Spreadsheet: 047c0327-e543-4329-abc5-d8df5f3d4b99
Sheet: ID-CPA-007

 | Prescribed Grazing - 528 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ID-CPA-007
 | Browse Resource Evaluation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Idaho
Natural Resources Conservation Service |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | January 2014
Cooperator: |  |  |  |  | Ecological Site:
Management Unit: |  |  |  |  |  | Location :
Browse Resource Goals:
Date of |  | Browse composition |  |  | Browse trend
initial evaluation: |  | Occurrence |  |  |  | Hedging or browse line |  |  | Reproduction
_____/_____/______ |  |  |  |  | Not |  |  |  |  | Not
 | Abundant | Common | Scarce |  | evident | Moderate | Severe | Abundant | Adequate | adequate
Preferred species
Desirable species
Non-preferred species
 | Browse composition |  |  |  |  | Browse trend
Judge composition |  | Good |  |  |  |  | Upward
and trend based on |  | Fair |  |  |  |  | Stable/NA
majority of evidence |  | Poor |  |  |  |  | Downward
Notes:
Utilization of current year's growth
 |  |  | Actual use percent
 | Season | Planned | Years
Key species | of Use | use %
 | Conservationist
 | Date observed
 |  | Instructions for Browse Resource Evaluation Worksheet
The worksheet can assist managers evaluate the composition and trend of the browse resource as well as document the actual use of key browse species over time. This information is used to identify problems, formulate alternatives, and measure progress in attaining browse management goals.
Browse Composition evaluates the occurrence of browse species according to preference categories. Species are desig­nated as preferred, desirable, or non-preferred based on the species of browsing animal and the appropriate ecological site descriptions.
Occurrence: After a thorough observation of the area, determine the occurrence of each .listed species and place a checkmark or an x in the appropriate block as defined.
Abundant The species dominates or characterizes the area observed; it makes up greater than 5% canopy and often greater than 20%
Common The species is easily found, but is not present in abundance; it usually makes up 1 -5% canopy.
Scarce Insignificant amounts of the species is present and may be difficult to find; it usually makes up far less than 1% canopy.
Browse composition is judged as good, fair, or poor based on the preponderance of entries in the shaded boxes. For example, if there were four entries in the fair blocks, one in the good blocks, and 2 in the poor blocks, the overall browse composition would be judged as fair.
Browse Trend evaluates the health and vigor of the browse resource based on signs of past use and on reproduction. Hedging and browse lines are distinctive growth forms that occur on shrubs or trees subjected to long term heavy use. After a thorough examination of the selected species in the area, determine the level of hedging or browse line and status of reproduction and place a checkmark or x in the appropriate block as defined below.
Hedging or browse line: Hedging is evaluated on short shrubs which are entirely or mostly within reach of browsing animals. Browse line is evaluated on taller shrubs and trees where a portion of the plant is above browsing height.
Not evident On shorter plants, there is little or no evidence of hedging. On taller plants, there is little or no reduction of lower growth. Production of lower branches and twigs is similar to those above the reach of animals.
Moderate On shorter plants, most recent year's twigs have been browsed, resulting in branching and rebranching from lateral buds; growth form is somewhat compact. On taller plants, there is a visible thinning of growth up to browsing height; lower branches and twigs are considerably less productive than those beyond reach of the animals.
Severe Shorter plants are very compact or have a stunted appearance; may be characterized by very short twigs, stubby branches, small leaves, low production or excessive number of dead branches. On taller plants, a browse line is strikingly evident; there is little or no production on twigs within reach of animals; most lower branches are absent.
Browse Composition and Trend is judged as upward, stable (or not apparent), or downward based upon the preponderance of entries in the shaded boxes.
Reproduction: A reproduction evaluation is made to determine the future potential of a species in the community. The presence of young seedlings is only one measure of reproduction. The survival of new plants for the first 1 to 5 years is often the limiting factor, even though new seedlings or root sprouts may be present in some abundance in some years. A good distribution of various age plants from young to fully mature is a better indicator of successful reproduction.
Abundant The population of a species is increasing in the community; more young plants are present than are old plants.
Adequate  Sufficient seedlings and young plants are present to approximately maintain the appropriate population status of the species in the community; plants that are decadent or dying are being replaced by new plants.
Inadequate  Few or no seedlings or young plants are present; population is either declining or stagnated with mature plants.
Utilization of Current Year's Growth—This section is used to record the actual degree of use on key species in the same area over a period of years. Browse use is usually determined sometime between late fall and late winter. Degree of use is expressed as the percentage, by weight, of the current year's twig and leaf production within reach of browsing animals that has been consumed. Use is most easily estimated by comparing accessible twigs to [NAME] which are inaccessible to browsing animals. Determinations should be made by observing many twigs on a number of different plants. Current year's twig growth is distinguished from older twigs by color, texture, and size.