Transcript VERP - Visitor Experience Resource Protection

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Indicators and
Standards
What
measures
define when
there is a
problem
Indicators
Definition:
Variables that can
be measured to
track change in
conditions caused
by human activity
Purpose:
Indicators
Focus data collection efforts
Translate desired character into something
measurable
Track trends in conditions over time
Evaluate effectiveness of management

Process:
 Identify questions you are trying to answer
 Brainstorm list of potential indicators
 Run potential indicators through screening criteria
 Select high performing indicators. Do a trial run
Untrammeled:
Natural:
What are the status and
trends of actions that
control or manipulate the
“community of life” in
wilderness?
What is the status and
trends of human
threats to natural
conditions?
# of agency actions that
control or manipulate plant
communities, animal
populations, soils, water
bodies or natural
disturbance processes
Air pollutants (ozone,
sulfur and nitrogen
deposition measures)
Non-native species that
alter the composition
of plant and animal
communities
Fire regime (% of acres
in condition class 3)
Undeveloped:
What are the status and
trends of physical evidence
of modern human
occupation or modification?
# and development level of
buildings, trails, roads, dams,
mines, utility infrastructure
What are the status and
trends of the use of
motorized equipment and
mechanical transport?
# of motorized equipment and
mechanical transport use days
Solitude or primitive,
unconfined recreation:
What are the status and
trends of outstanding
opportunities for solitude or
primitive recreation and
unconfined recreation?
Remote trailless wilderness
Wilderness visitation
Creature comforts index
Trail development level
Management restrictions on
visitor behavior
Screening Criteria
 Meaningful: Does the indicator tell you what you want to
know? Will there be a management response?
 Free of variation: Is the indicator independent of
environmental variation?
 Reliable: Can the indicator be measured reliably?
 Responsive: Is the indicator responsive to management
action within a reasonable time frame?
 Sensitive: Does the indicator act as an early warning,
alerting you to deteriorating conditions before unacceptable
changes have occurred?
 Minimum impact: Can the indicator be measured with
minimal impact to the resource or visitors’ experience?
 Cost effective: Can the indicator provide information
which is worth the time and cost required?
Indicator Screen
• Indicators are REQUIRED to meet the following
criteria
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reliable, quick, and measurable response to visitor impacts
non-destructive to measure
repeatable with different personnel
ecological relevancy; indicative of significant adverse effects
• Indicators SHOULD meet the following criteria
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minimal spatial, temporal and climatic variability
easy to sample
large window of time for sampling
cost effective
short training time
baseline data available
response over a range of conditions
high ecological relevancy
Resilient
Indicators Selected
•
SPUR SOCIAL TRAILS: Numbers of social trails used within a
two hour time along a 100 m transect indicates the areal extent
of soil surface impacts and erosion potential
•
CRYPTOBIOTIC SOIL CRUST INDEX: This indicator is the most
indicative of overall ecosystem health. Lack of crustal
development means less soil stability, less nitrogen and carbon
fixation, lower nutrient concentrations in vascular plants and less
water available for vascular plants. It is very sensitive to visitor
use.
•
SOIL COMPACTION: Soil compaction is easily and accurately
measured. It is sensitive to visitor use, and can respond quickly
to management action. Increased compaction is detrimental to
ecosystems, as it disrupts natural nutrient and hydrologic cycles.
It is indicative of subsurface microfaunal biomass and diversity,
and litter decomposition rates.
•
SOIL AGGREGRATE STABILITY: Easy to measure, this is very
sensitive to visitor use. Aggregate stability is indicative of soil
structural integrity, surface stability, soil fertility, microfloral
and microfaunal populations.
CRYPTOBIOTIC SOIL CRUST INDEX: An index of soil
crust development was calculated for each quadrat. This was
done by designating crust development categories, and
assigning each category a value:
0 = loose sand
1 = a flat continuous surface
2 = a slightly bumpy, textured surface
4 = humps heaved well up from the soil plane
(> 1 cm)
6 = humps heaved up, some lichen or moss
development
10 = well-developed lichens and/or mosses
Daubenmire cover class values (1-6) were used to
estimate the amount of each type present. These two
numbers were multiplied (index value x cover class);
resulting numbers were then added to give an overall index
value for the quadrat.
LAC Standards
Definition
Measurable statement that defines
minimally acceptable conditions.
Absolute limits – “lines in the sand” –
not warnings.
Point at which conditions go from being
acceptable to being unacceptable and
corrective action will be taken.
The compromise we desire, not the
condition we desire.
LAC Standards
“Without some
Explicitly defining a balance
management, wilderness
cannot survive the
number of people who
seek to enjoy it. But
with too much
management, or the
wrong kind, we will
destroy the spiritual
component of wildness
in our zeal to preserve
its physical side.”
Laura and Guy Waterman.
Quality resource and
experience conditions
Freedom from
restrictions
LAC Standards
• Absolute limits
• Acceptable conditions
• Clearly defines when there
is problem – triggers action
• Public assurance that
restrictive action won’t be
taken unless standard not
met
Objectives
• Directional statement
• Desired conditions
• Does not define when
there is problem – no end
point
• May define acceptable
management performance
Both LAC Standards and Objectives must
be measurable and attainable.
LAC standards are applicable when
there is an inherent conflict between
goals and a willingness to compromise to
some extent.
Examples:
Air: Maximum of 5% change in visual contrast
compared to best visibility day (90th
percentile)
Campsites: Maximum of 50% vegetation loss
on campsites compared with reference sites.
Objectives are applicable when there is
no inherent conflict between goals or
there is unwillingness to compromise.
Examples:
Eliminate unauthorized vehicle use along 20 former
vehicle routes by 1998 to enhance the undeveloped
quality of the wilderness.
Clear 75% of the trail system miles annually to
prevent the development of multiple trails.
Setting Standards
Standards should be informed by
science but setting standards is a
value-based, management decision
What management hoped for
Percent reporting
acceptable condition
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
0
50
100
Number of people in view
150
What management got
Percent reporting
acceptable condition
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
0
50
100
Number of people in view
150
Standards are defensible if:
Decision contains explicit rationale
(link to desired character)
NEPA test: There must be a link between facts
found and choices made. “Consider” and
“Inform” (hard look)
The public had ample opportunity
to comment and participate.
Wilderness
Examples ?