Transcript Document

Rangeland Health
United States Department of the
Interior
Bureau of Land Management
The Fundamentals of Rangeland
Health
– Broad descriptions of resource quality
outcomes
– Contain the rudiments of a triggering
mechanism meant to stimulate positive change
– Provide overall direction in Rangeland
Management Program
Fundamental 1 - Watersheds
• Watersheds are in, or are making, significant
progress toward, properly functioning physical
condition, including their upland, riparianwetland, and aquatic components; soil and plant
conditions support infiltration, soil moisture
storage, and the release of water that are in
balance with climate, and landform and maintain
or improve water quality, water quantity, and
timing and duration of flow.
Fundamental 2 – Ecological
Processes
• Ecological processes, including the
hydrologic cycle, nutrient cycle, and energy
flow are maintained, or there is significant
progress toward their attainment, in order to
support healthy biotic populations and
communities.
Fundamental 3 – Water Quality
• Water quality complies with State water
quality standards and achieves, or is making
significant progress toward achieving
established BLM management objectives …
Fundamental 4 - Habitats
• Habitats are, or are making significant
progress toward being, restored or
maintained for Federal threatened and
endangered species, Federal Proposed …
and other special candidate species.
States Draft Standards
• State or regional Standards must address:
– Watershed function
– Nutrient cycling and energy flow
– Water Quality
– Habitat for endangered, threatened, proposed … or
special status species
– Habitat quality for native plant and animal populations
and communities
Rangeland Health Standards for
Oregon and Washington
1. Upland Watershed Function
2. Riparian Function
3. Ecological Processes
4. Water Quality
5. Habitats for Native, T&E and Locally Important
Species
Text Available From:
www.or.blm.gov/Resources