Appendix A:

Comments and responses to changes made to the Forest Plan Monitoring requirements

General comments —

With so many details not yet developed, it’s difficult to comment on the fine points of the plan or
on the time and expense of implementation. We recommend that the details of the new
monitoring plan be designed to ensure it does not require more time and expense by the SHNF
than the existing monitoring plan. We also encourage you to ensure that the monitoring plan
utilizes data already being collected, on data that is, or can be, collected by State and local
governments, on data that can be collected more efficiently by non-Forest Service entities, and
on data that is, or can be, collected by various partners. As you refine the SHNF Monitoring
Plan, we request an opportunity to stay involved in development of those details.

The Shoshone National Forest Monitoring Plan transition to the 2012 Planning Rule
requirements is striving to streamline Forest Plan monitoring to ensure that monitoring
commitments do not require more resources than the Shoshone could allocate towards those
efforts. To do so, the Monitoring Plan will focus on monitoring that will address the eight items
required by the 2012 Rule. Where appropriate, the Shoshone will utilize monitoring data
collected in conjunction with our partners.

Monitoring Category i.
We recommend that you also consider results of the Wyoming State Forestry Division’s periodic
audits of Silviculture BMP implementation and effectiveness.

The Shoshone is an active participant in BMP audits and has included a monitoring question
addressing BMPs.

Monitoring Category iii.

We recommend that you add the following monitoring question — “How do cover types and age
class diversity by cover type compare to desired conditions in forest plan Tables 1 and 3?” We
encourage you to utilize FIA data to the extent possible; use of FIA data may require a review of
how to ensure that FIA data collection and compilation can be most effective and we would
welcome a chance to be part of that discussion.

Within Category ii under the heading Vegetation several monitoring questions are intended to
address the status of various cover types on the Shoshone. Where appropriate the Shoshone will
utilize FIA data understanding the limitations due to the frequency at which the data is collected
(one plot per approximately 6,200 acres).

We also recommend that you add the following monitoring question - “How many acres of
precommercial thinning have been accomplished?” Precommercial thinning is an important
indicator of future HSS distribution and forest productivity.


(i) Status of Select Watershed Conditions

higher condition

collected validate watershed
condition and trend?

stream health, aquatic
and riparian health.

Monitoring Driver Monitoring Questions Monitoring | Monitoring Indicators Precision Scale Frequency
Priority and of
Reliability Reporting
| Water and Soil ~ : Ae : ie ee i a : ee
Is the Shoshone National High Completion of B Forestwide Annually
. . Forest improving condition in essential projects
poll water and aquatic priority watersheds? identified i
improvement/restoration Watershed ‘
+ Restoration Action
projects are Plan.
Improve or maintain to Are BMPs implemented, and High Monitoring protocols B Forestwide Annually
oes are they effective at rating system.
watersheds so conditions 4 .
are trending toward a protecting water quality? > ren
Does reference data High Soil disturbance, A Forestwide | 3 to 5 years



Monitoring Driver Monitoring Questions Monitoring | Monitoring Indicators Precision Scale Frequency
Priority and of
Reliability Reporting
stream reaches within
priority watersheds
Provide habitat capable
aati To what extent are
of contributing to weet
conservation and viabili management activities in
cee 5 ty sagebrush habitat . Population trend of .

of sensitive species, pgs Medium B Forestwide 5S years

. . cag contributing to the Brewer's sparrow.
which will keep sensitive .

an conservation of the Brewer's
species from being listed sparrow?
under the ESA. P ‘
{v) Status of visitor use, visitor satisfaction, and progress toward meeting recreation objectives
Monitoring Driver Monitoring Questions Monitoring | Monitoring Indicators Precision Scale Frequency
Priority and of
Relial Reporting

