Appendix 11 

APPENDIX 11—MONITORING AND EVALUATION 

INTRODUCTION 

Management actions identified for the Pinedale planning area are based on studies and the best scientific 

and commercial information currently available. However, conditions may change during the life of the 

land use plan. Experience has shown that implemented management actions can be improved as new 

technology and new information become available. It is also possible that changes in land use will require 

a different management action to protect resources and avoid resource conflicts. To address the changing 

conditions and provide management flexibility that incorporates best management practices (BMP), the 

Pinedale Field Office (PFO) conducts monitoring and evaluation, which measures the effectiveness of 

existing actions through monitoring and application of new scientific research. Monitoring and evaluation 

analyzes the current resource conditions as a result of implemented actions and identifies and 

recommends alternatives or modified actions, as necessary, to reach established objectives and goals. This 

process provides the optimum means to check the effectiveness of management actions. Because the 

capability to execute the process at the optimum level can vary from year to year, monitoring will be 

prioritized. BLM will use data collected by other agencies, local governments, and other sources when 

appropriate and available. 

Decisions 

Management goals identified in the record of decision for the land use plan provide the direction for 

managing each resource. These goals are the foundation for developing a monitoring system to track the 

results of the management actions (Table A11-1). Indicators that represent resource conditions or change 

are identified for monitoring. Performance standards are developed at the activity planning level as 

guided by the resource goals in the land use plan. Performance standards consider national and state 

established standards, such as the Standards for Healthy Rangelands (USDI, BLM 1997) and others that 

may have been developed for specific landscapes or resource conditions. Monitoring methods are selected 

and/or designed to read the indicators as scheduled in the resource monitoring table (Table A11-1). In 

addition, data sources for studies and scientific research are identified and selected for use before the 

process is implemented. Actions that are not producing desired results will be modified or replaced based 

on the assessment of the new data. 

Data Collection 

Monitoring methods are implemented to collect data that reveal any change in the indicators. Monitoring 

techniques consider when, where, and how often monitoring must be repeated. Because much of the 

monitoring data are collected by other federal and state agencies, a system must be established to 

regularly collect and coordinate these data. Scientific research results are the most elusive of all the data, 

and collection will require each resource specialist’s close attention to new technology and the results of 

research that can be attributed to BMPs for a resource. Developing technologies or a better understanding 

of information needs may result in changes to the monitoring methods and in what is being measured. 

These adjustments will be addressed during the assessment step. 

The data collected through monitoring provide a variety of information applicable to one or more 

resource uses. Therefore, monitoring methods should be designed to address as many uses as possible. 

This will increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the monitoring program by eliminating duplicative 

and conflicting information. 

Record of Decision and Approved Pinedale Resource Management Plan A11-1 
Appendix 11 

Data Analysis 

The data collected from all monitoring, studies, and scientific results will be analyzed to determine the 

change that has occurred as a result of management actions. When a change in resource conditions has 

been identified, resource specialists and other agency specialists will consult to determine what use or 

action caused the change. Data analysis will be conducted on a predetermined schedule that considers the 

data collection frequency for detecting change. Data will also be recorded and organized to facilitate 

analysis to be used in assessing management actions. 

Assessment 

The analyzed data will be assessed to determine whether the resource conditions are meeting the planned 

goals and objectives as defined by the performance standards; whether a change has occurred, and if so, 

identify the cause; and what appropriate action should be taken to achieve the desired outcome of a 

management action plan objective. New technology and management methods will be reviewed to 

determine their applicability in modifying or replacing current management actions. In some cases, 

evaluation of monitoring data may indicate the need to change management goals, which would require 

reinitiating the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)/planning process. When the assessment 

shows that the goals are still valid but the outcome, as defined by the performance measures, is not being 

achieved, a change or modification in management actions is warranted. A change in either management 

goals or actions could require additional NEPA analysis. To the degree that those changes have been 

analyzed in the original NEPA document, no additional NEPA analysis would be required. If those 

changes have not been previously analyzed, supplemental NEPA documentation will be required. 

The assessment will develop recommendations to be considered by management for continuation, 

modification, or replacement of current management actions. Because adoption of a new management 

action may require changes in the monitoring plan, the assessment will also evaluate the effectiveness of 

the monitoring and data collection methods and recommend continued use, modification, or elimination 

of those methods. 

An interdisciplinary assessment team will be established for conducting a thorough and complete 

assessment. An assessment schedule should be developed that ensures management actions are evaluated 

before an irreversible resource condition occurs. 

RESOURCE MONITORING TABLE 

The resource monitoring table (Table A11-1) identifies the indicator that will be monitored to detect 

change in resource conditions, the method or technique of monitoring, the locations for monitoring, the 

unit of measurement for monitoring, the frequency and duration for monitoring, and the action triggers or 

thresholds that indicate the effectiveness of the management action. 

