NRCS Ecological Site Handbook Webinar April 16, 2013

1. NRCS Ecological SiteHandbookWebinarApril 16, 2013 Susan Andrews, National Leader Soil Quality and Ecosystems Branch National Soil Survey Center and George Peacock, Team Leader National Grazing Lands Team Central National Technology Support Center

2. Acceleration of Ecological Site Descriptions (ESD’s) • Chief Dave White approved a Decision Memo in Nov 2009 • Decision made that the Agency would “Accelerate ESD Development” • A National Bulletin - signed by Deputy Chiefs for: • Soil Science & Resource Assessment (SSRA) and Science & Technology (S&T) • S&T to lead Implementation; Interpretations • SSRA to lead Inventory; QA-QC; Standards development

3. ESD Standards Purpose: PURPOSE: Provide standards, guidelines, definitions, policy, responsibilities, and procedures for conducting the collaborative process of ESD development. • Interdisciplinary • Interagency • Non-governmental organizations • Universities • Other partners

4. NRCS National Ecological Site Handbook (NESH) Developed cooperatively between Soil Science and Resource Assessment (SSRA) and Science and Technology (S&T) Deputy Areas • National Soil Quality and Ecosystems Branch • National Grazing Lands Team • National Technology Support Centers • State Staffs • Soil Survey Regional Offices • Other SSRA and S&T Staff

5. NESH Primary Benefits: • To improve: • Consistency • Throughout the US • On “All lands” • Quality • QC/QA • Correlation

6. Major Sections of the NESH Section I – Policy and Procedures Section II – ES Concept and Description Development Section III – Delineation and Mapping, Hierarchies, and Other Vegetation Classification and Stratification Schemes Glossary References

7. Webinar Overview Brief overview of draft NESH: Released - National Bulletin 190-13-9 Section 1 – Policy and Procedures Comments due by May 15thto susan.andrews@lin.usda.gov or george.peacock@ftw.usda.gov

8. NESH Section I Contents Section I – Policy and Procedures Part 100 – Introduction Part 200 - Project Management Part 202 – (Reserved) Committees, Work Agreements and Meetings Part 203 – (Reserved) Working with Partners Part 300 – ESD Quality Control, Quality Assurance, Correlation and Certification Part 301 – (Reserved) Job Certification for Ecological Site Quality Control (Tabled, pending further review)

9. Section I, Part 100: Introduction Part 100 – Introduction Part 100.00 – Purpose Part 100.01 – Definition An ecological site is a conceptual division of the landscape, defined as “a distinctive kind of land based on recurring soil, landform, geological, and climate characteristics that differs from other kinds of land in its ability to produce distinctive kinds and amounts of vegetation and in its ability to respond similarly to management actions and natural disturbances”.

10. Section I, Part 100.02: References Part 100 – Introduction Part 100.02 – Principle References and Their Maintenance Will replace much of the information currently contained in the following NRCS manuals and handbooks • National Biology Manual • National Forestry Manual • National Forestry Handbook • National Range and Pasture Handbook • National Soil Survey Manual • National Soil Survey Handbook

11. Section I, Part 100.03: Roles and Responsibilities Part 100 – Introduction Part 100.03 – Roles and Responsibilities • Defines NRCS staff general roles and responsibilities in ESD development • From field office and soil survey office to National Headquarters

12. Section I, Part 100.04: Progress Reporting Part 100 – Introduction Part 100.04 – Progress Reporting • Milestones (defined in Exhibit 100-1) • Levels of Completion • Provisional Ecological Site • Approved ESD • Correlated ESD

13. Provisional Ecological Sites Provisional Ecological Site Established after: • Initial ES concept is developed, and • Initial state-and-transition model is drafted • Following quality control and quality assurance review of ES concept, ES name and number entered into database Essentially a placeholder for a future ESD