Recreation ee :
A diversity of year-round Percent satisfaction
oO vrtunties attract What is the percent for 1) very satisfied; 2) 5 year
. Bp . satisfaction for recreational High somewhat satisfied; B Forestwide y
increasing numbers of s

visitors to the Shoshone

visits on the unit?

and 3) total
satisfaction



least 2000 acres annually

Area

Monitoring Driver Monitoring Questions Monitoring | Monitoring Indicators Precision Scale Frequency
Priority and of
Reliability Reporting
What is the status and trend Rangeland vegetation Greater
of rangeland vegetation? Medium condition B Yellowstone Annually
Area
(interagency)

FireandFuels

Disturbance processes

have moved 60,000 to

165,000 acres from fire

regime condition classes .

2 or 3 to fire regime What is the status and trend Acres by fire regime

vee of fire departure on the Medium tes B Forestwide 5 Years
condition class 1 . condition class
= Shoshone National Forest?

Disturbance processes

have maintained 86,000

to 176,000 acres in fire

regime condition class 1

Reduce hazardous fuel How many acres of Acres treated &

ratings on 100,000 to hazardous fuels were treated Acres treated in

250,000 acres, including | to reduce the rating? a management area .

60,000 to 90,000 acres in Medium categories 4,5,and 8 8 Forestwide 5 years

management area

categories 4,5, and8&

Aquatic Ecosystems _ co 8 fo

Beaver have been Are beavers expanding to Distribution of

restored to five suitable other suitable stream Medium | streams supporting B Forestwide 5 Years

stream segments. segments? beavers.

Invasive Species ee eee

Reduce invasive plant . Forestwide

sp Ren What is the status and trend . . &

density, infestation size, . Acres of invasive

and/or occurrence on at of management response to Medium plants treated. B Greater Annually
invasive plant species? Yellowstone



(ii) Status of select ecological conditions including key characteristics of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems

National Forest that
contribute to forest health?

Monitoring Driver Monitoring Questions Monitoring | Monitoring Indicators Precision Scale Frequency
Priority and of
Reliability Reporting
‘Air a ; f ; ee =e
What are the conditions and bility on the
Air quality meets Clean trends for visibility in Class | haziest and clearest Regional
+ qa ¥ mee and selected Class Il areas on High days. Deciview graph A i 5 Years
Air Act and Wilderness . . . Impacts
. the Shoshone National displaying trend data
Act requirements in Class “
Forest? for visibility.
land Class Il areas and an
f . . Acid neutralizing
Wyoming National air capacity: Lower Regional
juality standard: i :
quality standards High Saddlebag and Ross A Impacts 5 Years
Lakes
Vegetation ee eee : :
What are the status and Acres of willow and
trends of aspen and willow Medium | aspen B Forestwide 5 Years
on the Shoshone?
Is whitebark pine being Medium Acres of whitebark B Forestwide 10 Years
restored? pine restoration
oe What is the health of Blister rust
Restore and maintain a , . .
a whitebark pine? Amount of mountain
diverse range of forested Hich ine beetle morta B Forestwid 5Y
and non-forested ig! pine beetle mo: ity restwide ears
ecosystems Recruitment of
¥ whitebark pine
What are the status and Type of outbreak,
trends of insects and disease acres, and location.
in and around the Shoshone High B Forestwide Annually



(iv)

Status of a select set of the ecological conditions required under 219.0 to contribute to the recovery of federal listed threatened and

endangered species, conserve proposed candidate species, and maintain a viable population of each species of conservation concern.

