Scientists take AIM at natural resources on BLM land
Monitoring data provides basis for land managers to adaptively manage resources on Paria River District
David Hercher
Introduction
As a soil scientist, Raven Chavez is responsible for studying various aspects of soil around the Paria River District's Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and Kanab Field Office. As one would imagine this requires many hours in the field digging in the dirt analyzing soil composition, distribution, development and behavior to determine how soils interact with organisms, animals and plants across the landscape. This is accomplished through the Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) strategy, which was created to inventory and assess the condition and trend of natural resources across Bureau of Land Management (BLM) public lands.
Intro to the BLM Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring (AIM) Strategy
AIM data is used to guide BLM in justifying land uses, policy actions, and adaptive management decisions at the local, state, and national level. Terrestrial and Aquatic AIM protocols exist and can be adjusted to individual study needs. To help with this massive amount of data collection, Chavez contracts support from both Terrestrial and Aquatic field crews annually. Members of these specialized crews are also trained to identify and analyze the different characteristics of soil, vegetation and hydrological systems within the district.
"These AIM data provide insight to a site’s characteristics such as biodiversity, erodibility, and overall rangeland health." - GSENM Soil Scientist Raven Chavez
Paria River District boundary map. Credit BLM-Utah, Paria River District.
Paria River District boundary map. Credit BLM-Utah, Paria River District.
Terrestrial AIM
Terrestrial AIM Data within the Paria River District is collected by contracted crews of three people. These crews generally have a natural resources background and an innate love for working in hot, unpredictable weather conditions. The crews work with Chavez to help familiarize themselves with PRD resources (i.e., vegetation, soils) as well as logistical planning throughout the season.
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Soil Scientist Raven Chavez and terrestrial crewmembers from the Great Basin Institute collect and analyze soil samples on BLM-managed public land within the Paria River District's Kanab Field Office, just south of Hatch, UT. Chavez joins crews in the field to provide professional soils guidance in an effort to improve data collection.
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Soil Scientist Raven Chavez and terrestrial crewmembers from the Great Basin Institute collect and analyze soil samples on BLM-managed public land within the Paria River District's Kanab Field Office, just south of Hatch, UT. Chavez joins crews in the field to provide professional soils guidance in an effort to improve data collection.
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Soil Scientist Raven Chavez and terrestrial crewmembers from the Great Basin Institute collect and analyze soil samples on BLM-managed public land within the Paria River District's Kanab Field Office, just south of Hatch, UT. Chavez joins crews in the field to provide professional soils guidance in an effort to improve data collection.
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Soil Scientist Raven Chavez and terrestrial crewmembers from the Great Basin Institute collect and analyze soil samples on BLM-managed public land within the Paria River District's Kanab Field Office, just south of Hatch, UT. Chavez joins crews in the field to provide professional soils guidance in an effort to improve data collection.Credit BLM-Utah, Paria River District.
AIM data is collected at sites selected by using spatially balanced, random sampling approaches that provide an unbiased representation of PRD’s terrestrial resources. Once a site is located, a soil pit is dug near the center of the site for soil data collection, and three transects are established for vegetation data collection.
Example of a plot layout. Plots are set up with a plot center and three extending 25 m transects. Credit BLM-Utah
Example of a plot layout. Plots are set up with a plot center and three extending 25 m transects.Credit BLM-Utah, Paria River District.
Terrestrial crewmembers from the Great Basin Institute work together to lay out plot transects in the proper direction using a compass.
Terrestrial crewmembers from the Great Basin Institute work together to lay out plot transects in the proper direction using a compass.
Terrestrial crewmembers from the Great Basin Institute work together to lay out plot transects in the proper direction using a compass.
Terrestrial crewmembers from the Great Basin Institute work together to lay out plot transects in the proper direction using a compass.
Credit BLM-Utah, Paria River District.
Data collected
Soils:
A soil pit is dug in a representative area towards the center of the site. Soil layers are then measured and noted along with the physical properties (i.e., soil color, gravel content, structure, texture) of each layer. These physical properties are dynamic in nature, and much like vegetation, can change over time depending on management. Soil stability is also collected along the site transects and provides information on a soil’s resistance to wind and water erosion.
Crewmember breaks down soil peds that will be sieved to separate soil particles from gravels.
Hydrochloric acid is dropped on separated, sieved soil horizons to help determine calcium carbonate in the soil.
Chavez documents soil properties for each individual soil horizon.
(Left) Crewmember breaks down soil peds that will be sieved to separate soil particles from gravels. (Middle) Hydrochloric acid is dropped on separated, sieved soil horizons to help determine calcium carbonate in the soil. (Right) Chavez documents soil properties for each individual soil horizon. Credit BLM-Utah, Paria River District.
Soil stability is measured to inform field scientists on the degree of soil structural development and erosion resistance.
Soil peds are carefully collected, dipped in water, and assigned a classification based on their ability to stick together.
Soil peds are carefully collected, dipped in water, and assigned a classification based on their ability to stick together.
