mlra-sso responsibilities for ecological site inventory curtis talbot rangeland mgt specialist...

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MLRA-SSO Responsibilities for Ecological Site Inventory Curtis Talbot Rangeland Mgt Specialist National Soil Survey Center March 24, 2011

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Page 1: MLRA-SSO Responsibilities for Ecological Site Inventory Curtis Talbot Rangeland Mgt Specialist National Soil Survey Center March 24, 2011

MLRA-SSO Responsibilities for Ecological Site Inventory

Curtis TalbotRangeland Mgt Specialist

National Soil Survey CenterMarch 24, 2011

Page 2: MLRA-SSO Responsibilities for Ecological Site Inventory 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 MLRA-SSO does not have an ecological site inventory specialist, then I have no (or lesser) responsibility for ecological site inventory.

Page 3: MLRA-SSO Responsibilities for Ecological Site Inventory Curtis Talbot Rangeland Mgt Specialist National Soil Survey Center March 24, 2011

National Bulletin – March 3, 2010Acceleration 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, integration

Page 4: MLRA-SSO Responsibilities for Ecological Site Inventory Curtis Talbot Rangeland Mgt Specialist National Soil Survey Center March 24, 2011
Page 5: MLRA-SSO Responsibilities for Ecological Site Inventory Curtis Talbot Rangeland Mgt Specialist National Soil Survey Center March 24, 2011
Page 6: MLRA-SSO Responsibilities for Ecological Site Inventory Curtis Talbot Rangeland Mgt Specialist National Soil Survey Center March 24, 2011

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 current

Page 7: MLRA-SSO Responsibilities for Ecological Site Inventory Curtis Talbot Rangeland Mgt Specialist National Soil Survey Center March 24, 2011

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 initiatives

Page 8: MLRA-SSO Responsibilities for Ecological Site Inventory Curtis Talbot Rangeland Mgt Specialist National Soil Survey Center March 24, 2011

Examples of possible MLRA-SSO Ecological Site Workflow

Office with dedicated ESI-QC position

Page 9: MLRA-SSO Responsibilities for Ecological Site Inventory Curtis Talbot Rangeland Mgt Specialist National Soil Survey Center March 24, 2011

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)

Page 10: MLRA-SSO Responsibilities for Ecological Site Inventory Curtis Talbot Rangeland Mgt Specialist National Soil Survey Center March 24, 2011

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 references

Page 11: MLRA-SSO Responsibilities for Ecological Site Inventory Curtis Talbot Rangeland Mgt Specialist National Soil Survey Center March 24, 2011

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 appropriate

Page 12: MLRA-SSO Responsibilities for Ecological Site Inventory Curtis Talbot Rangeland Mgt Specialist National Soil Survey Center March 24, 2011

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, USFS

Page 13: MLRA-SSO Responsibilities for Ecological Site Inventory Curtis Talbot Rangeland Mgt Specialist National Soil Survey Center March 24, 2011

Examples of possible MLRA-SSO Ecological Site Workflow

Office without dedicated ESI-QC position

Page 14: MLRA-SSO Responsibilities for Ecological Site Inventory Curtis Talbot Rangeland Mgt Specialist National Soil Survey Center March 24, 2011

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 Representative

Page 15: MLRA-SSO Responsibilities for Ecological Site Inventory Curtis Talbot Rangeland Mgt Specialist National Soil Survey Center March 24, 2011

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 communities

Page 16: MLRA-SSO Responsibilities for Ecological Site Inventory Curtis Talbot Rangeland Mgt Specialist National Soil Survey Center March 24, 2011

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 data

Page 17: MLRA-SSO Responsibilities for Ecological Site Inventory Curtis Talbot Rangeland Mgt Specialist National Soil Survey Center March 24, 2011

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, USFS

Page 18: MLRA-SSO Responsibilities for Ecological Site Inventory Curtis Talbot Rangeland Mgt Specialist National Soil Survey Center March 24, 2011

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 initiatives

Page 19: MLRA-SSO Responsibilities for Ecological Site Inventory Curtis Talbot Rangeland Mgt Specialist National Soil Survey Center March 24, 2011

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)

Page 20: MLRA-SSO Responsibilities for Ecological Site Inventory 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.• 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.

Page 21: MLRA-SSO Responsibilities for Ecological Site Inventory Curtis Talbot Rangeland Mgt Specialist National Soil Survey Center March 24, 2011

Questions ??