This dataset was created to monitor the status, condition and trend of national BLM resources in accordance with BLM policies. It focuses on the BLM terrestrial core indicators, which include measures of vegetation and soil condition such as plant species cover and composition, plant height, and soil stability. The BLM terrestrial core indicators and methods were identified through a multi-disciplinary process and are described in BLM Technical Note 440 (https://www.blm.gov/nstc/library/pdf/TN440.pdf). The Landscape Monitoring Framework (LMF) dataset was collect using the Natural Resource Conservation Services (NRCS) National Resource Inventory (NRI) methodology which mirrors the data collected by the BLM using the Monitoring Manual for Grassland, Shrubland, and Savannah Ecosystems (2nd edition; https://www.landscapetoolbox.org/manuals/monitoring-manual/). Specific instructions for data collectors each year the data were collected can be found at https://www.nrisurvey.org/nrcs/Grazingland/. Also see Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health (version 5; https://www.landscapetoolbox.org/manuals/iirhv5/).
The monitoring locations were selected using spatially balanced, random sampling approaches and thus provide an unbiased representation of land conditions. However, these data should not be used for statistical or spatial inferences without knowledge of how the sample design was drawn or without calculating spatial weights for the points based on the sample design.
General Definitions
Noxious: Noxious status and growth form (forb, shrub, etc.) are designated for each BLM Administrative State using the state noxious list and local botany expertise often after consulting the USDA plants database. Each state’s noxious list can be found in tblStateSpecies Table, where the Noxious field is ‘YES’ and the StateSpecies field has the two letter state code for the desired state (e.g. ‘NM’).
Non-Noxious: Non-Noxious status and growth form (forb, shrub, etc.) are designated for each BLM Administrative State using the state noxious list and local botany expertise often after consulting the USDA plants database. Non-Noxious status can be found in tblStateSpecies Table, where the Noxious field is ‘NO’ and the StateSpecies field has the two letter state code for the desired state (e.g. ‘NM’).
Sagebrush: Sagebrush species are designated for each BLM Administrative State using local botany expertise. This list can be found for each state in in the tblStateSpecies Table, where SG_Group field is ‘Sagebrush’ and the StateSpecies field has the two letter state code for the desired state (e.g. ‘NM’).
Non-Sagebrush Shrub: Non Sagebrush Shrub species are designated for each BLM Administrative State as the plants determined to be shrubs that are not also Sagebrush. This list can be found for each state in in the tblStateSpecies Table, where SG_Group field is ‘NonSagebrushShrub’ and the StateSpecies field has the two letter state code for the desired state (e.g. ‘NM’).
Tall Stature Perennial Grass: Tall Stature Perennial Grasses status was determined by Sage Grouse biologist and modified slightly in each state and this list can be found in tblStateSpecies in the SG_Group field where SG_Group field is ‘TallStaturePerennialGrass’ and the StateSpecies field has the two letter state code for the desired state (e.g. ‘NM’).
Short Stature Perennial Grass: Short Stature Perennial Grasses status was determined by Sage Grouse biologist and modified slightly in each state and this list can be found in tblStateSpecies in the SG_Group field where SG_Group field is ‘ShortStaturePerennialGrass’ and the StateSpecies field has the two letter state code for the desired state (e.g. ‘NM’).
Preferred Forb: Preferred forb for Sage Grouse status was determined for each state by Sage Grouse biologist and other local experts and this list can be found in tblStateSpecies in the SG_Group field where SG_Group field is ‘PreferredForb’ and the StateSpecies field has the two letter state code for the desired state (e.g. ‘NM’).
Live: The NRI Methods measure Live vs Dead plant cover – i.e. if a pin drop hits a plant part and that plant part is dead (even if it’s on a living plant) that hit is considered a dead hit. Any occurrence of Live Sagebrush calculations indicates that the measurement is only hits that were live plant parts. If a pin hits both a live and a dead plant part in the same pin drop – that hit is considered live.
Growth Habit: The form of a plant, in this dataset the options are Forb, Graminoid, Sedge, Succulent, Shrub, SubShrub, Tree, NonVascular. The most common growth habit for each state was determined by local botany expertise often after consulting the USDA plants database. The growth habit for each species is a state can be found in tblStateSpecies in the GrowthHabitSub field. The values are used to place each plant in a Growth Habit/Duration bin such as Perennial Grass, or Annual Forb, etc.
Duration: The life length of a plant. In this dataset we consider plants to be either Perennial or Annual – Biennial plants are classified as Annuals. The most common duration for each state was determined by local botany expertise often after consulting the USDA plants database. The duration for each species is a state can be found in tblStateSpecies in the Duration field. The values are used to place each plant in a Growth Habit/Duration bin such as Perennial Grass, or Annual Forb, etc.
tblStateSpecies: This table in the database contains the Species Lists for each state. In the instance where a species code does not have a Growth Habit, Growth Habit Sub, or Duration – any occurrence of that code will not be included in calculations that require that information – for example a code that has NonWoody Forb but no information about annual or perennial will not be included in any of the calculations that are perennial or annual forb calculations. Most codes with no information will have the following in the notes – indicating that the only calculation it will be included in is Total Foliar which doesn’t require any growth habit and duration information – “Not used for calculations except Total Foliar.”