(Left) Soil stability is measured to inform field scientists on the degree of soil structural development and erosion resistance. (Middle and right) Soil peds are carefully collected, dipped in water, and assigned a classification based on their ability to stick together.Credit BLM-Utah, Paria River District.
Chavez works with crew members on analyzing and documenting physical soil properties such as soil structure and texture.
Chavez works with crew members on analyzing and documenting physical soil properties such as soil structure and texture.
Chavez works with crew members on analyzing and documenting physical soil properties such as soil structure and texture.
Chavez works with crew members on analyzing and documenting physical soil properties such as soil structure and texture.Credit BLM-Utah, Paria River District.
Vegetation:
Part of the terrestrial protocol involves the collection of vegetation data. Measurements for bare ground, vegetation composition, vegetation height, plant canopy gaps, non-native invasive plant species, and plant species of management concern are all taken out in the field. These AIM data provide insight to a site’s characteristics such as biodiversity, erodibility, and overall rangeland health.
Crewmembers collect Line-Point Intercept (LPI) and vegetation height data to help field scientists quantify soil cover that influences wind and water erosion.
Crewmembers collect Line-Point Intercept (LPI) and vegetation height data to help field scientists quantify soil cover that influences wind and water erosion.
Crewmembers collect Line-Point Intercept (LPI) and vegetation height data to help field scientists quantify soil cover that influences wind and water erosion.
Crewmembers collect Line-Point Intercept (LPI) and vegetation height data to help field scientists quantify soil cover that influences wind and water erosion.Credit BLM-Utah, Paria River District.
Aquatic AIM
Aquatic AIM Datawithinthe Paria River District is collected by contracted crews that typically consist of 2-3 people. These crews work directly with the Aquatic Ecologist and Soil Scientist to familiarize themselves with PRD resources (i.e., vegetation, hydrologic systems) and logistical planning throughout the season. This data is collected at locations that are selected by the Aquatic Ecologist and Soil Scientist as targeted sites as well as using spatially balanced, random sampling approaches.
Typical reach site set up with 11 main transects and 10 intermediate transects. Credit Monitoring Manual for Grassland, Shrubland, and Savanna Ecosystems 2nd Edition
Typical reach site set up with 11 main transects and 10 intermediate transects. Credit Monitoring Manual for Grassland, Shrubland, and Savanna Ecosystems 2nd Edition
Once a site is located, the average site (reach) will contain 11 main transects, and 10 intermediate transects in-between the main transects that run perpendicular to the stream or river system.
Lower Calf Creek Falls located within Paria River District's Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
GSENM Soil Scientist Raven Chavez and aquatic crewmembers from Colorado State University take measurements along transect in Calf Creek on BLM-managed public land within the Paria River District's Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
GSENM Soil Scientist Raven Chavez and aquatic crewmembers from Colorado State University take measurements along transect in Calf Creek on BLM-managed public land within the Paria River District's Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
(Left) Lower Calf Creek Falls located within Paria River District's Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. (Middle and Right) GSENM Soil Scientist Raven Chavez and aquatic crewmembers from Colorado State University take measurements along transect in Calf Creek on BLM-managed public land within the Paria River District's Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Credit BLM-Utah, Paria River District.
Data collected
Much like terrestrial AIM data, aquatic AIM data helps monitor the condition and trend of streams and rivers across BLM public lands. Scientists are able to analyze the collected data for positive or negative effects caused by overall management actions and field office projects.
Crewmember collects macroinvertebrate samples within the stream reach to be preserved and sent to the lab for analysis.
Crewmember collects macroinvertebrate samples within the stream reach to be preserved and sent to the lab for analysis.
Crewmember collects macroinvertebrate samples within the stream reach to be preserved and sent to the lab for analysis.
Crewmember collects macroinvertebrate samples within the stream reach to be preserved and sent to the lab for analysis. Credit BLM-Utah, Paria River District.
Field measurements (e.g., stream substrate, bankfull, wetted width, canopy cover) are then taken along the transects along with additional measurements across the reach (e.g., reach slope, pool dimensions, pH, water temperature, macroinvertebrates).
Crewmembers use stadia rod and auto level to measure slope of the stream reach.
Crewmembers use stadia rod and auto level to measure slope of the stream reach.
Crewmembers use stadia rod and auto level to measure slope of the stream reach.
Crewmembers use stadia rod and auto level to measure slope of the stream reach. Credit BLM-Utah, Paria River District.
The Benefits of AIM
The benefits of AIM data have many uses that can help determine resource health and trends occurring through time. Paria River District has used AIM data to support vegetation treatment decisions, guide allotment renewals, avoid threatened and endangered vegetation species, and gain insight on potential vs. actual establishment of biological soil crusts. These are just a few examples of how the data can be used to guide management decisions. Paria River District plans to continue the AIM effort to assess conditions and trends both at both the district and project levels.
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Paria River District boundary map. Credit BLM-Utah, Paria River District.
Example of a plot layout. Plots are set up with a plot center and three extending 25 m transects.Credit BLM-Utah, Paria River District.
Typical reach site set up with 11 main transects and 10 intermediate transects. Credit Monitoring Manual for Grassland, Shrubland, and Savanna Ecosystems 2nd Edition
