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WATERSHED,
SOIL, AND AIR PROJECT PROPOSAL |
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Project Name or Title: |
Training
Curriculum and Certification Program for Potential Users of the National Soil
Quality Monitoring Field Guide (IM –WSA-FM) |
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Submitted by (your name): |
Steve Howes |
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Unit name and address: |
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Telephone: |
503-808-2937 FAX: 503-808-2469 |
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IBM or Internet Address: |
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Date: |
February 29, 2008 |
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OVERALL OBJECTIVES/PROBLEM STATEMENT (Describe the problem, how the work is currently being done, and why improvement is needed.) |
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This is the final phase of a three-phase program to develop a standard, scientifically defensible, and easily implemented soil disturbance assessment protocol for the Forest Service. Phase I, a 2005 IM technology and development project to collect photographs and publish a soil quality monitoring field guide containing schematic and photographic examples of defined, visually identifiable, soil disturbance categories is nearing completion. Phase II developed sampling protocols and other analysis tools for conducting rapid, accurate, and consistent pre- and post-project assessments of soil quality. A standard protocol (or set of protocols) for monitoring soil quality, guiding project design, and determining sampling intensity is available to be used in conjunction with the soil field guide. This proposal addresses Phase III and provides for the development of a training curriculum to ensure that soil scientists, timber sale administrators, silviculturists, and fuel specialists, and others conduct reliable and repeatable assessments of soil disturbance for use in project planning and environmental analyses. It also provides for development of an agency program to certify and periodically recertify persons involved in making visually-based soil disturbance assessments. Evaluation
Factors: A. Critical Resource Issues/Benefits Multiple
Resource Areas: Soil is the
foundation of ecosystems. Soil quality
is becoming increasingly important on the national forests and often surfaces
as an appeal issue or in litigation.
Many projects implemented on the national forests (timber sales, range
allotments, hazardous fuel reduction, biomass removal) have the potential to
cause soil disturbance that may be detrimental. The Forest Service has experienced difficulty in
accurately quantifying amounts of soil disturbance generated by management
activities; and in predicting its subsequent effects on productivity and
water quality. This paucity of data
can be partially attributed to a lack of standard soil quality protocols and
a common system to classify and quantify degree/extent of soil disturbance. Not having a standard soil quality
monitoring protocol has limited the usefulness of existing monitoring data
and the ability to compare results between forests and regions. It has also limited our ability to
communicate effectively with our customers about soil disturbance. The first step in making reliable assessments of
soil quality is to develop a common language for describing categories or
degrees of soil disturbance and defining those conditions that are
acceptable. Once this has been done,
those making soil disturbance assessments must be adequately trained so their
observations are accurate and consistent.
They must also be certified to make such observations and their
results periodically evaluated. B. Improves Efficiency and Accuracy: The soil field guide provides photographic examples
and schematic diagrams of different soil disturbance categories in various
ecological subregions. The photo guide is to be used in conjunction with the
Visual Disturbance field form developed by Rocky Mountain Research Station
and field tested during the past two years in R1, R4, and R6. The photos and forms allow field personnel
to correctly describe and quantify actual soil conditions within a given
project area. Until now, limited training has occurred because not all
necessary materials and guides have been available. With the upcoming
publication of the soil disturbance field guide and availability of a
standard data collection form, a comprehensive training curriculum and
certification program needs to be developed and used by land managers in
every region. C. Feasibility:
Over the past two years, considerable time and effort has been dedicated to
the development of a field guide and defensible monitoring protocols. The
last component is a training curriculum and certification program that
enables the Forest Service to institutionalize soil quality monitoring in
every region of the country. Materials collected for the soil field guide can
be used to develop training packages that highlight similarities and
differences between regions. The current need for rapid, yet reliable soil
quality monitoring protocols is high.
Decisions affecting many projects in several regions are vulnerable to
appeal and litigation because soil disturbance analyses are either poor or lacking.