Monitoring Driver Monitoring Questions Monitoring | Monitoring Indicators Precision Scale Frequency
Priority and of
Reliability Reporting
Threatened, endangered, proposed, and candidate species :
To what extent is
management contributing to Required monitoring
the conservation of federally items in appendix 1,
listed species and moving High Northern Rockies Lynx B Forestwide 5 years
toward goals and objectives Management
for their habitat conditions Direction
Suitable habitats for and population trends?
threatened, endangered, Tracking and reporting
proposed, and candidate | Are habitat standards for annual changes in Regional
species are managed conservation of the . motorized access, 8
i" i" . High . A (ecosystem Annually
consistently with Yellowstone population of livestock grazing wide)
established and grizzly bears being met? allotments, and
approved recovery plans developed sites
and conservation What i if . . ;
: / at is the status of key Whitebark pine cone Regional
strategies food sources for the . .
+ High production A (ecosystem Annually
Yellowstone population of .
‘ Moth sites wide)
the grizzly bear?
Population Regional
What is the status and trend . distribution and trend, ‘i
High . A (ecosystem
of the grizzly bears? whitebark pine cone .
. . wide)
production, moth sites
Sensitive Species 2 ee
The Yellowstone Is the Yellowstone cutthroat Miles and distribution Yellowston
cutthroat trout trout population expanding . : Pp e e cutthroat
" . High genetically pure A Annually
population has expanded | to other suitable stream trout
. Yellowstone cutthroat .
to at least four suitable reaches? rangewide

trout populations



Chapter 3 - Monitoring

Monitoring Under the 2012 Rule

The 2012 Planning Rule includes a requirement that all Forests that are not in plan revision update
their forest plan monitoring within four years, or as soon as is practicable (36 CFR 219.12c). This
document updates our forest plan monitoring to meet this requirment of the 2012 rule.

The Role of Monitoring under the 2012 Planning Rule

The NFMA requires “continuous monitoring and assessment in the field” to evaluate “the
effects of each management system to the end that it will not produce substantial and
permanent impairment of the productivity of the land” (16 USC 1604(g)(3)(C)). The 2012
rule includes a three-part iterative cycle of assessment, planning, and monitoring in a
continuous feedback loop. Monitoring is meant to support the assessment process and
evaluate plan implementation over time. This planning framework is designed to “inform
integrated resource management and allows the Forest Service to adapt to changing
conditions, including climate change, and improve management base on new information
and monitoring” (§ 219.5 (a)).

Specific Requirements for Monitoring under the 2012 Rule

A monitoring plan will consist of “monitoring questions and associated indicators” which
“must be designed to inform the management of resources on the plan area, including by
testing relevant assumptions, tracking relevant changes, and measuring management
effectiveness and progress toward achieving or maintaining the plan’s desired conditions
or objectives” (219.12 (a)(2}). The monitoring program must also be “coordinated with the
regional forester and Forest Service State and Private Forestry and Research and
Development” (§ 219.12 (a)(1)) and support and align with a broader-scale monitoring
program, to be developed at the regional level, that will address monitoring questions at a
geographic scale broader than one plan area (§ 219.12 (b)). Furthermore, in developing
the monitoring plan, the responsible official should also provide opportunities for public
participation, “taking into account the skills and interests of affected parties”, as well as
the scope, methods, forum and timing of those opportunities (§ 219.4 (a)).

Monitoring may involve evaluating: if standards and guidelines are implemented
(implementation monitoring); if management actions and standards and guidelines are
effective in achieving goals and objectives (effectiveness monitoring); the long term trend and
condition of key resources (condition or surveillance monitoring). Ata minimum, the plan
monitoring program must contain one or more monitoring questions and associate indicators
addressing the following eight items (see §219.12{al[5][i-viii]):

e (i) —The status of select watershed conditions;
e (ii) —The status of select ecological conditions including key characteristics of
terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems;


be protected,

wilderness character?

