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Indicators and Standards What measures define when there is a problem
Definition: Indicators Variables that can be measured to track change in conditions caused by human activity
Indicators Process: Purpose: • Focus data collection efforts • Translate desired character into something measurable • Track trends in conditions over time • Evaluate effectiveness of management • Identify questions you are trying to answer • Brainstorm list of potential indicators • Run potential indicators through screening criteria • Select high performing indicators. Do a trial run
Untrammeled: What are the status and trends of actions that control or manipulate the “community of life” in wilderness? # of agency actions that control or manipulate plant communities, animal populations, soils, water bodies or natural disturbance processes Natural: What is the status and trends of human threats to natural conditions? Air pollutants (ozone, sulfur and nitrogen deposition measures) Non-native species that alter the composition of plant and animal communities Fire regime (% of acres in condition class 3)
Undeveloped: What are the status and trends of physical evidence of modern human occupation or modification? # and development level of buildings, trails, roads, dams, mines, utility infrastructure What are the status and trends of the use of motorized equipment and mechanical transport? # of motorized equipment and mechanical transport use days Solitude or primitive, unconfined recreation: What are the status and trends of outstanding opportunities for solitude or primitive recreation and unconfined recreation? Remote trailless wilderness Wilderness visitation Creature comforts index Trail development level Management restrictions on visitor behavior
Screening Criteria • Meaningful: Does the indicator tell you what you want to know? Will there be a management response? • Free of variation: Is the indicator independent of environmental variation? • Reliable: Can the indicator be measured reliably? • Responsive: Is the indicator responsive to management action within a reasonable time frame? • Sensitive: Does the indicator act as an early warning, alerting you to deteriorating conditions before unacceptable changes have occurred? • Minimum impact: Can the indicator be measured with minimal impact to the resource or visitors’ experience? • Cost effective: Can the indicator provide information which is worth the time and cost required?
Indicator Screen • Indicators are REQUIRED to meet the following criteria • reliable, quick, and measurable response to visitor impacts • non-destructive to measure • repeatable with different personnel • ecological relevancy; indicative of significant adverse effects • Indicators SHOULD meet the following criteria • minimal spatial, temporal and climatic variability • easy to sample • large window of time for sampling • cost effective • short training time • baseline data available • response over a range of conditions • high ecological relevancy • Resilient
Indicators Selected • SPUR SOCIAL TRAILS: Numbers of social trails used within a two hour time along a 100 m transect indicates the areal extent of soil surface impacts and erosion potential • CRYPTOBIOTIC SOIL CRUST INDEX: This indicator is the most indicative of overall ecosystem health. Lack of crustal development means less soil stability, less nitrogen and carbon fixation, lower nutrient concentrations in vascular plants and less water available for vascular plants. It is very sensitive to visitor use. • SOIL COMPACTION: Soil compaction is easily and accurately measured. It is sensitive to visitor use, and can respond quickly to management action. Increased compaction is detrimental to ecosystems, as it disrupts natural nutrient and hydrologic cycles. It is indicative of subsurface microfaunal biomass and diversity, and litter decomposition rates. • SOIL AGGREGRATE STABILITY: Easy to measure, this is very sensitive to visitor use. Aggregate stability is indicative of soil structural integrity, surface stability, soil fertility, microfloral and microfaunal populations.
CRYPTOBIOTIC SOIL CRUST INDEX: An index of soil crust development was calculated for each quadrat. This was done by designating crust development categories, and assigning each category a value: • 0 = loose sand • 1 = a flat continuous surface • 2 = a slightly bumpy, textured surface • 4 = humps heaved well up from the soil plane • (> 1 cm) • 6 = humps heaved up, some lichen or moss development • 10 = well-developed lichens and/or mosses • Daubenmire cover class values (1-6) were used to estimate the amount of each type present. These two numbers were multiplied (index value x cover class); resulting numbers were then added to give an overall index value for the quadrat.
LAC StandardsDefinition • Measurable statement that defines minimally acceptable conditions. • Absolute limits – “lines in the sand” – not warnings. • Point at which conditions go from being acceptable to being unacceptable and corrective action will be taken. • The compromise we desire, not the condition we desire.
LAC Standards “Without some management, wilderness cannot survive the number of people who seek to enjoy it. But with too much management, or the wrong kind, we will destroy the spiritual component of wildness in our zeal to preserve its physical side.” Laura and Guy Waterman. Explicitly defining a balance Freedom from restrictions Quality resource and experience conditions
Absolute limits Acceptable conditions Clearly defines when there is problem – triggers action Public assurance that restrictive action won’t be taken unless standard not met Directional statement Desired conditions Does not define when there is problem – no end point May define acceptable management performance LAC Standards Objectives Both LAC Standards and Objectives must be measurable and attainable.
LAC standards are applicable when there is an inherent conflict between goals and a willingness to compromise to some extent. Examples: Air: Maximum of 5% change in visual contrast compared to best visibility day (90th percentile) Campsites: Maximum of 50% vegetation loss on campsites compared with reference sites.
Objectives are applicable when there is no inherent conflict between goals or there is unwillingness to compromise. Examples: Eliminate unauthorized vehicle use along 20 former vehicle routes by 1998 to enhance the undeveloped quality of the wilderness. Clear 75% of the trail system miles annually to prevent the development of multiple trails.
Setting Standards Standards should be informed by science but setting standards is a value-based, management decision
What management hoped for Percent reporting acceptable condition Number of people in view
What management got Percent reporting acceptable condition Number of people in view
Standards are defensible if: Decision contains explicit rationale (link to desired character) NEPA test: There must be a link between facts found and choices made. “Consider” and “Inform” (hard look) The public had ample opportunity to comment and participate.
