Range Effectiveness Evaluations Part 2 Rangeland Health and Plant Residue

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1 Range Effectiveness Evaluations 2004 Part 2 Rangeland Health and Plant Residue

2 FRPA Values Soils Biodiversity Forage and associated plant communities Fish and fish habitat Water (WQOs) Wildlife (also WHAs and UWR)

3 Rangeland Health The degree to which soils and ecological processes of rangeland systems are sustained. WATER CYCLE Penetration+Aeration=Effective Precipitation RUNOFF WATER TABLE TRANSPIRATION RAINFALL BASIC ENERGY PYRAMID Energy lost as heat and no longer usable for living organisms Decay Scavengers Decay Further predators, including humans Predators, including humans SURFACE EVAPORATION BRITTLENESS RUNOFF LOSS WATER & NUTRIENTS Brittle Non-Brittle MINERAL CYCLE LEAF FALL DUNG Atmosphere: Carbon & Nitrogen URINE Good penetration and rapid recycling required Fish, mammals, birds, insects, humans Plant organisms on land and in water Simple Communities few different species fluctuations in numbers high instability high Complex Communities many different species fluctuations in numbers low stability high

4 Effectiveness Evaluations Are practices, plans & standards effective? Are plans, practices and standards, as implemented, meeting anticipated outcomes. Three Levels 1. Routine (windshield surveys) 2. Extensive (PFC) 3. Intensive (detailed)

5 Project Objectives Evaluate health of primary range using standard methodology Evaluate effectiveness of key areas Evaluate effectiveness of RUP stubble heights in protecting resource values Evaluate browse use Report on VO resulting from plant residue How are doing as a Ministry? Our report card.

6 Screening Methodology Two northern and two southern districts Post September 2000 RUPs Primary range Resource features likely to be affected by livestock Recent plantations Resource values

7 Field Methodology RRAs as benchmarks Key areas and other monitoring sites Rangeland health (functionality) assessments Plant community description and seral stage Stubble heights Visual obscurity (VO) Browse use and form class Invasive plants Photos Data entered in handheld computer and field data sheets

8 Function Checklist Uplands Range Unit: Range Agreement Holder: UTM Coordinates: Name of Upland Area: Date: Hectares: Observers: Yes No N/A Uplands Function Checklist Range Agreement Number: BEC Subzone: Location: PARAMETERS HYDROLOGIC AND SOILS Organic material (plant litter, standing vegetation) protects soil surface from raindrop impact and evaporative effects of sun and wind. Water will easily infiltrate the soil surface (absence of physical soil crusting, capping). Subsurface soil conditions support infiltration (compaction layers are uncommon). Standing vegetation and plant litter detain overland water flow and trap sediment. Non-stream ephemeral drainages are stable (sufficient vegetation is present to protect against downcutting). BIOTIC/VEGETATION The plant community is showing good vigour. There is recruitment of desirable plant species (new seedlings). The plant community reflects a fully occupied root zone. Seeps, springs, and ephemeral drainages support vigourous stands of phreatophytic plants. Biological breakdown of plant residues/organic material is apparent (decomposition as opposed to oxidization). Biological breakdown of livestock dung is rapid. A diversity of vertebrate and invertebrate life is evident EROSION/DEPOSITION Evidence of rills, gullies, pedestalling and other excessive soil movement is uncommon. There is little visual evidence of pedestalling of plants or rocks. Pedestals present are sloping or rounding and accumulating litter. Check one PFC At risk Non-functional Notes: Is the desired plant community present (diversity -- species, comp., age classes, structure, form)? Soils types and textures?

9 Residual Cover Description of Plant Communities and Habitats Browse utilization Browse Use Categories current year s growth List of preferred browse species on site Light 0-10% Moderate 11-40% Heavy >40% Browse form (select one) Stubble Height m transect. Measurements taken every paces. Lightly Browsed 2 year-old wood 2 year-old wood Moderately Browsed Heavily Browsed 2 year-old wood Measurements along transect: Avg. height: Max. ht: Min. ht: Pattern of use: Photos Current Plant Community: Numbers: Weed Species: Species: Size of infestation: <100m ,500m 2 >1ha Distribution: Rare individuals Continuous stands Scattered patches Desired Plant Community Notes (Plant community, structure, recruitment, litter, bare ground, invasive species)

10 Habitat values Good Cover

11 Results 86 sites evaluated during 5 weeks of field work 69 uplands 7 wetlands 10 stream reaches

12 Results Peace FD PFC 80% Slight risk % Mod. Risk 41-60% High risk 20-40% NF < 20% Total Uplands Wetlands Stream reaches

13 Peace FD Generally light use Low vigour domestics Browsing primarily by wild ungulates Fire frequency an issue on one tenure RUP stubble heights set low and not approached in any plan areas VO readings feasible in grasslands

14 Peace FD A late-seral grassland-shrub community An early-seral grassland community with poor cover This plant community has been burned and grazed A low vigour creeping red fescue seeding.

