map of what we know about the vegetation dynamics of the site.

The diagram, coupled with accompanying narrative descriptions in the ecological site descriptions provides a tremendous amount of information.

## ECOLOGICAL SITE DESCRIPTION

***ECOLOGICAL SITE DESCRIPTION***

***PLANT COMMUNITIES***

** **** ****ECOLOGICAL DYNAMICS OF SITE**
**  ****STATE AND TRANSITION DIAGRAM**
**  ****PLANT COMMUNITIES**
**  ****COMMUNITY NARRATIVE**
**  ****ANNUAL PRODUCTION**
**  ****SPECIES COMPOSITION**
**  ****GROWTH CURVES**
**  ****COVER AND STRUCTURE**
**  ****PHOTO**

**Notes:**
Again, for each plant community depicted in state and transition diagram you can include all of the information for each plant community identified.

Community narrative, annual production, species composition, growth curves, cover and structure, and photo.

## ECOLOGICAL SITE DESCRIPTION

***ECOLOGICAL SITE DESCRIPTION***

***SITE INTERPRETATIONS***

** **** ****ANIMAL COMMUNITY**
**  ****HYDROLOGY**
**  ****RECREATIONAL USES**
**  ****WOOD PRODUCTS**
**  ****OTHER PRODUCTS**
**  ****OTHER INFORMATION**
**  ****SPECIES PREFERENCES**
**  ****FOREST SITE PRODUCTIVITY**

**Notes:**
The site interpretations section contains interpretations for the ecological site.

Can include information for animal community (domestic and wildlife), hydrology, recreational uses, wood products, other products, species preferences by livestock and wildlife, and forest site productivity.

## ECOLOGICAL SITE DESCRIPTION

***ECOLOGICAL SITE DESCRIPTION***

***HYDROLOGY INFORMATION***

**  *****PLANT COMMUNITY III***
**	****Kentucky bluegrass - 25%**
**	****Smooth bromegrass - 75%**

**LOAMY SITE**
**MLRA 102A****	****Nebraska and Kansas Loess-Drift Hills**

**  *****PLANT COMMUNITY I***
**	****Mixture of native grasses**

**  *****PLANT COMMUNITY II***
**	****Kentucky bluegrass - 75%**
**	****Smooth bromegrass - 25%**

**Notes:**
Example of the type of hydrologic information that could be included.

The slide show a comparison of 3 different plant communities on a loamy site in MLRA 102A.  Plant community I is a mixture of native grasses, Plant community II is dominated by Kentucky bluegrass, and Plant community III is dominated by smooth bromegrass.

Now let’s look at a water budget for these plant communities.

## ECOLOGICAL SITE DESCRIPTION

***ECOLOGICAL SITE DESCRIPTION***

**HYDROLOGY INFORMATION**

**LOAMY SITE**
**MLRA 102A****	****Nebraska and Kansas Loess-Drift Hills**

**	****	****	****      ****I****	****	****    II****	****	****III**
**Precipitation****	****                ****25”****	****               ****25”****	****	****25”**
**Interception****	****               .13   ****	****              .10****	****           .15**
**Surface Runoff           5.00              11.25              7.50**
**Infiltration                19.25              13.00            17.00**
**Deep Percolation          .63                1.00                .50**

**Notes:**
Here is the water budget based on 25 inches per year rainfall.

Rainfall interception is essentially the same for all three plant communities.  However, there is more than twice as much runoff in the plant community dominated by Kentucky bluegrass when compared to the native grasses.  There is more infiltration in the native grasses as compared to the Kentucky bluegrass plant community.  Deep percolation is almost twice as much for the Kentucky bluegrass as compared to the native grasses.  The reason is that there is more transpiration losses from the native grasses resulting in less deep percolation.

How could the information be utilized.  For example, if you had a watershed in which the site was the dominant ecological site, and a significant acreage of the watershed was to be converting to Kentucky bluegrass you could expect increased runoff from the watershed and potential flooding problems.

## ECOLOGICAL SITE DESCRIPTION

***ECOLOGICAL SITE DESCRIPTION***

***SUPPORTING INFORMATION***

** **** ****ASSOCIATED SITES**
**  ****SIMILAR SITES**
**  ****INVENTORY DATA REFERENCES**
**  ****STATE CORRELATION**
**  ****TYPE LOCALITY**
**  ****RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER ****	****	****	****CLASSIFICATIONS**
**  ****OTHER REFERENCES**
**  ****SITE DESCRIPTION APPROVAL**

**Notes:**
The supporting information section provides information on associated sites that you would expect on the landscape.  Other sites that might have plant communities similar to plant communities on the described site.  Data references utilized in developing the site description.  States the site is correlated in.  Type locality, relationship to other classifications and other references.  Site description approval signatures.

