Curtis Talbot Rangeland Mgt Specialist National Soil Survey Center March 24 2011 Myths to dispel Soil Survey is now in charge of ecological site descriptions If my MLRASSO does not have an ecological site inventory specialist then I have no or lesser responsibility for ecological site i ID: 706762
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Slide1
MLRA-SSO Responsibilities for Ecological Site Inventory
Curtis Talbot
Rangeland Mgt Specialist
National Soil Survey Center
March 24, 2011Slide2
Myths to dispel
Soil Survey is now in charge of ecological site descriptions.
If my MLRA-SSO does not have an ecological site inventory specialist, then I have no (or lesser) responsibility for ecological site inventory.Slide3
National Bulletin – March 3, 2010
Acceleration
in Ecological Site Description Inventory and Implementation
SSRA…increasing support for…ESDs
National positions
Quality Assurance positions (MLRA-RO)
Quality Control positions (MLRA-SSO)
Supplements…ongoing development
S&T…continue to provide technical expertise
Distribution of responsibilities…acceleration, expansion, integrationSlide4Slide5Slide6
Role of MLRA-SSO
Long-range plan
Scheduling work activities
Leadership for technical team
Update of soil surveys
Providing management of activities
Keeping maps and data currentSlide7
Role of MLRA-SSO(cont.)
Improve digital line work
Perform investigations
Conduct quality control
Develop project and annual plans
Follow standards, policy, & procedure
Support NCSS initiativesSlide8
Examples of possible MLRA-SSO Ecological Site Workflow
Office
with
dedicated ESI-QC positionSlide9
Powell, WY
MLRA-SSO 4-4
Soil QA: MO-4, Bozeman, MT
Ecological Inventory QA: MO-1, Portland, OR
1 MLRA Project Leader
2 Soil Scientists
1 Rangeland Management Specialist (ESI-QC)Slide10
Status of ecological sites in 4-4
87 correlated ecological sites
41% correlated to out-of-date MLRAs
10% QA check
100% lacking monthly
ppt
& temp data
100% out-of-date State & Transition diagram
100% lacking community phase photos
67% lacking inventory data referencesSlide11
Possible update projects
Sage grouse interpretations
Clean up out-of-date MLRAs
Record monthly
ppt
& temp info
Update S&T diagrams
Take photos of community phases
Conduct inventory of data references
Collect more data as appropriateSlide12
Staffing resources
ESI-QC
State Rangeland Mgt Specialist
State Wildlife Biologist
Greybull RMS (48 miles)
Thermopolis RMS (108 miles)
Worland RMS (86 miles)
Worland “WGF Habitat Ext. Biol.”
BLM, NPS, USFSSlide13
Examples of possible MLRA-SSO Ecological Site Workflow
Office
without
dedicated ESI-QC positionSlide14
Carbondale, IL
MLRA-SSO 11-5
Soil QA: MO-11, Indianapolis, IN
Ecological Inventory QA: MO-10, St. Paul, MN
1 MLRA Project Leader
4 Soil Scientists
1 Resource Analyst (GIS)
1 Regional RepresentativeSlide15
Status of ecological sites in 11-5
Currently no ecological sites
White, J., and M.H.
Madany
. 1978. Classification of natural communities in Illinois. Pages 309-405 in J. White, ed., Illinois natural areas inventory technical report. Vol. I. Survey methods and results. Illinois Natural Areas Inventory, Urbana.
74 communities
Voigt, J.W. and R.H.
Mohlenbrock
. 1964. Plant communities of Southern Illinois. Southern Illinois University Press.
13 communitiesSlide16
Possible update projects
Research soil correlation potential of plant communities
Validate “amounts” of vegetation
Research historical vegetation literature
Identify sampling locations of major plant communities
Collect field dataSlide17
Staffing resources
ESI-QC (Milan, TN…142 miles)
State Resource Conservationist
Biologist
Forester
Grasslands Specialist (x2)
Resource Conservationist
Area Staffing
Conservation Forester
Resource Conservationist(x23)
Resource Soil Scientist (x2)
Soil Conservationist (x8)
WRP Specialist
Illinois DNR, Nature Conservancy, USFSSlide18
Ecological Site Responsibility of the MLRA-SSO Project Leader
With ESI-QC position
Manage long range plan
Schedule and manage work activities
Lead technical team
Keep maps and data current
Perform/schedule investigations
Conduct quality control
Develop project and annual plans
Follow standards, policy, & procedure
Support NCSS initiatives
Without ESI-QC position
Manage long range plan
Schedule and manage work activities
Lead technical team
Keep maps and data current
Perform/schedule investigations
Conduct quality control
Develop project and annual plans
Follow standards, policy, & procedure
Support NCSS initiativesSlide19
Ecological Site Inventory Suggestions for the MLRA-SSO
Contact ESI-QA Specialist
Ask for assistance with informal ecological site status review
Identify (w/ technical team) possible update projects for inclusion in long-range plan
Identify technical specialists needed for selected projects
Report progress (not mandatory for FY-11)Slide20
Myths to dispel
Soil Survey is now in charge of ecological site descriptions.
Ecological site efforts are balanced between Soil Survey (SSRA) and Ecological Sciences (S&T).
If my MLRA-SSO does not have an ecological site inventory specialist, then I have no (or lesser) responsibility for ecological site inventory.
The MLRA-SSO has a consistent role in ecological site inventory, regardless of current staffing.Slide21
Questions ??