APPENDIX P: 

MONITORING 

IMPLEMENTATION AND 

EFFECTIVENESS OF RMP 

DECISIONS 
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Jarbidge Draft RMP/EIS Appendix P 

APPENDIX P: MONITORING IMPLEMENTATION AND 

EFFECTIVENESS OF RMP DECISIONS 

The regulations in 43 CFR 1610.4-9 require that land use plans establish intervals and standards for 

monitoring, based on the sensitivity of the resource decisions. Land use plan monitoring is the process of 

tracking the implementation of land use plan decisions (implementation monitoring) and collecting 

data/information necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of land use plan decisions (effectiveness 

monitoring). This section describes the process to be used for monitoring the implementation and 

effectiveness of resource management plan (RMP) decisions; other monitoring BLM conducts for other 

purposes are not described in this section. The monitoring activities described in this section are not RMP 

decisions themselves; rather, they are activities intended to assist BLM monitor implementation and 

effectiveness of RMP decisions. 

Implementation Monitoring

Implementation monitoring is the process of tracking and documenting the implementation, or the 

progress toward implementation, of RMP decisions. Instruction Memorandum 2008-041, Guidance for 

Establishing Implementation Priorities for Land Use Plans, contains the current BLM policy for 

implementation monitoring. This policy directs offices to identify land use plan implementation priorities 

within four months of signing the Record of Decision using the “Establishing Resource Management Plan 

Implementation Priorities” approach developed by the BLM. This approach provides a systematic method 

for planning for and achieving the desired outcomes for land use plans based on anticipated funding and 

for generating opportunities for ongoing collaboration with the public. This process will be used to monitor 

implementation of the revised Jarbidge RMP unless directed otherwise by new guidance in the future. 

“Establishing Resource Management Plan Implementation Priorities” is a four-step process. The first two 

steps are achieved through a workshop conducted by trained implementation facilitators in which the field 

office outlines its workload for implementing the plan decisions and establishes priorities based on 

anticipated budget and personnel. During the workshop phase, spreadsheets are created that are used to 

monitor the implementation of the plan over time; these spreadsheets are updated annually. In steps 

three and four, the field office integrates specific tasks in the spreadsheets with required funding and 

creates a communication strategy to describe the action and funding priorities. 

Effectiveness Monitoring

Effectiveness monitoring is the process of collecting data and information as the plan is being 

implemented in order to determine whether or not desired outcomes, expressed as goals and objectives 

in the RMP, are being met or whether progress is being made toward meeting them. This information is 

used during the land use plan evaluation process, which typically occurs every five years following the 

Record of Decision. 

The effectiveness of the revised Jarbidge RMP in meeting its desired outcomes will be assessed by 

collecting on a periodic basis data and information relevant to specific objectives in the plan. To obtain 

data in a cost-effective manner; existing and ongoing monitoring activities will be used to the extent the 

data collected are pertinent to a plan objective. In most cases, effectiveness monitoring will be an annual 

effort, with a portion of the planning area being monitored each year in order to have sufficient monitoring 

data to use for each land use plan evaluation. 

The remainder of this section briefly outlines a monitoring strategy to evaluate whether desired outcomes 

are being achieved, including data to be collected and the methods and timeframes for collecting that 

data (Table P- 1). The strategy will be refined following the Record of Decision to be most relevant to the 

desired outcomes contained in the approved plan as well as the budget and personnel constraints 

existing at that time. The strategy is subject to change if BLM later determines different data, methods, or 

timeframes would provide more useful information for assessing the effectiveness of RMP decisions; the 

strategy may also be modified as necessary to be consistent with changes in law, regulation, or policy. 

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Appendix P Jarbidge Draft RMP/EIS 

The nature of some of the goals and objectives do not lend themselves to effectiveness monitoring. 

Monitoring of the management direction contained in the following sections of Chapter 2 would be limited 

to implementation monitoring: 

 Land Use Authorizations 

 Land Tenure 

 Minerals 

 Social and Economic Conditions 

 Hazardous Materials 

 Interpretation, Outreach, and Environmental Education 

Table P- 1. Monitoring Strategy for Assessing Effectiveness of RMP Decisions 

Section Strategy for Determining whether RMP Objectives are being Met 

Tribal Rights and Interests Every five years, assemble and assess monitoring data for natural and cultural 

resources listed below. 

Air and Atmospheric 

Values 

Every five years, assemble and assess monitoring data collected by the Idaho 

Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) in or near the planning area. 

Geologic Features Monitor visitor impacts to unique geologic formations in conjunction with recreation, 

cultural resource, WSA, and WSR monitoring listed below. 

Soil Resources Evaluate soil conditions in allotments at ten-year intervals prior to grazing permit 

renewal for compliance with the Idaho Standards for Rangeland Health. Use methods 

described in Technical Reference (TR) 1734-6, Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland 

Health. 

Water Resources Coordinate with DEQ and the Idaho Department of Water Resources to monitor 

303(d)-listed or other priority streams as resource conditions warrant. 

Upland Vegetation Annually update the planning area vegetation map with new data resulting from fire 

or vegetation treatments; evaluate burned areas two years following fire. Annually 

evaluate 10% of the planning area to document vegetation changes due to natural 

succession. 