15 Results Nadina FD PFC 80% Slight risk % Mod. Risk 41-60% High risk 20-40% NF < 20% Total Uplands Wetlands Stream reaches

16 Nadina FD Generally light use with some localized over-use Additional grazing is available but livestock management is the limiting factor VO readings were not useful because of lodging Stubble heights in plans not approached Stubble height set too low in plans Some seeded plantations remained as domestic fescue monocultures Need for more monitoring sites

17 Nadina FD Heavily grazed plantation Open south-facing slope Lightly grazed plantation A grazing exclosure

18 Results O-S O S FD PFC 80% Slight risk % Mod. Risk 41-60% High risk 20-40% NF < 20% Total Uplands Wetlands Stream reaches

19 Okanagan-Shuswap FD Prescribed stubble hts not adequate Heavy shrub use Soil compaction Lack of planned rest on bunchgrass range Overgrazed riparian zones ATV damage Logging adjacent to small streams creates new cattle access and trampling damage Unhealthy forests need ecosystem restoration VO measurements of value in bunchgrass and sedge meadows

20 Okanagan-Shuswap FD Over-utilized bunchgrass community Moderately grazed bunchgrass community Lightly used bunchgrass community Heavily grazed riparian area

21 Okanagan-Shuswap (cont d) ATV damage to sedge meadow A managed open larch forest with a healthy understorey A spaced ponderosa pine stand with a healthy grass understorey Stream and riparian area damaged by livestock use.

22 Results 100 Mile House FD PFC 80% Slight risk % Mod. Risk 41-60% High risk 20-40% NF < 20% Total Uplands Wetlands Stream reaches

23 100 Mile House FD Lack of planned rest on low seral grasslands Confer forest is underutilized Soil compaction Over-used riparian zones Heavy browsing where shrubs occur Primary range is over- stocked with cattle Unhealthy forest needs ecosystem restoration Stubble heights set too low Use levels and grazing schedules not being followed Lack of inspections

24 100 Mile House FD Over-utilized open meadow Livestock use has altered the plant community Over-utilized pinegrass 5 cm Lightly grazed open forest lacking some understorey components

25 100 Mile House Cont d) Lightly used wheatgrass Heavily grazed plantation Trampled sedge meadow Over-utilized sedge 7 cm cm

26 Results - Provincial Summary PFC 80% Slight risk % Mod. Risk 41-60% High risk 20-40% NF < 20% Total Uplands Wetlands Stream reaches

27 Recommendations 1. Establish key areas determine levels of use & range readiness. 2. Adopt more conservative stubble heights. 3. Adjust stocking rates to actual areas of use. 4. Implement ecosystem restoration to create open forest with proper understorey layers. 5. Shift grazing pressure to the conifer forest for parts of the grazing season. cont d d...

28 Recommendations 6. Require mitigation where natural barriers adjacent to small streams have been removed by forest harvesting. 7. Keep an inventory file for each RUP area. 8. Increase C&E inspections to ensure that grazing schedules and levels of use are being followed. 9. Increase range monitoring rates to 30% per year based on risk.

29 Recommendations 10. Keep better records of monitoring and field inspections. 11. Implement utilization/seral stage mapping and functionality assessments on all plan areas. 12. Implement RRG on bunchgrass range. 13. Do not allow both spring and fall use of a pasture unit in the same year.

30 Recommendations 14. Establish representative ungrazed areas in each pasture unit. 15. Monitor shrub layers in forested communities and riparian areas. 16. Collect detailed soils information at all reference sites to allow assessments of livestock impacts. 17. Modify stubble height recommendations.

31 Proper use A properly grazed bluebunch wheatgrass plant. The middle portion of the plant has been grazed to about 13 cm, while the outer tillers are about 22 cm long.

32 Over-use An over-utilized Idaho fescue that has been grazed to about 6 cm in height. Proper use is 15 cm.

33 Stubble Heights (cm) Species Range in RUPs Recommended Bluegrasses 3 to 7 10 Bluejoint 7 to Fescue, c.r. 3 to 7 8 Fescue, Idaho 8 15 Fescue, rough Needlegrasses 8 to Pinegrass 8 to Wheatgrass, BB Wheatgrasses Wildrye, blue 7 to 12 15

34 Outcomes District follow-up with clients where there were problems. A tier one monitoring method (seral stage and utilization mapping) has been developed for use by staff and clients. The ADM of Operations has asked the regions to develop action plans for implementing the recommendations.

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