Visual assessments of soil disturbance are a
component of an adaptive management process for forest soil
conservation. They will assist in
development and continual improvement of guidelines and standards for
sustainable forest management – a component of environmental management systems
( |
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PROPOSED TECHNOLOGY & DEVELOPMENT WORK (Describe your concept of the end product, i.e., a new equipment design, a video production, a guide, etc.) |
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The proposed project would involve the development
of a training curriculum and certification which will ensure soil quality is
maintained or improved as we implement ground disturbing projects. Components
of the curriculum development include: ·
2 day training
course on how to evaluate soil conditions including use of the soil resource
inventory, risk assessment categories, stratifying the survey area, and
collecting and describing soil conditions using standardized data collection
forms (R-1/RMRS). ·
Preparation of
standardized course – training materials for use throughout every region and
allowing region specific references to be added as needed. ·
Preparations of
“task book” to ensure participants have mastered key elements of the training
and are “certified” in their evaluation of soil conditions. ·
Development of
web site for project including reference material, example monitoring
documents, and training material for collecting and analyzing data linked to
ecoregions. |
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POTENTIAL BENEFITS (Describe how this project will improve safety,
reduce cost, save time, increase efficiency, provide improved resource
management, or increase customer satisfaction.) |
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SUPPORTING
INFORMATION APPENDIX (Include detailed
descriptions, photos, diagrams, or other source documents that might be
helpful.) References: Curran, M.P., D.G. Maynard, R.L. Heninger, T.A.
Terry, S.W. Howes, D.M. Stone, T. Niemann, R.E. Miller, and R.F. Powers. 2005.
An adaptive management process
for forest soil conservation. The
Forestry Chronicle. Vol. 81, No. 5, 717-722. Curran, M.P., R.E. Miller, S.W. Howes, D.G. Maynard,
T.A. Terry, R.L. Heninger, T. Niemann, K. van Rees, R.F. Powers and S.H.
Schoenholtz. 2005. Progress
toward more uniform assessment and reporting of soil disturbance for
operations, research, and sustainability protocols. For. Ecol. and Management 220 (2205)17-30. Curran, M.P.,D.G. Maynard, R.L. Heninger, T.A.
Terry, S.W. Howes, D.M. Stone, T.Niemann, and R.E.Miller. 2007. Elements
and rationale for a common approach to assess and report soil disturbance. The Forestry Chronicle. Vol. 83. 6.
852-866. Curran, M., Howes, S., C. Busskohl, and C. Kendall. 2001.
Interim protocol for assessment and management of soil quality
conditions. Scott, W. 2007.
A soil disturbance classification system. Internal Report. Forestry Research Technical Note. Paper #07-3. Weyerhaeuser Co., D. Partners and Collaborators: Dr. Deborah Page-Dumroese Randy Davis Rocky Mountain Research Station USFS-WO 208-883-2339 202-205-1082 ddumroese@fs.fed.us rdavis@fs.fed.us (time, expertise) (time, expertise) Dr. Dan Neary Meredith Webster Rocky Mountain Research Station USFS-R1 928-556-2176 406-329-3412 dneary@fs.fed.us sdehart@fs.fed.us (time, expertise) (time, expertise, personnel) Dr. Carl Trettin Steve Howes Southern Research Station USFS-R6 843-769-7002 503-808-2937 ctrettin@fs.fed.us showes@fs.fed.us (time, expertise) (time, expertise, personnel) Dr. Mike Curran Brent Roath BC 250-825-1118 707-562-8941 Mike.Curran@gems5.gov.bc.ca broath@fs.fed.us (time, expertise) (time, expertise, personnel) Jeff TenPas Jeff Bruggink USFS-R5 USFS-R4 Zone Soil Scientist Soils Program Leader 209-532-3671x254 801-625-5357 jtenpas@fs.fed.us jbruggink@fs.fed.us (time, expertise) (time, expertise) |
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