Riparian Areas and 

Wetlands 

Annually evaluate 20% of stream reaches with riparian vegetation and 10% of areas 

with wetland vegetation. Use methods described in TR 1737-15, A User Guide to 

Assessing Proper Functioning Condition and the Supporting Science for Lotic Areas, 

and TR 1737-16, A User Guide to Assessing Proper Functioning Condition and the 

Supporting Science for Lentic Areas. As available, use Multiple Indicator Monitoring 

as described in Idaho Technical Bulletin 2007-01 to support Proper Functioning 

Condition (PFC) assessments on perennial streams. 

Fish Use riparian area monitoring described above to determine changes to habitat quantity 

and quality for native non-game fish. Annually monitor aquatic habitat condition in 

conjunction with riparian PFC monitoring. 

Wildlife Use monitoring and assessments for riparian and wetland areas, upland vegetation, 

and Idaho Standards for Rangeland Health to determine changes to habitat quantity 

and quality for wildlife. 

Special Status Species Use monitoring and assessments for riparian and wetland areas, upland vegetation, 

and Idaho Standards for Rangeland Health to determine changes to habitat quantity 

and quality for special status species. Monitor Type 1 and priority special status 

species according to current protocols, conservation agreements, and Endangered 

Species Act (ESA) consultation requirements. Annually monitor aquatic habitat 

condition in conjunction with riparian PFC monitoring. 

Noxious Weeds and 

Invasive Plants 

Evaluate vegetation conditions relative to presence of noxious weeds and invasive 

plants in allotments at ten-year intervals prior to grazing permit renewal for 

compliance with Idaho Standards for Rangeland Health. Use methods described in TR 

1734-6, Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health. Monitor areas treated in 

previous years to evaluate treatment effectiveness; prioritize areas monitored based on 

resource issues. 

Wildland Fire Ecology and 

Management 

Every five years, evaluate wildland fire size, the number of human-caused fires, and 

the number of acres burned within and outside the wildland-urban interface. Update 

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Section Strategy for Determining whether RMP Objectives are being Met 

Fire Regime Condition Class analysis when 20% of the planning area has been 

disturbed by wildland fire or treated by fuels projects or at least every 5 years. Every 

five years, evaluate acres of fuels treatments and fire size in Critical Suppression 

Areas to determine fuels treatment effectiveness. 

Wild Horses Conduct annual wild horse counts to monitor population trends. 

Paleontological Resources Annually evaluate condition of five vertebrate fossil localities or scientifically 

important invertebrate or plant fossil localities based on level of threat; determine if 

localities are stable or deteriorating. Monitoring would be recorded through written 

and photographic documentation. 

Cultural Resources Annually evaluate the condition of 30 sites based on type of site and level of threat; 

determine if sites are stable or deteriorating. Monitoring would focus on National 

Register eligible and listed properties and Native American traditional cultural 

properties. Monitoring would be recorded through written and photographic 

documentation. 

Visual Resources Annually evaluate 20% of Key Observation Points for comparison with visual 

resource inventory (VRI) classes, with priority on areas managed as visual resource 

management (VRM) Classes I, II, and III; determine whether VRI classes have 

changed beyond thresholds as follows: 

 VRM Class I or II: VRI class would not change 

 VRM Class III: VRI class would not change more than one class 

 VRM Class IV: VRI class can change one or more classes 

Non-Wilderness Study 

Area (WSA) Lands with 

Wilderness Characteristics 

Every five years following completion of the Comprehensive Transportation and 

Travel Management Plan (CTTMP), evaluate existing non-WSA lands with 

wilderness characteristics. 

Livestock Grazing Evaluate soil and vegetation conditions in allotments at ten-year intervals prior to 

grazing permit renewal for compliance with Idaho Standards for Rangeland Health. 

Use methods described in TR 1734-6, Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health. 

Use Multiple Indicator Monitoring as described in Idaho Technical Bulletin 2007-01 

to evaluate livestock use on riparian areas that are not at PFC. Monitor livestock use 

according to allotment-specific grazing use indicators and criteria. Update geospatial 

data for range infrastructure as changes occur. Annually monitor 20% of reference 

areas to evaluate fence and vegetation condition; use methods appropriate to reference 

area resources (e.g., riparian, upland vegetation, special status species). 

Recreation Annually monitor visitor use in Special Recreation Management Areas including type 

of use, group size, and facility and setting condition; monitor Extensive Recreation 

Management Area to evaluate user health and safety, user conflicts, and resource 

protection. 

Transportation and Travel 

Management 

Following completion of the CTTMP, annually monitor compliance with route 

designations. 

Areas of Critical 

Environmental Concern 

(ACECs) 

Every five years, evaluate condition of relevant and important values within 

designated ACECs using monitoring data described above for natural and cultural 

resources. 

National Historic Trails 

(NHTs) 

Annually monitor condition and historic and recreational settings of the Oregon NHT. 

Monitoring would be recorded through written and photographic documentation. 

Incorporate soil, vegetation, visual resource, and other pertinent resource monitoring 

data as appropriate. 

Wild and Scenic Rivers 

(WSRs) 

Annually monitor eligible, suitable, and designated WSR segments for free-flowing 

character and presence of qualifying outstandingly remarkable values (ORVs). Use 

monitoring associated with qualifying ORVs (e.g. vegetation, special status species) 

as described above. 

WSAs Monitor WSAs monthly in accordance with BLM Handbook H-8550-1, Interim 

Management Policy for Lands under Wilderness Review. 

Note: Where specific protocols, technical references, manuals, and handbooks are noted, updated versions would be used as they 

become available 

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