A11-2 Record of Decision and Approved Pinedale Resource Management Plan 
Appendix 11 

Table A11-1. Resource Monitoring Table 

Resource Indicator Method or Technique Location Unit of Measure Frequency and Duration Action Triggers 

Air Quality 

Air quality 

Ambient air sampling and air quality modeling 

Areawide Parts per million 

Hourly to 24-hour samples in accordance with standards 

Samples exceeding National Ambient Air Quality Standards 

Gaseous and particulate critical air pollutants 

Emission inventory Areawide Lbs/hr and tons/yr Annually Whenever detected 

Cultural National Register eligible sites Site inspection Areawide Disturbance Annually Disturbance as a result of land uses or vandalism 

Fire 

Fire fuels Site inspection 

Wildland-urban interface and industrial interface areas 

Acres Annually 

Presence of fire fuels that present a risk to communities and industrial sites 

Vegetation condition 

Ecological site condition and trend studies 

Vegetation types where there is a history of fire in the ecosystem 

Representative sample Annually 

Vegetation growth trend is moving away from desired conditions for the vegetation type 

Resource and property damage Fire behavior Individual fire 

Fire temperature, flame length, burn rate, and acres burned 

While the fire is burning 

Acres burned and fire intensity that exceed prescription 

Forestry 

Forest Health Ecological site condition and trend Forested lands Representative sample area Every 3 to 5 years 

Disease, insect infestation, or encroachment of undesirable plant species threatens forest health 

Timber stands Timber stand examination Commercial forested areas Board feet, age class, and damages Every 10 to 20 years Basal area growth does not meet timber type standards 

Lands and 

Realty 

Rights-of-way compliance Site inspection Areawide Site Annually Non-compliance or non-use 

Record of Decision and Approved Pinedale Resource Management Plan A11-3 
Appendix 11 

Resource Indicator Method or Technique Location Unit of Measure Frequency and Duration Action Triggers 

Livestock 

Grazing 

Vegetation condition 

Ecological site condition 

All areas being grazed 

Representative sample of grazed area 

Every 2 to 10 years 

Conditions are not meeting goals and objectives for vegetation community, and do not meet the Standards for Healthy Rangelands and Guidelines for Livestock Grazing Management 

Vegetation trend Ecological site trend All areas being grazed Representative sample of grazed area Every 3 to 5 years No movement toward meeting objectives and goals for the vegetation type Forage utilization Utilization study plot or site visit All areas being grazed Representative sample of grazed area During or after area has been grazed Deteriorating vigor of key plants 

Livestock numbers Counts and site visits All allotments Number 

Annually or when livestock are moved on or off the allotment 

Numbers exceeding permitted numbers and overuse for vegetation condition 

Minerals 

Surface disturbance 

Remote sensing or site inspection 

Mineral development sites 

Acres disturbed Annually Acres disturbed exceeding the range established for the area 

Compliance with authorization Area inspection Areawide Compliance During operations or annually Non-compliance 

Off-Highway 

Vehicles 

Surface disturbance 

Remote sensing or site visit Site Acres of disturbance Annually 

Disturbance exceeding the baseline, accelerated soil erosion occurring, and vegetation being removed. 

Paleontology 

Significant paleontological resources 

Site inspection Site 

Degradation or loss of significant fossil resources 

Annually 

Loss or damage to significant fossil resources as a result of human or natural causes 

Recreation General recreation 

use 

Inspection or remote sensing 

Areawide with emphasis on dispersed recreation 

Change over time and visitor days Annually 

When change is causing undue or unnecessary degradation of the site or area 

Concentrated recreation use 

Inspect developed recreation sites or areas that have facilities 

Recreation site 

Condition of recreation site, facilities, and visitor days 

Annually 

When change is causing undue or unnecessary degradation of facilities and use areas 

A11-4 Record of Decision and Approved Pinedale Resource Management Plan 
Appendix 11 

Resource Indicator Method or Technique Location Unit of Measure Frequency and Duration Action Triggers 

Compliance with commercial authorization 

Administrative review, site inspection 

Activity site 

Permit stipulations, resource conditions, and site restoration 

During and after an event 

When non-compliance is determined or degradation of resources is occurring 

Socioeconomic 

Data Refer to the Pinedale Field Office Oil and Gas Development Social and Economic Monitoring Plan (Winthrop, 2008) 

Special 

Designations 

and 

Management 

Areas 

Resource condition 

Site visit or remote sensing 

Special designation and management area 

Amount of degradation or loss of resources 

Every 1 to 5 years 

Undue or unnecessary degradation or loss of resources as a result of human or natural causes 