Monitoring Driver Monitoring Questions Monitoring | Monitoring Indicators Precision Scale Frequency
Priority and of
Reliability Reporting
What are the contributions Employment, income,
Help meet energy from minerals to the pian Medium | and contribution to A Forestwide Annually
resource needs area? GDP.
Firewood permits sold
Indicators of forest value | How many permits are sold? Medium | Christmas tree A Forestwide Annually
to local residents permits sold
Heritage ue !
At least 200 acres wit
i haeological
high archacologica Were 200 acres of National
Potential will be Forest System land with high
inventoried annually i . e Medium | Acres inventoried B Forestwide Annually
. archaeological potential
under Section 110 of the inventoried?
National Historic .
Preservation Act
A historic property plan is
completed for at least Was a historic property plan Number of historc
three National Register . -
eligible or listed completed during the Medium | property plans A Forestwide 5 Years
. sd?

properties or property planning period? completed
types. :
Survey at least 5% of land | What resources were

id fil il ?
burned by wildfires impacted by the fire? ; Number of historic ;
greater than 50 acres High a B Forestwide Annually

sens, + How many burned acres properties impacted
within one year of being
were surveyed?

burned
Roads and Trails
Wilderness _ Le oS :
Wilderness character will | What is the state of Medium B Forestwide | Annually



{vi) Measurable changes on the plan area related to climate change and other stressors that may be affecting the plan area.

precipitation in the planning
area?

precip (in)

Monitoring Driver Monitoring Questions Monitoring | Monitoring Indicators Scale Frequency
Priority of
Reporting
Precipitation and Snow Water Equivalent
at are th n
whe ds of Snowpack ane Elevation, snow depth
High inches, and SWE; A Watershed Annually

associated employment

services,

the plan area?

GDP.

{vij) Progress toward meeting the desired conditions and objectives in the plan, including for providing multiple use opportunities
Monitoring Driver Monitoring Questions Monitoring | Monitoring Indicators Precision Scale Frequency
Priority and of
Reli: Reporting
Social and Economic Sustainability oe
Pr it Animal Uni spas .
ermitted Animal Unit What are the contributions Employment, income,
Months range between . . .
. from range program to the Medium | and contribution to A Forestwide Annually
plus or minus 10 percent lan area? GDP.
of 60,000 annually pl . .
Fi wae .
orest products What are contributions from Employment, income,
produced from the : . .
timber program to the plan Medium | and contribution to A Forestwide Annually
Shoshone average at area? GDP
least 16,500 Ccf annually . .
Special use
authorizations benefit h What are contributions for Employment, income,
e the recreation program to Medium | and contribution to A Forestwide Annually



Monitoring Driver Monitoring Questions Monitoring | Monitoring Indicators Precision Scale Frequency
Priority and of
Reliability Reporting
Treat 25 to 50 acres of
. How many acres of
cheatgrass in sagebrush
communities each year, cheatgrass have been Acres of cheatgrass
. . ¥ 4 treated? How many acres Medium 8! B Forestwide Annually
with particular emphasis . treated.
. ; have been treated on big
on big game winter .
game winter range?
range.
(iii) Status of focal species to assess the ecological conditions required under 219.9
Monitoring Driver Monitoring Questions Monitoring | Monitoring Indicators Precision Scale Frequency
Priority and of
Reliability Reporting
Focal Species : : es : : ee : ee
Maintain or improve To what extent are Population trend of B Forestwide 5 Years

habitat capable of
supporting the vial
focal species.

y of

management activities in
aspen habitat contributing to
the conservation of the
warbling vireo?

the warbling vireo.



Monitoring priorities

e High priority: These items have been identified by resource specialists as essential
for assessing trends in ecosystem health. Monitoring elements required by law
and/or by regulation are also ranked as high priority.

¢ Medium priority: This indicates that the monitoring element is directed by the Plan,
as developed in the goals and objectives section (which may or may not be directly
associated with required laws or regulations).

« Low priority: This indicates that the monitoring element involves questions of a
more indirect nature, or that it does not fall under one of the above
classifications.

Potential monitoring items

A monitoring item may be a quantitative of qualitative parameter that is measured or estimated.
One or more monitoring items are selected in order to answer a monitoring question.

