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ARS Home Plains Area Las Cruces, New Mexico Range Management Research Docs





- Landscape Toolbox
- Long Term Agricultural Research
- EcoTrends
- Long Term Ecological Research
- Ecological Site Descriptions
- Monitoring & Assessment
- Southwest Climate Hub
- Land Potential Knowledge System
- National Ecological Observatory Network
- JournalMap
- Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM)
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Ecological Site Descriptions Workshops and Presentations - 2011 to Presentheadline bar **February 2, 2013****Collaborative ESD Development****Oklahoma City, OK**The aim of this workshop is to: Outline principles of collaboration and standards of credible and useful ESDs and STMs.Showcase a variety of collaborative projects that contribute to ESD and STM development.Outline important considerations and resources available for ESD collaboration projects.Create networking opportunities and generate discussion among ESD developers.Lead Organizer: Jamin JohansonCo-organizers: Joel Brown, Mark Moseley, Sarah Quistberg, Homer Sanchez, and Pat ShaverIntroduction - Joel Brown, Rangeland Ecologist, NRCS-Las Cruces, NMAcceleration of ESD Development - Mike Golden, Deputy Chief for SSRA, NRCS-Washington, D.C.Standards and Principles of ESD Development - Cameron Loerch, Soil Standards National Leader, NRCS-Lincoln, NE and Curtis Talbot, Range Management Specialist, NRCS-Lincoln, NEThe Power of Collaboration - Jamin Johanson, Ecological Site Specialist, NRCS-Richfield, UTA Good Old-fashioned ESD Workgroup - Scott Woodall, Ecological Site Specialist, NRCS-Santa Fe, NM and Steve Daly, Range Management Specialist, BLM-Santa Fe, NMGetting More Bang for Your Buck: A Multiagency Approach to ESD Development in Missouri - Fred Young, Soil Scientist, NRCS-Columbia, MO, and Tim Nigh, Terrestrial Ecologist, Missouri Department of ConservationMilitary Ranching: The Value of Ecological Site Descriptions to Training Land Management - Mark Moseley- Ecological Site Specialist, NRCS-Boerne, TX and Lucas Cooksey, Senior Wildlife Biologists, DOD-Fort Sam Houston/Camp Bullis, TXNorth Dakota Riparian Ecological Site Description Development Project - Miranda Meehan, Natural Resource Specialist, Carlson McCain Inc.-Bismark, ND and Jeff Printz, Range Management Specialist, NRCS-Bismark, NDEvaluating the Outcomes of Prescribed Grazing on Wyoming Ranches: An ESD-based Approach - Emily Kachergis, Research Ecologist, ARS-Cheyenne, WYMontana Interagency ESD Work Group-an Example of Successful Collaboration - Mary Manning, Regional Vegetation Ecologist, USFS-Missoula, MT and Jeff Dibenedetto, Landscape and Vegetation Ecologist, USFS- Billings, MTLinking USFS Data and Classification Concepts to ESD Development - Brandon Bestelmeyer, Research Ecologist, ARS-Las Cruces, NM and Jeb Williamson, GIS Specialist, ARS-Las Cruces, NMSTM Development: A Systematic Approach Focused on Quality Control - Tamzen Stringham, Research Professor, University of Nevada - Reno, NVFunding ESD Development - Ryan Leary, Range Management Specialist, BLM-Carson City, NVNRCS Operating Procedures and Resources for ESD Development - Susan Andrews, Soil Quality and Ecosystems National Leader, NRCS-Lincoln, NE and George Peacock, Grazing Lands Team Leader, NRCS-Fort Worth, TXSynopsis of Collaborative ESD Projects - Maria Fernandez-Gimenez, Colorado State University and Jamin Johanson, Ecological Site Specialist, NRCS-Richfield, UTWorkshop Posters:Analyzing Agency Datasets Using the ESD Framework - Michael Duniway, Seth Munson, Jamin JohansonWorking Together to Create Ecological Site Descriptions in Far West Texas: A Two Phase Approach - Michael R. Margo, Lynn E. LoomisUtility of Ecological Site Descriptions for the Management and Conservation of Endangered Species - Michael E. MarshallSpatial Modeling of Seedbed Microclimate and the Utility of Ecological Site Descriptions for Rangeland Restoration Planning - Alex R. Boehm, Stuart P. Hardegree, Nancy F. Glenn, Gerald N. FlerchingerDistributed Weather Tools for Interpretation of State?Transition Probabilities in Disturbed Systems - Stuart P. Hardegree, Alex R. BoehmRiparian Complex ESD Development for BLM Allotment Management - Sarah Quistberg, Jamin Johanson, Mellissa RosenhanUsing Long Term Vegetation Data and Ecological Sites: A Strategy for Wildlife Management - Kevin Gunnell, Danny Summers, Jamin Johanson, Thomas MonacoAn ESD Development Journey in the Elkhorn Mountains - Kirt Walstad, David Marr**January 28, 2012****ESD and STM Development Technical Workshop - at the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management****Spokane, WA**This workshop is designed as an in-depth, technical training for those involved in the development of ecological site descriptions and state-and-transition models; particularly agency employees, contractors, and researchers with ESD/STM development responsibilities.