14. Approved Ecological Site Description Approved ESD Must contain minimum set of information (Exhibit 100-2) Meets required information in Interagency Ecological Site Handbook for Rangelands – Section 5.0, if rangeland Requirement for release as ‘Approved’ or interim ESD: • Must have quality control review and at least one quality assurance review • Signed by Soil Survey Regional Director • Certified by State Conservationists and partners • Exhibit 300-6 – Approved ESD Certification sheet Available for public release but NOT considered a complete ESD

15. Correlated Ecological Site Description Correlated ESD Must contain minimum set of information as identified in Exhibit 100-3. Exceeds required information identified in Interagency Ecological Site Handbook for Rangelands – Section 5.0. Requirement for release as ‘Certified’: • Must have quality control review and final quality assurance review and correlation conference • Final correlation signed by SS Regional Director • Certified by State Conservationists and partners • Exhibit 300-8 – Correlated ESD Certification sheet

16. Section 100, Part 100.05Performance Measures Part 100.05 – Correlated ESD Performance Measures Acres – reported for a correlated ESD will include all acres of soil map unit components correlated to the ecological site. • New, correlated ESDs – acreage equal to the areal extent of the site. • Updated ESDs – receive partial acreage credit dependent upon the amount of work required. Credit will be proposed by the technical team and determined by consensus of the management team. • Reserved and to be piloted: A complexity measure that will serve to modify acreage amounts; also considering potential PRS report

17. NESH Section I, Part 200 Part 200 – Project Management Part 200.00 – Purpose Part 200.01 – Roles and Responsibilities • Board of Advisors • Management Team • Technical Team

18. Section I, Part 200.01Roles and Responsibilities

19. Section I, Part 200.02-200.05 Part 200 – Project Management Part 200.02 – Workload Planning • Long Range Plan • Project Plan • Annual Plan of Operations Part 200.03 – Project Plan Development (Exhibit 200-1) Part 200.04 – Prioritizing Project Plans Part 200.05 – Project Plan Approvals

20. Project Planning Overview

21. Section I, Part 200.06 Revisions and Updates • Revision – minor changes The state technical discipline specialist obtains approval of the Management Team by working with State Resource Conservationist to coordinate edits and submit the revised ESD through the correlation process. • Update – significant changes The state technical discipline specialist brings the information to the attention of the Technical Team. Technical Team will plan a project in accordance with guidance in Part 200 of handbook. Since the ESD is in the FOTG, any new information should be brought to the attention of appropriate state technical discipline specialist.

22. NESH Section I, Part 300 Part 300 – ESD Quality Control, Quality Assurance, Correlation and Certification Part 300.00 – Purpose Part 300.01 – Definitions Part 300.02 – Quality Control Part 300.03 – Quality Assurance Part 300.04 – Interim Release of ESDs (Approved ESDs) Part 300.05 – Final Correlation of ESDs Part 300.06 – Certification of ESDs

23. Section I, Part 300.00 Confusion over definition(s) of correlation • Two types of correlation in the NESH: • Relationship - establishes the relationship between soil components and ESs • Process - requires that data entered into the soil and ES database(s) meets standards to ensure each ES is distinguished from all others and that proper interpretations are assigned to each ESD

24. Diagram of Steps, Part 300.02-300.05

25. Section I, Part 300.07: Currently Approved, Meeting Previous Standards Part 300.07 – Currently Approved, Meeting Previous Standards Currently approved ESDs that meet guidance in the National Range and Pasture Handbook (December 2003) or the National Forestry Manual (September 2010) may remain as approved documents in ESIS database.

26. Section I, Part 300.08: De-Activation of ESDs Part 300.08 – De-activation of ESDs Memorandum sent to all state and field offices with supporting reasons for de-activation. Must allow 45 days for filing objections. SSRO deactivates after the 45-day waiting period and all efforts for mitigation of issues are exhausted.

27. Summary Today’s webinar gave an overview of Section I – Policy and Procedures Webinar – April 18th - will review Section II – ES Concept and Description Development Comments are due May 15th on both Sections Send comments or suggestions to Susan Andrews and/or George Peacock at: susan.andrews@lin.usda.gov george.peacock@ftw.usda.gov