Monitoring precision/reliability

The precision and reliability with which a monitoring item is collected is dependent upon the
activity and associated issue(s). There are two classes of precision and reliability considered in the
monitoring guide:

© Class A: In this case, the methods are generally well accepted for modeling or
measuring the resource or condition. They produce repeatable results and are often
statistically valid. Reliability, precision, and accuracy are very good. These methods
are often quantitative.

* Class B: In this case, the methods are based on project records, communication, on-
site visual estimates, and/or less formal measurements. Reliability, accuracy, and
precision are good; however, they are less than those for class A methods. Class B
methods are often qualitative; however, they still provide valuable information on
the status of the resource.

Scale

Scale describes the level of analysis with respect to land size. This measure is important in
describing impacts dealing with habitat heterogeneity and viability issues as well as describing
cumulative impacts related to, or resulting from, management actions.

Frequency of recording

Frequency of recording describes the timing of monitoring and evaluation efforts. Much data are
collected annually, while other data are collected less frequently based on the length of time
needed to discern a measureable change.


Category iii is intended to monitor the Status of focal species to assess the ecological conditions
required under 219.9. It is unclear as to how monitoring pre-commercial thinning would act as
an indicator of the status of focal species.

We also recommend that you add the following Monitoring Question - “What is the number of
acres infested by invasive plants?”

Within Category ii under the heading Invasive Species there are two questions directly related to
monitoring the status of invasive plants.

Monitoring Category iv.

We recommend that you add the following Monitoring Question — “What is the status and trend
of Canada lynx across the planning area?” We recommend Monitoring Indicators of “Population
distribution and trend”. We recommend against using acreages of various forest types as a
Monitoring Indicator unless some correlation is supported by best available science.

Monitoring items have been established by the Northern Rockies Lynx Amendment. Those
monitoring items were created using the best available science.

Monitoring Category vii.

We recommend adding annual timber volume (sawtimber, roundwood, biomass, etc.) sold as one
of the indicators of the Shoshone NF’s contribution to social and economic health and
sustainability of local communities.

Under the heading Social and economic sustainability forest products from the Shoshone are
included as a Monitoring Driver.


supervisor's review. After review, it will be distributed to the public. This
report will summarize the information collected and the relevant evaluations.

Biennial monitoring and evaluation report

The Shoshone will document its monitoring and evaluation process in a periodic
monitoring report. The monitoring report serves several purposes including:

* Documenting monitoring and evaluation accomplishments;

¢ Providing an assessment of the current state of ecological conditions on the
Shoshone and socioeconomic contributions to local communities;

e Providing feedback to responsible officials of any needed changes to the Plan, or
of any needed adjustments to management actions; and

¢ Providing the public with relevant information about the management of the
public lands within the planning area.

The monitoring and evaluation report will contain the following sections:

¢ The introduction contains an update on monitoring activities on the Shoshone
and any regional monitoring efforts.

« The monitoring results describe the results of monitoring the items
described in the Plan’s monitoring strategy table.

« Evaluation and recommendations evaluate the monitoring results including
any results of particular concern. A list of responsive actions may be
included and any needed changes to Plan direction or implementation
activities may be discussed.

A strategy for involving the public, other agencies, and interest groups in our monitoring
activities should be considered each year. This may be accomplished through partnerships with
interest groups; volunteer groups; other Federal, state, and local agencies; and universities.

Monitoring Meetings

Biannual monitoring and evaluation meetings with the Forest plan revision cooperating agencies
(state of Wyoming, County Commissioners, and Conservation District Board members) will be
offered. The meetings will be open to the public.

Cooperating agencies can help Forest personnel in monitoring Forest plan and project
implementation, in evaluating biological, social, and economic impacts; and by identifying
amendment needs and proposed solutions. Maintaining the knowledge base and relationship
with state agencies and local elected officials will provide continuity in the adaptive
management cycle, from development of the revised plan to plan implementation, monitoring,
evaluation, and amendment through to the next plan revision.