**Goals:**Provide an overview of the history, concepts, and applications of ESDs and STMs.Provide examples of successful STM development using a variety of data sources.Provide training and access to tools available for accelerated ESD development.Provide examples of successful management applications of ESD and STM concepts.Create networking opportunities and generate discussion among ESD specialists.**Background:**Individuals tasked with writing ecological site descriptions (ESDs) and state-and-transition models (STMs) often have difficulty obtaining and/or summarizing the information necessary to produce documents that are useful to management. This workshop seeks to review and build on the ideas presented at a previous workshop (Billings, MT 2011), with an added emphasis on the development and use of STMs for rangeland ecological sites. Part one provides details about the ecological site land classification system and new information about the ESD development process. Part two includes a brief review of the ESD development tools presented in Billings, a question and answer session, available downloads of ESD development tools, and a poster session for sharing new ESD development tools. Part three provides examples of STM development using common data sources of varying type, quality and quantity. Part four provides examples of innovative ESD and STM applications, including an introduction to riparian ESDs, user-friendly electronic ESDs, ESD-based field guides for pinyon-juniper woodlands, and an introduction to Forage Suitability Group Descriptions.**Note**: This workshop is intended to facilitate communication among ESD development specialists. It is not meant to endorse certain methods, nor is it intended to set ESD development protocols. Rather, it is an opportunity to share ideas and build relationships in an effort to improve the accuracy and efficiency of ESD development. Many ESD and STM development methods are not presented at this workshop, and participants are encouraged to share their ideas and experiences with each other and with workshop organizers in a professional manner.**Workshop Organizers:**  Lead Organizer: Jamin Johanson-jamin.johanson@ut.usda.govWorkshop Advisors: Joel Brown, Linda Coates-Markle, Sarah Quistberg, Susan Andrews, Pat Shaver, and Shane Green**Part I: Ecological Site Concepts**ESD interagency efforts - Dennis Thompson, NRCS-Washington, DC (with Dave Cleland, USFS and Bob Bolton, BLM)Assumptions underlying range sites and ecological sites - Joel Brown, NRCS-Las Cruces, NMOverview: assembling information to develop ecological site and STM concepts - Brandon Bestelmeyer, ARS-Las Cruces, NMOverview of the ESD development workflow - Curtis Talbot, NRCS-Lincoln, NE**Part II: ESD Development Tools and Methods**Techniques for creating ecological site extent maps - Steve Campbell, NRCS-Portland, ORSynthesis of Billings ESD workshop  - Jamin Johanson, NRCS-Richfield, UTDiscussion of ESD concepts and ESD development tools - George Peacock, NRCS-Ft. Worth, TXOverview of ESD development posters - Jamin JohansonPoster SessionSarah Quistberg, NRCS-Ogden, UT - ESD Identification KeysRyan Leary, BLM-Nevada - Ecosite Identification for BLM field staff in NevadaJack Alexander, President- Synergy Resource Solutions, Inc. - Mobile Soil SurveyKen Spaeth, NRCS-Fort Worth, TX - multivariate methods for STM developmentDave Evans & Dallas Glass, NRCS-Sonora, CA - AKVeg: strengths and limitationsAmber Dalke, University of Arizona - STM dichotomous keysColby Brungard, Utah State University - Ecosite predictive mapping**Part III: Available Resources for STM Development**Process-based thinking and writing for State-and-Transition Model development - Tamzen Stringham, Professor, University of Nevada RenoOverview of available data