NEPA--Environmental Assessment

Monitoring for Alternative 3
Monitoring and evaluation lead to improved management and informed management decisions.
Monitoring helps determine how the Forest Plan/RMP and NEPA decisions are being implemented,
whether AMP implementation is achieving desired outcomes, and whether assumptions made in the
planning process are valid. Monitoring and evaluation are key elements in adaptive management,
allowing the FS/BLM to measure whether or not livestock grazing management is being effective in
moving toward the desired conditions within the appropriate timeframes. Through adaptive
management, AMP’s become dynamic, relevant and useful documents.
Two types of monitoring are associated with AMP’s; implementation, or short-term, monitoring
and effectiveness, or long-term, monitoring. Implementation monitoring will measure whether or
not Forest Plan/RMP direction and desired conditions defined for this project are being met, while
effectiveness monitoring will evaluate how successful management actions are at moving towards or
achieving that direction and conditions.
Monitoring is the responsibility of both the Forest Service/BLM and the range permittee. If at any
time the results of monitoring indicate standards, guidelines, or desired resource conditions are not
being achieved as predicted, then adaptive management options will be implemented to move
towards and/or meet desired conditions. The monitoring described below is part of the Proposed
Action.
Implementation (Short-Term) Monitoring
Annual monitoring techniques will be used in a dynamic and cyclic process. As results are received
and analyzed each year, adjustments to the Annual Operating Instructions (AOI) can be made for the
following year. The AOI’s clearly explain how each allotment is to be managed on a year-to-year
basis. These instructions become part of the Term Livestock Grazing Permit for each permittee and
responsibility for carrying out the instructions falls to the permit holder. The AOI’s include
instructions for pasture rotations, numbers to be grazed, pasture on and off dates, standards for and
determination of allowable use, improvement maintenance and construction, and general allotment
operating procedures. This allows annual livestock grazing management to adapt to fluctuations in
short-term factors such as range readiness, precipitation, and other local events like fire. By allowing
these short-term adjustments to livestock grazing, Forest Plan Direction is likely to be met.
The short-term conditions will be monitored annually using a variety of methods such as:
• Rangeland Readiness: Indicators used to determine rangeland readiness are soil and vegetation
conditions. Rangeland is generally ready for livestock grazing when soil has become firm after
winter and spring precipitation, and when plants have reached the defined stage of growth at
which livestock grazing may begin under the specific management plan without long-lasting
damage. Range readiness will be evaluated on a landscape, rather than a site-specific basis. It will
be checked annually beginning a few weeks prior to the scheduled on-date and continually
evaluated until as needed until range readiness is achieved. The actual on-date is then determined
for that year.
• Allotment Inspections: Forest Service/BLM personnel make on-the-ground inspections of
utilization, livestock numbers, correct pasture use, and improvement maintenance. Results are
documented in allotment files, and corrective actions are taken as necessary.
• Allowable Use Guides: These standards are designed to ensure that short-term effects of livestock
grazing activities are able to provide for the long-term health and sustainability of rangeland
resources. There are a variety of Allowable Use Guides that may be employed on any Key Area
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