Components of the monitoring strategy

Monitoring driver
The monitoring driver relates specifically to goals or objectives identified in the Plan.

Monitoring question

The monitoring questions are developed to address information essential to measuring the
effectiveness of plan implementation in moving towards desired conditions described in the
Plan.


e — (iii)—The status of focal species to assess the ecological conditions required under §
219.9;

e (iv)—The status of a select set of the ecological conditions required under § 219.9 to
contribute to the recovery of federally listed threatened and endangered species,
conserve proposed and candidate species, and maintain a viable population of each
species of conservation concern;

e (v)—The status of visitor use, visitor satisfaction, and progress toward meeting
recreation objectives;

e — (vi)—Measurable changes on the plan area related to climate change and other
stressors that may be affecting the plan area;

e  (vii}—Progress toward meeting the desired conditions and objectives in the plan,
including for providing multiple use opportunities;

e  (viii)—The effects of each management system to determine that they do not
substantially and permanently impair the productivity of the land (16 U.S.C.
1604(g)(3)(C)).

A monitoring evaluation report is to be produced and made available to the public every two years
(§ 219.12 (d)}. It “must indicate whether or not a change to the plan, management activities, or
the monitoring program, or a new assessment, may be warranted based on the new information...
[and] must be used to inform adaptive management of the plan area” (§ 219.12 (d}(2)). The
monitoring program and evaluation report are part of the administrative record (§ 219.14 (b)) and
the Forest Supervisor must document “how the best available scientific information was used to
inform planning, the plan components, and other plan content, including the plan monitoring
program” (§219.13 (a)(4)).

Monitoring strategy

Effective forest plan monitoring and evaluation fosters improved management and more
informed planning decisions. It helps identify the need to adjust desired conditions,
goals, objectives, standards, and guidelines as conditions change. Monitoring and
evaluation help the Forest Service and the public determine how the Plan is being
implemented, whether Plan implementation is achieving desired outcomes, and
whether assumptions made in the planning process are valid.

The purpose of the monitoring strategy is to provide direction in order to facilitate
successful monitoring and evaluation. The focus of the Shoshone’s monitoring strategy
is:

« Establish monitoring priorities: Criteria from the goals and objectives are
used to establish priorities for monitoring within the expected program of
work and budget constraints.

« Identify responsible parties and potential cooperators: Resource program
managers accept responsibility for ensuring that monitoring is completed and
identify ways to gather and evaluate data in conjunction with other agencies
or with other interested parties.

e Analyze the data: Resource managers will analyze the data collected, with the
goal of answering the monitoring questions, and determine if changes are
needed in plan direction or outputs.

e Publish and distribute the biennial monitoring and evaluation report:
Resource program managers will write the monitoring report for the Forest


for the top 50 percent of
fee campgrounds

Standard”?

Monitoring Driver Monitoring Questions Monitoring | Monitoring Indicators Precision Scale Frequency
and of
Reliability Reporting
maintained, and How is Wilderness character
improved where changing over time?
possible; as measured by | How are stewardship actions
WwspP. affecting Wilderness
character?
Invasive plant density, How many acres of Acres of invasive plant Wilderness
festation size, and Wilderness were treated for Medium B 5 Years
. - treatments Areas
occurrences are reduced. | invasive plants?
Developed Recreation Areas oe
Deferred maintenance
needs are accomplished Are the top 50-percent .
campgrounds “Maintained to Medium | Yes/No B Forestwide 5 Years

and hydrologic function?

the effect of soil
disturbance on soil
productivity and
hydrologic function

(viii) Effects of each management system to determine that they do not substantially and permanently impair the productivity of the land
Monitoring Driver Monitoring Questions Monitoring | Monitoring Indicators Precision Scale Frequency
and of
Reliability Reporting
Soils and Hydrologic Functi ce : ee

Type, degree and

extent of soil

disturbance and risk

High to rating to determine B Forestwide 5 years