## Slide 38

**Notes:**
Access to ecological site descriptions is available through the Ecological Site Information System.  Ecological Site Information System is a web-based program that contains the site descriptions that have been developed and approved for rangeland and forest land.

The ecological site description database provides a structure for organized data input, revision, storage and retrieval of site description components.

The slide show the Ecological Site Information System home page.  To access the ecological site descriptions click on the ESD button.

## Slide 39

**Notes:**
To obtain a report, select the state.  Select the MLRA, if known. Click the submit button.

## Slide 40

**Notes:**
A list of approved ecological sites will be displayed.  Select the site number desired.

## Slide 41

**Notes:**
The general information page of the report will be displayed.

In the left frame, you can select the individual parts of the report or you can select the option to obtain a complete report.

## Slide 42

**Notes:**
Select the Plant Community portion of the site description.  Takes you to the top of the plant community section.

## Slide 43

**Notes:**
Scroll down to the bottom of the plant community report.  Shows the growth curve and photo of the last plant community in the report.

## How do we utilize in conservation planning process?

***ECOLOGICAL SITE ***
***DESCRIPTIONS***

***How do we utilize in conservation planning process?***

**Notes:**
How do we utilize the ecological site descriptions during the conservation planning process?

## X

- <date/time>

**X**

**X**

**X**

**1**

**2**

**3**

**Sandy**

**Sandy Loam**

**Loamy**

**Notes:**
Ecological sites are correlated to individual soil mapping unit components.  

During the inventory phase of the planning process, an inventory is conducted of each ecological site to determine the present plant community composition.

## DESIRED PLANT COMMUNITY

***DESIRED PLANT COMMUNITY***

** ****Plant community that has been identified to provide uses and values desired for the site.**

** ****Must provide adequate protection for the site.**

**Notes:**
Landowner decides upon the desired plant community.  The plant community is the one that the landowner identifies to provide the uses and values he desires for the site.

This desired plant community must provide adequate protection of the natural resources of the site.

## Deep Redland Ecological Site - Draft

- <date/time>

**Deep Redland Ecological Site - Draft**
**MLRA 81C**

**Legend**
**BM - Brush Management****	****PB - Prescribed Burning**
**INV - Invasion****	****	****PG - Prescribed Grazing**
**NF - No Fire****	****	****S - Seeding**

-    **Oak Savanna**

**PB-PG**

**NF-INV**

**Oak/Juniper Complex**
**20 ft + Ashe juniper**
**20 + Year old stand**
**30% + Canopy**

**BM-S-PB-PG**

**Oak/Juniper/ Grassland**
**8-12 ft Ashe juniper**
**5-20 Year old stand**
**10-20% Canopy**

**BM-PB-PG**

**NF-INV**

**Open Grassland**

**NF-INV**

**BM-S-PG**

**Open Grassland**
**Juniper Invasion**

**PB-PG**

**BM-S-PG**

**Oak/Grassland **
**<3 ft + Ashe juniper**
**<5% Canopy**

**NF-INV**

**Notes:**
With the state and transition diagram, the plant community most closely resembling the existing vegetation from the inventory is identified and the desired plant community is identified.  Then a management strategy can be developed to work towards the desired plant community utilizing the information in the state and transition diagram.

## MEETING MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES

***MEETING MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES***

- Similarity Index
- Rating indicating how nearly the present vegetation resembles desired plant community
- Trend
- Indicates direction of plant community change
- Range trend
- Planned trend
- Rangeland Health
- Indicator of how the ecological processes of the site are functioning
- Pasture Condition Scoring
- Indicates the condition of the pasture

**Notes:**
What tools are available to assist the landowners in determining whether management objectives are being achieved?

Similarity index is a rating how close the present vegetation resembles the desired plant community.

Trend provides information on whether the direction of change in plant community is towards or away from the desired plant community.

Rangeland health provides an indication of the how the ecological process of the site are functioning compared to the historic climax plant community.

## Ecological Site Descriptions Provide:

***Ecological Site Descriptions Provide:***

** ****A common framework for communication of resource information among disciplines, agencies, and organizations.**

** ****Information describing the interactions among soils, vegetation, and land management.**

** ****A foundation to assess the condition of current resources and monitor changes.**

** ****A framework to assess management opportunities and predict the outcome of management decisions.**

** ****A framework for transferring experience and knowledge.**

**Notes:**
Ecological site descriptions provide:

A common framework for communication of resource information among disciplines, agencies, and organizations.

Information describing the interactions among soils, vegetation, and land management.

A foundation to assess the condition of current resources and monitor changes.

A framework to assess management opportunities and predict the outcome of management decisions.

A framework for transferring experience and knowledge.

## Thanks!?!