NRCS Ecological SiteHandbook

WebinarApril 16, 2013

Susan Andrews, National LeaderSoil Quality and Ecosystems Branch

National Soil Survey Centerand

George Peacock, Team LeaderNational Grazing Lands Team

Central National Technology Support Center

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

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

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

NESH Primary Benefits:

To improve:• Consistency

• Throughout the US

• On “All lands”• Quality

• QC/QA• Correlation

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

Webinar OverviewBrief overview of draft NESH: Released - National

Bulletin 190-13-9 Section 1 –

Policy and Procedures Comments due by

May 15th to susan.andrews@lin.usda.gov or george.peacock@ftw.usda.gov

NESH Section I Contents

Section I – Policy and Procedures Part 100 – IntroductionPart 200 - Project ManagementPart 202 – (Reserved) Committees, Work

Agreements and MeetingsPart 203 – (Reserved) Working with PartnersPart 300 – ESD Quality Control, Quality

Assurance, Correlation and CertificationPart 301 – (Reserved) Job Certification for

Ecological Site Quality Control (Tabled, pending further review)

Section I, Part 100: Introduction

Part 100 – Introduction Part 100.00 – PurposePart 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”.

Section I, Part 100.02: References

Part 100 – Introduction Part 100.02 – Principle References and Their

MaintenanceWill 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

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

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

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

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

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

Section 100, Part 100.05Performance Measures

Part 100.05 – Correlated ESD Performance MeasuresAcres – 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

NESH Section I, Part 200

Part 200 – Project Management Part 200.00 – PurposePart 200.01 – Roles and Responsibilities

Board of Advisors Management Team Technical Team

Section I, Part 200.01Roles and Responsibilities

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 PlansPart 200.05 – Project Plan Approvals

Project Planning Overview

Section I, Part 200.06 Revisions and Updates

Revision – minor changesThe 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 changesThe 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.

NESH Section I, Part 300Part 300 – ESD Quality Control, Quality Assurance, Correlation and Certification

Part 300.00 – PurposePart 300.01 – DefinitionsPart 300.02 – Quality ControlPart 300.03 – Quality AssurancePart 300.04 – Interim Release of ESDs

(Approved ESDs)Part 300.05 – Final Correlation of ESDs Part 300.06 – Certification of ESDs

Section I, Part 300.00Confusion 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

Diagram of Steps, Part 300.02-300.05

Section I, Part 300.07: Currently Approved,

Meeting Previous Standards

Part 300.07 – Currently Approved, Meeting Previous StandardsCurrently 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.

Section I, Part 300.08: De-Activation of ESDs

Part 300.08 – De-activation of ESDsMemorandum 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.

SummaryToday’s webinar gave an overview of Section I – Policy and ProceduresWebinar – 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.govgeorge.peacock@ftw.usda.gov