Transportation 

and Access 

Management 

Roads and trails 

Road and trail inspection through on site inspection or remote sensing 

Areawide Miles Annually Conditions represent a hazard to life and property 

Vegetation Trend 

Appropriate method from the National Range Handbook 

Areawide Representative sample Every 3 to 5 years Vegetation change from the baseline or moving away from the desired ecological status 

Vegetation change Photo points Areawide 

Representative sample of vegetation type 

Every 2 to 10 years 

Used in conjunction with other methods to detect both desirable and undesirable changes occurring to vegetation as a result of land uses 

Precipitation Weather stations 

Representative sample to detect precipitation patterns 

Inches of precipitation Monthly and annually Insufficient precipitation for plant growth 

Noxious weed trend 

Remote sensing or site visit Areawide 

Acres of established weeds and potential habitat areas 

Continuously Spreading or establishment of weed species in new areas 

Special Status Species Site inspection 

Special Status Species’ habitats 

Population and trend Annually A declining trend in populations 

Record of Decision and Approved Pinedale Resource Management Plan A11-5 
Appendix 11 

Resource Indicator Method or Technique Location Unit of Measure Frequency and Duration Action Triggers 

Wetland/riparian condition 

Proper Functioning Condition (PFC) Areawide 

Stream miles and acres along with rating 

Yearly 

Ratings below PFC, defined by the ability of the wetland site to maintain itself and for riparian areas to withstand a 2-year storm event. 

Visual 

Resource 

Management 

Intrusions Remote sensing or site visit Class I and II areas Impacts of an individual intrusion Annually Intrusion that exceeds the definition of the classification 

Water Quality, 

Watershed and 

Soils 

Management 

Surface water quality Water sampling All surface water Mg/l and tons/day Annually Water quality does not meet state standards Ground water quality 

Ground water sampling 

Where land use activities are occurring 

Representative sample of water quality 

Annually 

Water quality does not meet state standards and water is migrating from one aquifer to another 

Channel geometry Riparian cross sections Areawide 

Change in stream channel (width, depth, side channel modification, and bank sloughing) 

Every 1 to 3 years Conditions are moving away from PFC 

Soil erosion uplands 

Visual observation and surveyed erosion pins 

Areawide where land use activities are occurring 

Soil loss in tons per acre 

Visual examination while land use activity is active and annual site surveys 

When soil loss is accelerated beyond natural levels 

Soil erosion on stream banks and floodplains 

Visual observation and surveyed erosion pins 

Areawide where land use activities are occurring 

Area affected in square feet or acres 

Visual examination while land use activity is active and annual site surveys 

Water table is shrinking beyond average precipitation fluctuations 

Soil compaction Penetrometer or visual inspection Area affected by land use activities Pounds per square inch 1 to 2 times annually Compaction restricts water infiltration and plant growth 

Soil compaction, porosity, permeability, and depth to water 

Monitoring wells (peizometers) Riparian areas Depth to water table Every 2 to 3 years Accelerated streambank soil loss 

A11-6 Record of Decision and Approved Pinedale Resource Management Plan 
Appendix 11 

Resource Indicator Method or Technique Location Unit of Measure Frequency and Duration Action Triggers 

Stream flow Stream gauging stations Areawide 

Water volumes, times of flows, turbidity, pH, dissolved oxygen, and sediment loads 

Monthly or during storm events 

Trends indicate increased sediment load and deterioration in water quality 

Wildlife and 

Fisheries 

Big game seasonal habitat 

Aerial and field inspections 

Critical wildlife habitat areas 

Numbers during occupancy periods Annually Downward trend in animal occupancy 

Special Status Species occupancy and productivity 

Air and site inspections 

Habitat areas and established buffer zones 

Numbers during occupancy periods Annually A decline in numbers beyond the normal fluctuations 

Threatened and Endangered Species occupancy and productivity 

Air and site inspections 

Habitat areas and established buffer zones 

Numbers during occupancy periods Annually A declining trend in populations 

Macroinvertebrate indicator species 

Collecting macroinvertebrate species 

Perennial streams 

Species and condition of macroinvertebrates 

Every 2 to 10 years 

No presence of macroinvertebrates that represent good quality water in the stream 

Neo-tropical bird habitat Site visit Areawide Numbers during occupancy period Every 2 to 3 years Declining trend in habitat occupancy Raptors Site visit Areawide Nest occupancy rate Every 2 to 5 years Declining trend in nest site occupancy 

Sage-Grouse Lek site visit Lek sites 

Number of male and females (occupied or unoccupied) 

Annually Declining trend in the number of males and females 

Record of Decision and Approved Pinedale Resource Management Plan A11-7