resources for STM development and how to incorporate published data into STMs - Thomas Monaco, Utah State University (by Jamin Johanson)How to be a data detective - Shane Green, NRCS-Salt Lake City, UTUsing NRI data for STM development - Patti Novak-Echenique, NRCS-Reno, NV**Part IV: Alternative Applications of ESD and STM Concepts**Asking the right questions and using ESDs for developing management strategies and predicting outcomes - Richard Miller, Professor, Oregon State UniversityIntroduction to ESD and STM development for riparian systems - Sarah Quistberg, NRCS-Ogden, UTUnderstanding pastureland's role in ecological sites with forage suitability group descriptions - Chad Ellis, NRCS-Fort Worth, TX**January 30 - February 2, 2012****Using Ecological Site Descriptions as a Decision Making Tool Workshop - at the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management****Spokane, WA**Workshop organizers: Homer Sanchez and Pat ShaverPurpose of the workshop: To enhance foundational knowledge, skills and understanding of ecological site concepts, classification and description; state-and-transition modeling and interpretations; and uses and application by agencies, land managers, conservation partners and consultants.**Monday Workshop:**Ecological Site Concepts and Accessing ESDs - Homer SanchezState-and-Transition Models: Description of Vegetation & Surface Soil Dynamics - Pat ShaverEcological Site Introduction - Joel BrownThe Final Product: The Components of an Ecological Site Description - Bob GillaspyEcological Sites and Their Relationship to Soils - Steve Campbell**Tuesday Workshop:**Ecological Sites: The Development Process - Pat Shaver (for Kendra Moseley-Urbanik)Soil Properties That Distinguish Ecological Sites - Mike DuniwayDeveloping State and Transition Models - Tamzen StringhamMulti-disciplinary Development of STMs: Northern Colorado - Emily KachergisSTM Simulation Game Demonstration - Maria Fernandez-Gimenez (S&T Ranch Simulation Database in MS Excel format)**Wednesday Workshop:**Uses in Rangelands Restoration Planning - Mike PellantESDs and the USFS - Jeff DiBenedetto and Mary ManningEcological Site Application on U.S. Military Installations - Jamin JohansonHow ESDs Can Facilitate Grazing Management - Stan BoltzWildlife Management Interpretations - Marcus MillerNational Park Service Presentation - Pete Biggam**Thursday Workshop:**Private Consultant Perspective - Jack AlexanderEcological Site Application at the Landscape Scale - Jonathan HauflerHow ESDs Facilitate Conservation Planning - Mark MoseleyThe National Leaders Perspectives, Washington DC - Robert Bolton - BLM, Ricardo Lopez - USFS, Dennis Thompson - NRCS**February 10, 2011****ESD Development Workshop - at the 64th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management****Billings, MT**ESD Development Workshop Information**Part I: ESD Implementation and Development**Welcome and Introduction-Joel Brown, USDA-NRCS, Las Cruces, New MexicoNational Implementation of Ecological Site Descriptions-Terrell Erickson, Director, Ecological Science Division-USDA-NRCS, Washington, D.C.Coordinating an ESD Development Effort-Homer Sanchez, USDA-NRCS, Fort Worth, TexasInterstate Correlations of Ecological Sites-Pat Shaver, USDA-NRCS, Portland, Oregon**Part II: ESD Development Tools**Collecting and Interpreting Soil and Physiographic Information - Justin Clary, NRCS- Temple, TexasA Method for Creating an Ecological Site Extent Map- Jacob Owens for Steve Campbell, NRCS- Portland, OregonCollecting and Interpreting Climate Data for ESDs- Sarah Quistberg, NRCS- Ogden, UtahPRISM Climate Summarizer Tool - Jamin Johanson, NRCS- Richfield, Utah**Part III: Integrating Information to Enhance ESDs**Plant Growth Curve Simulation Tool-Jamin Johanson for Gale Dunn,  NRCS-Utah for ARS-Fort Collins, COOrganizing and Interpreting Plant Community Data-Kendra Moseley, NRCS- OregonConsiderations and Development of the Hydrologic Function Section in Rangeland ESDs- Ken Spaeth, NRCS- Fort Worth, TexasDeveloping Ecological Site Keys-Kirt Walstad, NRCS- Bozeman, MontanaModeling Potential Distribution of Common Plant Species-Doug Ramsey, Utah State University- Logan, UtahUsing landscape-level assessments of similarity to improve state-and-transition model development-Alex Hernandez, Utah State University- Logan, Utah


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