The resource monitoring table (Table C-1) identifies the indicator that will be monitored to detect change in resource conditions, the method or technique of monitoring, the locations for monitoring, the unit of measurement for monitoring, the frequency for monitoring, and the action triggers that indicate the effectiveness of the management action. Footnotes in Table C-1 indicate where monitoring is generally conducted by stakeholders or cooperating agencies.
Table C.1. Resource Monitoring Table
| Resource | Record Number | Indicator | Method or Technique | Location | Unit of Measure | Frequency | Action Triggers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Quality1 | M-1 | Air quality | Ambient air sampling and air quality modeling | Established Monitoring Stations | Parts per million | Hourly to 24-hour samples in accordance with standards | Samples exceeding National Ambient Air Quality Standards |
| M-2 | Gaseous and particulate critical air pollutants | Emission inventory | Established Monitoring Stations | Pounds per hour and tons per year | Annually | Samples exceeding Ambient Air Quality Standards or levels of concern | |
| Cultural2 | M-3 | National Register eligible sites | Site inspection | Area wide | Disturbance | Annually | Disturbance as a result of land uses or vandalism |
| Fire | M-4 | Fire fuels | Site inspection | Wildland-urban interface and industrial interface areas | Acres | Annually | Presence of fire fuels that present a risk to communities and industrial sites |
| M-5 | Vegetation condition | Ecological site condition and trend studies | Vegetation types where there is a history of fire in the ecosystem | Representative sample | Annually | Vegetation growth trend is moving away from desired conditions for the vegetation type | |
| M-6 | Resource and property damage | Fire behavior | Individual fire | Fire temperature, flame length, burn rate, and acres burned | While the fire is burning | Acres burned and fire intensity that exceed prescription | |
| Forestry | M-7 | Forest Health | Ecological site condition and trend | Forested lands | Representative sample area | Every 3 to 5 years | Disease, insect infestation, or encroachment of undesirable plant species threatens forest health |
| M-8 | Timber stands | Timber stand examination | Commercial forested areas | Board feet, age class, and damages | Every 10 to 20 years | Basal area growth does not meet timber type standards | |
| Lands and Realty | M-9 | Realty authorization compliance | Site compliance inspection | Area wide | Number of Site inspections | Annually | Non-compliance or non-use |
| Livestock Grazing | M-10 | Vegetation condition | BLM approved monitoring methods; monitoring plans are included in Allotment Management Plans | All areas being grazed | Representative sample of grazed area | Every 5 to 10 years On a priority basis monitor allotments before livestock turnout | Conditions are not meeting goals and objectives for vegetation due specifically to livestock grazing management Conditions are not meeting goals and objectives for vegetation Inconsistent with Guidelines for Livestock Grazing Management, and Wyoming Rangeland Monitoring Guide, and similar guidance updated over time Not achieving desired conditions set forth in management action 4032 |
| M-11 | Forage utilization | Utilization study plot or site visit; monitoring plans are included in Allotment Management Plans | Priority Allotments or as needed | Representative sample of grazed area | On a priority basis, monitor during and after the area has been grazed | Utilization exceeds prescribed levels or key plants vigor declining Sustained forage yield will be apportioned in accordance with management action 6286 | |
| M-12 | Livestock numbers | Counts and site visits; monitoring plans are included in Allotment Management Plans | Varies by alternative per management action 6284 | Number of allotments or operators inspected | Annually or when livestock are moved on or off the allotment | Livestock numbers exceeding permitted numbers or in areas unauthorized | |
| Minerals | M-13 | Surface disturbance | Remote sensing or site inspection | Mineral development sites | Acres disturbed | Annually | Acres disturbed exceeding the range established for the area |
| M-14 | Compliance with authorization | Area inspection | Area wide | Compliance | During operations or annually | Non-compliance | |
| Off-Highway Vehicles | M-15 | Surface disturbance | Remote sensing or site visit | Site | Acres of disturbance | Prioritize areas and monitor higher priority areas every 1-3 years and lower priority areas every 2-4 years | Disturbance exceeding the baseline, accelerated soil erosion occurring, and vegetation being removed |
| Paleontology | M-16 | Significant paleontological resources | