GLOSSARY 
Glossary Jarbidge Draft RMP/EIS 

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Jarbidge Draft RMP/EIS Glossary 

GLOSSARY 

ACQUIRED LANDS. Acquired lands, as distinguished from public lands, are those lands in Federal 

ownership that have been obtained by the Government by purchase, condemnation, or gift, or by 

exchange for such purchased, condemned or donated lands, or for timber on such lands. 

ACTIVITY PLAN. A document that describes management objectives, actions, and projects to implement 

decisions of the RMP or other planning documents. Usually prepared for one or more resources in a 

specific area. 

ACTIVE USE. The portion of the grazing preference available for livestock use under a permit or lease 

based on livestock carrying capacity and resource conditions in a grazing allotment. 

ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT. A continuous process for adjusting management strategies when evaluation 

of monitoring data demonstrates goals and objectives are not being met or as new information becomes 

available. 

AGGREGATED. Taken as a total. 

AIR INVERSIONS. A reversal in the normal temperature layers of the atmosphere. A layer of warm air 

settles on top of a layer of cold air, and the cold air becomes trapped underneath the warm air, usually 

associated with local conditions and isolated areas. 

AIR QUALITY CLASSIFICATION. Classifications established under the Prevention of Significant 

Deterioration portion of the Clean Air Act, which limits the amount of air pollution considered significant 

within an area. 

Class I. Areas where almost any change in air quality would be significant. 

Class II. Areas where the deterioration normally accompanying moderate well-controlled growth 

would be insignificant. 

Class III. Areas where industrial deterioration would generally be insignificant. 

AIRSHED. A relatively large atmospherical area where the air quality and environment are influenced by 

similar topographical, physical, and climatic changes. 

ALLOTMENT. An area allocated for livestock use by one or more qualified grazing permittees including 

prescribed numbers and kinds of livestock under one plan of management. 

AMBIENT AIR QUALITY. The state of the atmosphere at ground level as defined by the range of 

measured and/or predicted ambient concentrations of all significant pollutants for all averaging periods of 

interest. 

ANADROMOUS. Moving from the sea to freshwater for reproduction. 

ANIMAL UNIT. One mature cow or its equivalent. The equivalent animal units for other ungulate species 

are: 10.5 for pronghorn; 7.6, deer; 2.1, elk; 1.2, moose; 0.9, wild horses; and 5.2, sheep. 

ANIMAL UNIT MONTH (AUM). The amount of forage required to sustain one mature cow or the 

equivalent (e.g., five sheep or five goats), based on an average daily forage consumption of 26 pounds of 

dry matter per day. 

ANNUAL VEGETATION. Plants that complete their life cycles and die in 1 year or less. 

APPROPRIATE MANAGEMENT LEVEL (AML). The level of use by wild horses which results in a 

thriving natural ecological balance and avoids a deterioration of the range. 

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APPROPRIATE MANAGEMENT RESPONSE (AMR). The response to a wildland fire based on an 

evaluation of risks to firefighter and public safety, the circumstances under which the fire occurs, including 

weather and fuel conditions, natural and cultural resource management objectives, protection priorities, 

and values to be protected. The evaluation must also include an analysis of the context of the specific fire 

within the overall local, geographic area, or national wildland fire situation. 

AQUATIC. Living or growing in or on the water. 

AQUIFER. A saturated, permeable sediment or rock that can transmit significant quantities of water under 

hydraulic gradients. 

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE. A geographic location containing structures, artifacts, material remains, 

and/or other evidence of past human activity. 

AREA OF CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN (ACEC). An area of public lands where special 

management attention is required to protect and prevent irreparable damage to important historic, 

cultural, or scenic values; fish and wildlife resources; or other natural systems or processes; or to protect 

humans from natural hazards. 

ASPECT. The direction a given side or surface is facing. 

ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITION. The transfer of substances from the air to the surface of the earth, either 

in wet form (e.g., rain, fog, snow, dew, frost, hail) or in dry form (e.g., gases, aerosols, particles). 

ATTAINMENT AREA. A geographic area in which the concentration of one or more criteria pollutants is 

routinely better than the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. 

AUTHORIZATIONS. Written approval from the BLM Authorized Officer to use public lands for a specific 

purpose while meeting all required laws and regulations. 

AVOID. To the extent possible, do not implement the action indicated. If the action needs to take place, 

then add stipulations or take additional steps to minimize impacts. Avoidance is the preferred 

management approach in the identified habitats for species conservation. 

AVOIDANCE AREA. Areas with sensitive resource values where rights-of-way and Section 302 permits, 

leases, and easements for large-scale utility developments would be strongly discouraged. Authorizations 

made in avoidance areas would have to be compatible with the purpose for which the area was 

designated and not be otherwise feasible on lands outside the avoidance area. 

BANKFULL. The level at which water rises past the bank and enters the floodplain. 

BENEFICIAL USE. Any of the various uses that may be made of water, including, but not limited to, 

domestic use, industrial use, agricultural irrigation, navigation, recreation, wildlife habitat, and aesthetics. 

A beneficial use is identified based upon actual use, the ability of water to support a non-existing use 

either now or in the future, and its likelihood of being used in a given manner. 

BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (BMPs). Practices based on current scientific information and 

technology that, when applied during implementation of management actions, ensure that negative 

impacts are minimized. BMPs are applied based on site-specific evaluation and represent the most 

effective and practical means to achieve management goals for a given site. 

BIG GAME. Those species of large mammals normally managed as a sport hunting resource; includes 

elk, mule deer, pronghorn, and bighorn sheep. 

BIOLOGICAL OPINION. A document prepared by US Fish and Wildlife Service stating their opinion as to 

whether or not a Federal action will likely jeopardize the continued existence or adversely modify the 

habitat of a listed Threatened or Endangered species. 

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BOLT STAGE. A plant’s rapid growth period. 

BROOD REARING. Caring for young birds hatched at one time. 

BROWSE. Branches and stems of woody plants used as food by wildlife. 

BRUSH CONTROL. A method to reduce brush cover or eliminate unwanted brush through the use of 

prescribed fire, chemicals, mechanical methods, or biological means to achieve a desired plant 

community. 

BUTTE. A detached low mountain or high mound rising abruptly from the general level of the surrounding 

plain; applied to peculiar elevations in the Rocky Mountain Region. 

CAIRNS. A pile of stones used as markers for various purposes. 

CANDIDATE SPECIES. Species not protected under the Endangered Species Act but under 

consideration by the US Fish and Wildlife Service for inclusion on the list of Federally Threatened or 

Endangered species. 

CHEATGRASS (Bromus tectorum L, DOWNY BROME). An exotic annual grass, native to Eurasia and 

the Mediterranean, which can dominate disturbed ground in shrub steppe ecosystems of the western 

United States and Canada. 

CLIMATE. The average prevailing weather conditions, including but not limited to precipitation and 

temperature, of a place over time. 

COMMUNITY. An assemblage of plant and animal populations in a common spatial arrangement. 

COMMUNITIES AT RISK (CAR). Wildland interface communities within the vicinity of Federal lands at 

high risk from wildfire. These communities were published in a Federal Register Notice list (66 FR 751) 

compiled from information provided by Tribes and States and prepared for publication by the Secretaries 

of Agriculture and Interior. 

COMPETITION. The general struggle for existence in which living organisms compete for a limited supply 

of the necessities of life. Competition can exist between species, and even between individuals of a 

species, for food, shelter, space, nest sites, birthing sites, mates, access to water, and many other habitat 

and life cycle requirements. 

CONSULTATION, COORDINATION, AND COOPERATION. A process prescribed by the Public 

Rangelands Improvement Act of involving the permittee(s), lessee(s), federally recognized Native 

American tribes, and interested publics in the development of management programs on public lands. 

The process also includes trust responsibilities to federally recognized Native American tribes. 

CUBIC FEET PER SECOND (CFS). As a rate of stream flow, a cubic foot of water passing a referenced 

section in 1 second of time. One cfs flowing for 24 hours will yield 1.983 acre-feet of water. 

CULTIVAR. A race or variety of a plant that has been created or selected intentionally and maintained 

through cultivation. 

CULTURAL RESOURCE. The fragile and nonrenewable remains of human activity that are found in 

historic districts, sites, buildings, and artifacts and that are important in past and present human events. 

CULTURAL RESOURCE INVENTORY. An inventory to assess the potential presence of cultural 

resources. There are three classes of surveys: 

Class I. An existing data survey. This is an inventory of a study area that provides a narrative 

overview of cultural resources by using existing information and compiling existing cultural 

resources site record data to develop a baseline for the BLM’s site record system. 

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Glossary Jarbidge Draft RMP/EIS 

Class II. A sampling field inventory designed to locate, from surface and exposed profile 

indications, all cultural resource sites within a portion of an area so that an estimate can be made 

of the cultural resources for the entire area. 

Class III. An intensive field inventory designed to locate, from surface and exposed profile 

indications, all cultural resource sites in an area. Upon its completion, no further cultural 

resources inventory work is normally needed. 

CYANOBACTERIA. Bacteria that obtain their energy through photosynthesis (i.e. fixation of atmospheric 

carbon to form energy-rich molecules such as sugars or starches). Some cynobacteria also fix 

atmospheric nitrogen into forms that are usable by plants. Also known as blue-green algae. 

DIGITIZE. To convert data to digital form for use in a computer. 

DISTURBANCE. Any management activity that has the potential to accelerate erosion or mass 

movement. Also, any other activity that may tend to disrupt the normal movement or habits of a particular 

wildlife or plant species. 

DIVERSITY. The relative abundance of wildlife species, plant species, communities, habitats, or habitat 

features per unit of area. 

EASEMENT. A right or privilege one may have on another’s land. 

ECOLOGICAL CONDITION. The present state of vegetation on a site compared to the natural potential 

of vegetation on the site. 

ECOLOGICAL SITE. Land with a specific potential natural community and specific physical 

characteristics, differing from other kinds of land in its ability to produce vegetation and in its response to 

management. 

ECOLOGICAL SITE INVENTORY (ESI). A type of rangeland inventory where current species 

composition on a given site is compared to the composition that should be there if the site were at climax 

or highest ecological condition. 

ECOSYSTEM. A functioning system comprised of a community of animals, plants, and bacteria and its 

interrelated physical and chemical environment. 

EFFECTS (IMPACTS). The biological, physical, social, or economic consequences resulting from a 

proposed action. Effects may be adverse (detrimental) or beneficial, and direct, indirect, or cumulative. 

Direct effects. Effects caused by the action and occur at the same time and place. 

Indirect effects. Effects are caused by the action, but occur at a later time or further removed in 

distance. 

Cumulative effects. Incremental effects of the proposed action when added to other past, 

present, or reasonably foreseeable future actions, regardless of what agency (Federal or nonFederal) or person undertakes the actions. Cumulative effects can result from individually minor 

but collectively significant actions taking place over a period of time. 

ELIGIBLE RIVER SEGMENT. A section of a river that qualifies for inclusion into the National Wild and 

Scenic River System through determination that it is free-flowing and, with its adjacent land area, 

possesses at least one river-related value considered to be outstandingly remarkable. 

EMERGENCY STABILIZATION AND BURNED AREA REHABILITATION (ES&BAR). Actions are taken 

immediately following a wildland fire incident and are completed within one year. They are intended to 1) 

stabilize and prevent unacceptable degradation to natural and cultural resources, 2) minimize the threats 

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to life or property resulting from the effects of a fire, and 3) repair/replace/construct physical 

improvements necessary to prevent degradation of land or resources. 

ENDANGERED SPECIES. Any animal or plant species in danger of extinction throughout all of a 

significant portion of its range. These species are listed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service under 

provisions of the Endangered Species Act. 

ENERGY FLOW. The process through which energy from sunlight enters and is used by living systems. 

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (EA). A concise public document that a Federal agency prepares 

under the National Environmental Policy Act to provide sufficient evidence and analysis to determine 

whether a proposed agency action would require preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement or a 

Finding of No Significant Impact. 

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (EIS). A detailed public document that complies with NEPA 

law and regulation. An EIS describes a major Federal action that significantly affects the quality of the 

human environment, provides alternatives to the proposed action, and analyzes the effects of the 

proposed action. 

EROSION. The wearing away of land surface either by natural weathering processes (including water, 

wind, or ice) or human or animal activities. 

EXCLOSURE. An area fenced to exclude grazing animals, usually for study purposes. 

EXISTING ROUTES. The roads, trails, or ways that are used by motorized vehicles (jeeps, all-terrain 

vehicles, motorized dirt bikes, etc.), mechanized use (e.g., mountain bikes, game carts), pedestrians 

(hikers), and/or equestrians (horseback riders) and are, to the best of BLM’s knowledge, in existence at a 

specified time (e.g., the time of RMP/EIS publication). 

FIELD OFFICE (FO). A geographic portion of a BLM District that is the smallest administrative subdivision 

in the BLM. 

FIRE INTENSITY. The energy output from a fire often expressed as reaction intensity, fireline intensity, 

temperature, heating duration, or radiant energy. 

FIRE REGIME. Description of the patterns of fire occurrences, frequency, size, severity, and sometimes 

vegetation and fire effects in a given area or ecosystem. 

FIRE REGIME CONDITION CLASS (FRCC). A classification of a vegetation community’s variance or 

departure from historic fire conditions. Fire Condition Classes can be: 1) Fire Condition Class 1, 

representing low departure from historic fire regime; 2) Fire Condition Class 2, representing moderate 

departure from historic fire regime; or 3) Fire Condition Class 3, representing high departure from historic 

fire regime. 

FIRE SEVERITY. A qualitative assessment of the heat pulse directed toward the ground during a fire 

often measured by organic matter loss, both above ground and below ground. 

FIRE SUPPRESSION. All work and activities associated with fire extinguishing operations, beginning with 

the discovery of the fire and continuing until the fire is completely extinguished. 

FIXATION. The conversion of atmospheric nitrogen to biologically usable nitrates. 

FLUVIAL. Pertaining to stream or rivers or produced by stream action. Also, migrating between main 

rivers and tributaries. 

FORAGE. Vegetation of all forms available and of a type used for animal consumption. 

FORB. Any herbaceous plant that is not a grass or grass like. 
 

Glossary Jarbidge Draft RMP/EIS 

FOSSILFEROUS. Containing or bearing fossils. 

FRAGMENTATION. Landscape transformation that includes the breaking of large habitat into smaller 

pieces through 1) the conversion of fairly continuous tracts of a vegetation type to other vegetation types 

such that only scattered or isolated fragments of the original type remain, or 2) human-created structures 

or barriers that partition fairly continuous habitats into smaller habitats1

. The level of transformation 

necessary to achieve fragmentation varies by species. 

FUNCTIONAL-AT RISK. Riparian/wetland areas are classified as functional at-risk when they are in 

functional condition but an existing soil, water, or vegetation attribute makes them susceptible to 

degradation. 

GAME FISH. Any species of fish for which populations are managed by regulations. 

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS). A collection of computer hardware, software, and 

geographic data for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying all forms of geographically referenced 

information . 

GRADIENT. The slope of a stream channel. 

GRAZING MANAGEMENT PRACTICES. Techniques used to manage livestock, including season of use, 

duration (amount of the time grazing occurs), intensity of use, numbers of livestock, kind of livestock, and 

distribution (e.g., salting, herding, and water development). 

GRAZING PERMIT. Under Section 3 of the Taylor Grazing Act, a document authorizing the use of the 

public lands within grazing districts for the purpose of grazing livestock. 

GRAZING SYSTEM. Scheduled grazing use and non-use of an allotment to reach identified goals or 

objectives by improving the quality and quantity of vegetation. 

GREENLINE. The first perennial vegetation that forms a linear grouping of plant community types on or 

near the water’s edge. This vegetation most often occurs at or slightly below the water’s edge at the 

bankfull stage and is found only along streams with defined channels. 

GULLIES. Deep, narrow channels or miniature valleys cut by concentrated runoff events through which 

water commonly flows only during and immediately after heavy rains or during the melting of snow. 

HABITAT. An area with the combination of resources (e.g., food, cover, water) and environmental 

conditions (e.g., temperature, precipitation, presence or absence of predators and competitors) that 

promotes use by individuals of a given species or population and allows those individuals to survive and 

reproduce2

. 

HAZARDOUS MATERIAL. A substance, pollutant, or contaminant that, due to its quantity, concentration, 

or physical or chemical characteristics, poses a potential hazard to human health and safety or to the 

environment if released into the workplace or the environment. 

HEDGING. Consumption of browse to the extent that the shrub growth form is modified by appearing 

clipped. 

HISTORIC FIRE REGIME. Description of the patterns of fire occurrences, frequency, size, severity, and 

sometimes vegetation and fire effects in a given area or ecosystem. A fire regime is a generalization 

1

 Definition modified from Franklin, A. B., Noon, B. R., & George, T. L. (2002). What is Habitat Fragmentation? 

Studies in Avian Biology(25), 20-29. 

2

 Definition modified from Franklin, et al. (2002). 

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based on fire histories at individual sites. Fire regimes can often be described as cycles because some 

parts of the histories usually get repeated, and the repetitions can be counted and measured.
 

HOME RANGE. The area in which an animal travels in the scope of natural activities. 

HYBRIDIZATION. Any crossing of individuals of different genetic compositions, typically different species, 

that result in hybrid off-spring. 

HYDROLOGIC UNIT CODE (HUC). A way of identifying all of the drainage basins in the United States in 

a nested arrangement from largest (Regions) to smallest (Cataloging Units). A drainage basin is an area 

or region of land that catches precipitation falling within that area, and funnels it to a particular creek, 

stream, river, and so on, until the water drains into an ocean.
 

HYDROLOGY. The science of dealing with the study of water on the surface of the land, in the soil and 

underlying rocks, and in the atmosphere. 

IMPACT. The effect, influence, alteration, or imprint caused by an action (see EFFECT).
 

IMPERILED. Put into danger.
 

INDICATOR. Components or attributes of a rangeland ecosystem that can be observed and/or measured 

that provides evidence of the function, productivity, health and/or condition of the ecosystem.
 

INDICATOR SPECIES. A species whose presence, absence, or relative well-being in a given 

environment is indicative of the health of its ecosystem as a whole.
 

INHOLDING. A non-Federal parcel of land that is completely surrounded by Federal land. 

INTER-BEDDED. Geological strata that are positioned between, or alternated with, other layers of 

dissimilar character.
 

INTERMITTENT. A stream or segment of stream that flows only at certain times of the year when it 

receives water from springs or from some surface source, such as melting snow in mountainous areas. 

INTERSEEDING. Seeding into established vegetation.
 

INVASIVE SPECIES. A non-native species whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or
 

environmental harm or harm to human health. 

INVERTEBRATE. An animal lacking a backbone or spinal column. 

KEY SAGE-GROUSE HABITAT. Areas of generally intact sagebrush that provide sage-grouse habitat 

during some portion of the year. 

KIOSKS. A stall set up in a public place where one can obtain information (e.g., tourist information). 

LAND TREATMENT. Modifying physical soil and/or plant conditions with treatments such as reseeding, 

brush control (chemical and mechanical), pitting, furrowing, water spreading, and ripping or sub-soiling. 

LANDSCAPE. A large land area composed of interacting ecosystems that are repeated due to factors 

such as geology, soils, climate, and human impacts.
 

LEASEABLE MINERAL. A mineral such as oil shale, oil and gas, phosphate, potash, sodium, 

geothermal resources, and all other minerals that may be developed under the Mineral Leasing Act of 

1920, as amended.
 

LEK. An assembly area where birds, especially sage-grouse, carry on display and courtship behavior. 

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LITHIC SCATTER. A type of archaeological site marked by a distribution of stone artifacts. The scatter 

may include formed tools such as projectile points, knives, or scrapers, or it may contain only chipping 

debris from tool-making activities. 

LOCATABLE MINERALS. Minerals or materials subject to claim and development under the Mining Law 

of 1872, as amended. Generally includes metallic minerals such as gold and silver, and other materials 

not subject to lease or sale (some bentonites, limestone, talc, some xeolites, etc.). Whether or not a 

particular mineral deposit is locatable depends on such factors as quality, quantity, mineability, demand, 

and marketability. 

MECHANICAL TREATMENT. Use of mechanical equipment for seeding, brush management, and other 

management practices. 

METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. Short-term atmospheric phenomena and variations that may occur 

in respect to air stability, wind speed, wind direction, temperature, etc. as affected by local weather 

conditions. 

MICROBIOTIC CRUST. Community of non-vascular primary producers that occur as a “crust” on the 

surface of soils and made up of a mixture of algae, lichens, mosses, and cyanobacteria (bluegreen 

algae). 

MINERAL ENTRY. Claiming public lands under the Mining Law of 1872 for the purpose of exploiting 

minerals. May also refer to mineral exploration and development under the mineral leasing laws and the 

Material Sale Act of July 31, 1947, as amended. 

MINERAL MATERIALS. Common varieties of sand, building stone, gravel, clay, moss rock, etc., 

obtainable under the Minerals Act of July 31, 1947, as amended. 

MINIMIZE. To reduce to the smallest possible amount, extent, size, or degree as is feasible from a 

technical or management standpoint. 

MITIGATION. Measures taken to avoid, compensate for, rectify, or reduce the potential negative impacts 

of an action. 

MONITORING. The systematic gathering of data to determine whether progress is being made in 

achieving land use objectives or goals. 

MOTORIZED VEHICLES. Vehicle powered by an engine, usually internal combustion. 

MULTIPLE-USE. The management of the public lands and their various resource values so they are 

utilized in the combination that will best meet the present and future needs of the American people; 

making the most judicious use of the land for some or all of these resources or related services over 

areas large enough to provide sufficient latitude for periodic adjustments in use to conform to changing 

needs and conditions; the use of some land for less than all of the resources; a combination of balanced 

and diverse resource uses that takes into account the long term needs of future generations for 

renewable and nonrenewable resources with consideration being given to the relative values of the 

resources and not necessarily to the combination of uses that will give the greatest economic return or 

the greatest unit output. 

NATIONAL AMBIENT AIR QUALITY STANDARDS (NAAQS). The allowable concentrations of air 

pollutants in the ambient (public outdoor) air specified in 40 CFR 50. NAAQS are based on the air quality 

criteria and divided into primary standards (allowing an adequate margin of safety to protect the public 

health) and secondary standards (allowing an adequate margin of safety to protect the public welfare). 

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES. The official list, established by the National Historic 

Preservation Act, of the Nation’s cultural resources worthy of preservation. The NRHP lists 

archaeological, historic, architectural, and traditional cultural properties (districts, sites, buildings, 

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Jarbidge Draft RMP/EIS Glossary 

structures, and objects) nominated for their local, state, or national significance by Federal and State 

agencies and approved by the National Register Staff. 

NATIONAL WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS SYSTEM. Established by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 

1968 to protect rivers and their immediate environments that have outstanding scenic, recreation, 

geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural, and other similar values and are preserved in free-flowing 

conditions. The system provides for the designation of three river classifications based primarily on the 

amount of shoreline development and access: recreational, scenic, and wild. 

NATIVE SPECIES. Plants or animals indigenous to the area. 

NATIVE VEGETATION COMMUNITY. A plant community that is populated by plants or cultivars of plants 

that are indigenous to the northern Great Basin. 

NATURAL RECRUITMENT. Populations able to reproduce naturally. 

NATURALNESS. Lands and resources exhibit a high degree of naturalness when affected primarily by 

the forces of nature, with the imprint of human activity is substantially unnoticeable. 

NON-ATTAINMENT AREA. A geographic area within which the concentration of one or more criteria 

pollutants routinely exceed National Ambient Air Quality Standards. 

NON-GAME SPECIES. Species managed as “protected” by state wildlife agencies with no authorized 

seasons for hunting or trapping. Common non-game species include the majority of birds, small 

mammals, bats, reptiles, and amphibians. 

NON-NATIVE SPECIES. An animal or plant species that is not a part of an area’s original fauna or flora. 

NON-NATIVE VEGETATION COMMUNITY. A plant community that is populated by plants that are not 

indigenous to the northern Great Basin. Non-native vegetation communities found in the planning area 

are primarily occupied by plants that are not indigenous to the North American continent. 

NOTICE OF INTENT (NOI). A notice in the Federal Register of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact 

Statement on a proposed action. 

NOXIOUS WEED. Plant species designated “noxious” by law. According to Idaho Statute, a noxious 

weed is defined as any plant having the potential to cause injury to public health, crops, livestock, land, or 

other property and is designated as noxious by the director (Idaho Statute 22-2402). 

NUTRIENT CYCLING. The circuit or movement of organic or inorganic ions or molecules within the soil 

profile in the form of solids, liquids, and gases that are absorbed by plants and returned to the soil by 

decomposition to repeat the process. 

OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE (OHV). Any motorized vehicle capable of or designated for, travel on or 

immediately over land, water, or other natural terrain, excluding 1) any nonamphibious registered 

motorboat; 2) any military, fire, emergency or law enforcement vehicle when being used for emergency 

purposes; 3) any vehicle whose use is expressly authorized by the authorized officer, or otherwise 

officially approved; 4) vehicle in official use; and 5) any combat or combat support vehicle when used in 

times of national defense emergencies. 

OVERSTORY. That portion of a plant community consisting of the taller plants on the site; the forest or 

woodland canopy. 

OXBOWS. Cut-off loops of a stream channel that retain water through subsurface flow. 

OZONE. One of the six criteria pollutants for which the EPA established National Ambient Air Quality 

Standards. 

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Glossary Jarbidge Draft RMP/EIS 

PALATABLE. The degree to which a particular plant species or part is favored by an animal for 

consumption. 

PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES. The physical remains or other physical evidence of plants and 

animals preserved in soils and sedimentary rock formations. Paleontological resources are important for 

correlating and dating rock strata and for understanding past environments, environmental change, and 

the evolution of life. 

PARTICULATE MATTER (PM). Any small particles suspended in the air including dust, dirt, soot, smoke, 

and liquid droplets. 

PM2.5. Particles less than 2.5 micrometers. 

PM10. Particles of 10 micrometers or less. 

PASSENGER VEHICLE. Two-wheel-drive, low-clearance vehicles. 

PATENT. A grant made to an individual or group conveying fee simple title to selected public lands. 

PERENNIAL VEGETATION. Plants that have life cycle of 3 or more years. 

PERMITTED USE. The forage allocated by, or under the guidance of, an applicable land use plan for 

livestock grazing in an allotment under a permit or lease and is expressed in animal unit months (AUMs). 

PERMITTEE. A person or organization legally permitted to graze a specific number and class of livestock 

on designated areas of public land during specified seasons each year. 

PLANNING AREA. The geographical area for which land use and resource management plans are 

developed and maintained. The planning area for this RMP is about 1.4 million acres of BLM land 

administered by the Jarbidge Field Office. 

PLANNING ISSUES. Concerns, conflicts, and problems with the existing management of public lands. 

Frequently, issues are based on how land uses affect resources. Some issues are concerned with how 

land uses can affect other land uses, or how the protection of resources affects land uses in a specific 

geographic area. 

PLAYA. A nearly level area at the bottom of an undrained desert basin, sometimes temporarily covered 

with water. 

PLOW AND SEED. A method of vegetation manipulation in which the land is plowed using a disc plow or 

other like equipment to uproot the existing vegetation to reduce competition for the seeded plant species. 

POLLUTANTS. Any substance introduced into the environment that negatively affects the usefulness of a 

resource or the health of humans, animals, or ecosystems. 

POTENTIAL NATURAL COMMUNITIES (PNC). The stable biotic community that would become 

established on an ecological site if all successional stages were completed without human interference 

under present environmental conditions. 

PREFERENCE. The total number of animal unit months of livestock use on public lands apportioned and 

attached to base property owned or controlled by a permittee. Some of the total grazing preference may 

have been suspended in past administrative actions. That portion of the grazing preference that is not 

suspended is the active grazing preference. 

PRESCRIBED FIRE. Any fire ignited by management action to meet specific objectives. 

PREVAILING WINDS. Winds from the customary, predominant, or usual direction. 

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PRIMITIVE AND UNCONFINED RECREATION. Recreation that occurs when the sights, sounds, and 

evidence of other people are rare or infrequent, where visitors can be isolated, alone, or secluded from 

others, where the use of the area is through non-motorized, non-mechanical means, and where no or 

minimal developed recreation facilities are encountered. 

PRODUCTION. The quantity of biomass produced by the current year’s growth in terms of pounds per 

acre. 

PROPER FUNCTIONING CONDITION. Riparian areas and wetlands function properly when adequate 

vegetation, landform, or large woody debris is present to dissipate stream energy associated with high 

water flows. The functioning condition of these areas is influenced by geomorphic features, soil, water 

and vegetation. 

PUBLIC LAND. Any land or interest in land owned by the United States and administered by the 

Secretary of the Interior through the Bureau of Land Management, without regard to how the United 

States acquired ownership, except for land located on the Outer Continental Shelf and land held for the 

benefit of Native Americans, Aleuts, and Eskimos. 

RANGE INFRASTRUCTURE. Any activity or program on or relating to rangelands that is designed to 

improve forage production, change vegetation composition, control patterns of use, provide water, 

stabilize soil and water conditions, and enhance habitat for livestock, wildlife, and wild horses and burros. 

Range infrastructure includes land treatments (e.g., chaining, seeding, burning, etc.), water 

developments, fences, and trails. 

RANGELAND. Land on which the potential natural vegetation is predominantly grasses, grass-like plants, 

forbs, or shrubs suitable for grazing or browsing. It includes natural grasslands, savannas, many 

wetlands, some deserts, tundra, and areas that support certain forb and shrub communities. 

RANGELAND HEALTH. The degree to which the integrity of the soil and ecological processes of 

rangeland ecosystems is maintained. 

RAPTOR. Bird of prey with sharp talons and strongly curved beaks (e.g., hawks, owls, vultures, eagles). 

REACH. A section of stream between two specified points. 

RECLAMATION. The reconstruction of disturbed ecosystems by returning the land to a condition 

approximate or equal to that which existed prior to disturbance, or to a stable and productive condition 

compatible with the land use plan. The immediate goal of reclamation is to stabilize disturbed areas and 

protect both disturbed and adjacent undisturbed areas from unnecessary degradation. 

RECREATION AND PUBLIC PURPOSES ACT OF 1954. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior, under 

specific conditions, to sell or lease public domain lands to States and local governments for recreation 

and other public purposes and to qualified nonprofit organizations for public and quasi-public purposes, 

including recreation, education, and health. 

RECRUITMENT. Young that survive to reproductive age and are considered mature. 

REFUGIA. Geographic locations where a species or a population has persisted during changed or 

adverse conditions such as glaciation or other catastrophic event. 

REHABILITATION. Efforts undertaken within three years of containment of a wildland fire to repair or 

improve fire-damaged lands unlikely to recover naturally to management approved conditions, or to repair 

or replace minor facilities damaged by fire. 

RESEEDING. Planting seed into an area previously seeded when a seeding treatment was 

unsatisfactory. The seedbed preparation could be done through prescribed fire, brush control, or 

mechanical or chemical treatments. 

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RESERVE COMMON ALLOTMENTS. A separate BLM administered grazing unit (allotment or pasture), 

that is reserved for non-renewable grazing use by permittees or lessees participating in land restoration 

or recovery efforts that preclude use of all or part of the permitted use assigned to their base property. A 

series of eligible permittees or lessees would be authorized use temporarily in the Reserve Common 

Allotment for one to several years depending on the management needs of the permittee’s normally 

permitted allotment. Reserve Common Allotments are open to grazing even though a long-term permit is 

not issued to one permittee/lessee; they do not include areas that have been closed to grazing or are not 

available for non-renewable grazing use. 

RESOURCE ADVISORY COUNCIL (RAC). An advisory council appointed by the Secretary of the Interior 

and consisting of representatives of major public land interest groups (commodity industries, recreation, 

environmental, and local area interests) in a state or smaller area. RACs advise BLM, focusing on a full 

array of multiple use public land issues. RACs also help develop standards for rangeland health and 

guidelines for livestock grazing. 

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN (RMP). A land use plan as described by the Federal Land Policy 

and Management Act to guide resource management and use allocation on public lands and resources 

administered by the BLM. 

REST. Nongrazing for a specified period of time, generally a full growing season up to one full year. 

RESTORATION. The process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, 

damaged, or destroyed. A restored plant community would be similar to the potential native community in 

structure and species composition to the greatest practicable extent. It is expected that, once restored, 

the community would be sustainable and resilient to normal periodic stress. 

RIGHT-OF-WAY (ROW). A permit or an easement that authorizes the use of public land for certain 

specified purposes, commonly for pipelines, roads, telephone lines, electric lines, and reservoirs. It also 

the refers to the land covered by such an easement or permit. 

RILLS. Small, eroded ditches usually only a few inches deep. 

RIPARIAN. Situated on or pertaining to the bank of a river, stream, or other body of water. Normally 

describes plants of all types that grow rooted in the water table or sub-irrigation zone of streams, ponds, 

and springs. 

RIPARIAN HABITAT. An area of land directly influenced by permanent (surface or subsurface) water and 

has visible vegetation or physical characteristics reflective of permanent water influence. 

ROAD. A linear route declared a road by the owner, managed for use by low-clearance vehicles having 

four or more wheels, and maintained for regular and continuous use. 

ROADLESS. Refers to the absence of roads that have been constructed and maintained by mechanical 

means to ensure regular and continuous use. 

ROUTES. A road-like feature created by vehicles having two, three, four, or more wheels, but not 

declared a road by the owner and that receives no maintenance to guarantee regular and continuous use. 

RUTTING. The result on routes and trails that occurs when the ground is too soft to support the weight of 

a vehicle and rider. This usually occurs when the ground is wet and soft. Ruts collect rainwater and 

runoff, keeping the trail wet. Ruts channel water, leading to trail erosion. 

SACRED SITE. Any specific, discrete, narrowly delineated location on Federal land that is identified by a 

Native American Tribe, or Native American individual determined to be appropriately authoritative 

representative of a Native American religion, as sacred by virtue of its established religious significance 

to, or ceremonial use by, a Native American religion. 

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SAGEBRUSH STEPPE. A semi-arid plant community that is characterized by a predominance of big 

sagebrush and other sagebrush species, plus grasses and forbs. 

SALABLE MINERALS. Common varieties of minerals and building materials such as sand, stone, gravel, 

pumice, pumicite, cinders, and clay. 

SALMONID. A fish belonging to the family Salmonidae, which includes salmon and trout; salmonids in 

the planning area include bull trout and redband trout. 

SCOPING PROCESS. An early and open public participation process for determining the scope of issues 

to be addressed and for identifying the significant issues related to a proposed action. 

SEEDING. A vegetation treatment that includes the application of grass, forb, or shrub seed, either 

aerially or from the ground. 

SEEP (SPRING). A saturated zone at or near the ground surface where voids in the rock or soil are filled 

with water at greater than atmospheric pressure. Seep or spring sites are typically characterized by 

riparian vegetation and soil formed in the presence of water. Water may or may not be discharging from 

these sites, depending on the underlying geology, water source, season, or long term climatic trends. A 

seep is a small spring. 

SENSITIVE SPECIES. Includes Endangered, Threatened, Proposed, and Candidate species as well as 

species designated by the BLM State Director that 1) could become endangered in or extirpated from the 

State, 2) are undergoing significant downward trends, 3) have typically small or widely dispersed 

populations, or 4) are inhabiting specialized or unique habitats. 

SERAL STAGES. Ecological communities that succeed one another in the biotic development of an area. 

SHRUB. A woody plant distinguished from a tree by short stature (less than 20 feet tall) and the presence 

of multiple stems. 

SOLITUDE. A wilderness characteristic as identified in the Wilderness Act. The state of being alone or 

remote from habitations; isolation. A lonely or secluded place. Factors contributing to opportunities for 

solitude may include size, natural screening, topographic relief, vistas, physiographic variety, and the 

ability of the user to find a secluded spot. 

SPECIAL RECREATION MANAGEMENT AREA (SRMA). BLM administrative units established to direct 

recreation program priorities, including the allocation of funding and personnel, to those public lands 

where a commitment has been made to provide specific recreation activity and experience opportunities 

on a sustained yield basis. These areas usually require a high level of recreation investment and/or 

management. 

SPECIAL RECREATION PERMITS (SRPs). Authorizations that allow for recreational uses of public 

lands and related waters. Issued as a means to control visitor use, protect recreational and natural 

resources, and provide for the health and safety of visitors. Commercial Special Recreation Permits also 

are issued as a mechanism to provide a fair return for the commercial use of public lands. 

SPECIAL STATUS SPECIES. All Endangered, Threatened, Proposed, and Candidate species 

designated by FWS and other BLM Sensitive species designated by the State Director. 

STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES. Provide the resource measures and guidance needed to ensure 

healthy, functional rangeland. The Standards for Rangeland Health are to be used as the BLM’s 

management goals for the betterment of the environment, protection of cultural resources, and sustained 

productivity of the range. 

Standards. A description of a minimally functioning condition for soil, water quality, and biological 

components of rangelands. 

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Guidelines. Direct the selection of grazing management practices, and, where appropriate, 

livestock management facilities to promote progress toward or maintenance of the Standards. 

Grazing management practices are livestock management techniques that can be incorporated 

into grazing permits. 

STATIC. Showing little or no change. 

STOCKING LEVEL. The current level of livestock grazing use on a unit of land, usually expressed as 

acres of land per AUM grazed. 

SUBSTRATES. Mineral or organic material such as silt, sand, gravel, cobble, boulder, or woody debris 

that forms a stream or lake bed. 

SUCCESSIONAL CLASS. A standardized type classification based on vegetation and fuel composition, 

structure, process, and pattern. Classes are grouped into those characteristic of the natural or historical 

conditions and those uncharacteristic of these conditions. 

SUITABLE RIVER. A river segment found, through administrative study by an appropriate agency, to be 

suitable for designation as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers system, specified in 

Section 4(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. 

SUPPLEMENTAL VALUES. Resources associated with wilderness that contributes to the quality of 

wilderness areas. 

SUSTAINABLE. The yield of a natural resource that can be produced continually at a given intensity of 

management. 

TALUS. Loose rock debris at the base of a cliff or rock outcrop. 

TARGETED GRAZING. Livestock grazing use outside of an authorized permit for the purpose of reducing 

potential fire fuels, noxious weeds and invasive plants, and other non-desirable vegetation.. 

TAXONOMY. The practice of classifying plants and animals according to their presumed natural 

relationships. 

TERRESTRIAL. Living or growing in or on the land. 

THREATENED SPECIES. Any species or significant population of that species likely to become 

Endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range. Usually 

includes only those species that have been recognized and listed as Threatened by Federal and State 

governments, but may include species categorized as rare, very rare, or depleted 

TOPOGRAPHY. The relief features or surface configuration of a landscape or particular area in respect to 

elevational changes over distance. 

TRADITIONAL CULTURAL PROPERTIES. A cultural property that is eligible for inclusion in the National 

Register of Historic Places because of its association with a living community’s cultural practices or 

beliefs rooted in that community’s history and important in maintaining the community’s continuing cultural 

identity. 

TRADITIONAL USE. The utilization of natural resources in a similar fashion over a considerable period of 

time. 

TRAIL. A linear route managed for human-powered, stock, or OHV forms of transportation or for historical 

or heritage values. Trails are not generally managed for use by four-wheel drive or high-clearance 

vehicles. 

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TREATY. A formal agreement between the United States and one or more Native American tribes. 

Typically, these arrangements ceded lands to the United States, reserving certain rights, privileges, 

and/or lands to the Native American signatories. 

TREATY RIGHTS. Rights of land use retained by Native American tribes through treaty with the United 

States; such rights commonly include, but may not be limited to, hunting, fishing and gathering. 

TRESPASS. Any unauthorized use of public land. 

TRUST RESPONSIBILITY. The trust responsibility of the United States, executed through the Secretary 

of the Interior, to uphold obligations of the Federal Government to Federally recognized Native American 

tribes. Court decisions have interpreted this responsibility to extend to all Federal agencies. This 

obligation requires a reasonable and good faith effort to identify, consider, and carry out programs in a 

manner sensitive to Native American. 

TURBIDITY. Muddiness created by stirring up sediment or having foreign particles suspended. 

UNDERSTORY. Herbaceous plant components, including grasses and forbs, that grow beneath the 

overstory in stand of woody shrubs; or the herbaceous and woody shrubs growing beneath the overstory 

in a stand of trees. 

UNGULATE. A hoofed mammal. 

UPLAND. The portion of land located away from riparian and floodplain areas. 

UTILIZATION. The portion of forage that has been consumed (or destroyed) by livestock, wild horses, 

wildlife, and insects during a specified period. The term is also used to refer to a pattern of such use (43 

CFR 4100.0-5). 

UTILITY CORRIDOR. Tract of land varying in width forming passageway through which various 

commodities such as oil, gas, and electricity are transported. 

VEGETATION TREATMENT. Changing the characteristics of an established vegetation type for the 

purpose of improving rangeland forage or wildlife habitat resources. Treatments are designed for specific 

areas and differ according to the area’s suitability and potential. The most common land treatment 

methods alter the vegetation by chaining, spraying with pesticides, burning, and plowing, followed by 

seeding with well-adapted desirable plant species. 

VEGETATION TYPE. A plant community with immediately distinguishable characteristics based upon 

and named after the apparent dominant plant species. 

VERTEBRATE. An animal having a backbone or spinal column. 

VISUAL RESOURCES. The visible physical features on a landscape, (topography, water, vegetation, 

animals, structures, and other features) that comprise the scenery of the area. 

VISUAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (VRM). The inventory and planning actions taken to identify visual 

resource values and to establish objectives for managing those values, and the management actions 

taken to achieve the visual resource management objectives. 

VISUAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT CLASSES. VRM classes identify the degree of acceptable visual 

change within a characteristic landscape. A classification is assigned to public lands based on the 

guidelines established for scenic quality, visual sensitivity, and visibility. 

Class I. Provides primarily for natural ecological changes only. It is applied to wilderness areas, 

some natural areas, and similar situations where management activities are to be restricted. 

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Class II. Changes in the basic elements caused by a management activity may be evident in the 

characteristic landscape, but the changes should remain subordinate to the visual strength of the 

existing character. 

Class III. Contrasts to the basic elements caused by management activity may be evident and 

begin to attract attention in the landscape, but the changes should remain subordinate in the 

existing landscape. 

Class IV. Contrasts may attract attention and be a dominant feature in the landscape in terms of 

scale, but the change should repeat the basic element of the characteristic landscape. 

Class V. Applies to areas where the characteristic landscape has been so disturbed that 

rehabilitation is needed. Generally considered an interim short-term classification until 

rehabilitation or enhancement is completed. 

VEGETATION SUB-GROUP (VSG). An aggregation of vegetation communities based on dominant 

vegetation, community structure, and management objectives. The following VSGs are used in the Draft 

Jarbidge RMP/EIS: Native Shrubland, Native Grassland, Non-Native Understory, Non-Native Perennial, 

Annual, and Unvegetated. 

WATERSHED. An area that collects and discharges runoff to a given point. It is often used synonymously 

with drainage basin or catchment. 

WILDERNESS. An area formally designated by Congress as a part of the National Wilderness 

Preservation System. 

WILDERNESS CHARACTERISTICS. Features of the land associated with the concept of wilderness that 

may be considered in land use planning when BLM determines those characteristics are reasonably 

present, of sufficient value (condition, uniqueness, relevance, importance) and need (trend, risk), and are 

practical to manage. 

WILDERNESS STUDY AREA (WSA). An area designated by a Federal agency as having wilderness 

characteristics, thus making it worthy of consideration by Congress for wilderness designation. While 

Congress considers whether to designate a WSA as a permanent wilderness, the Federal agency 

managing the WSA does so in a manner as to prevent impairment of the area’s suitability for wilderness 

designation. 

WILDFIRE. An unwanted wildland fire, regardless of ignition source, which is unplanned, has escaped 

control, or does not meet management objectives and therefore requires a suppression response. 

WILDLAND FIRE. Any fire on the landscape, including a prescribed fire or wildfire. 

WILDLAND FIRE. Unplanned human caused or lightening caused fires. 

WILDLAND FIRE USE (WFU). A pre-planned vegetation treatment that involves taking advantage of a 

naturally-ignited wildland fire in an area where fire would benefit resources. WFU would be conducted in 

specific areas needing treatment after a site-specific plan and NEPA analysis are completed and only if 

predetermined prescriptive parameters (e.g., weather/fire behavior) can be met. Until this planning and 

NEPA analysis are accomplished, wildland fires would be suppressed using an appropriate management 

response. 

WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE (WUI). The line, area or zone where structures and other human 

development meet or intermingle with undeveloped wildland or vegetative fuels. 

WIND ENERGY DEVELOPMENT. All facilities necessary to the construction and generation of wind 

energy including, but not limited to, wind turbines, roads, transmission lines, and batch plants. 

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Jarbidge Draft RMP/EIS Glossary 

WIND FARM. A group of wind turbines. 

WINTER RANGE. An Idaho Department of Fish and Game definition that applies to elk and mule deer. 

That part of the overall range where 90% of the individuals are located during the average five winters out 

of ten from the first heavy snowfall to spring green-up, or during a site-specific period of winter. 

WITHDRAWAL. Removal or “withholding” of public lands from operation of some or all of the public land 

laws (settlement, sale, mining, and or mineral leasing). An action that restricts the use or disposal of 

public lands, segregating the land from the operation of some or all of the public land and/or mineral laws 

and holding it for a specific public purpose. Withdrawals may also be used to transfer jurisdiction of 

management to other Federal agencies. 

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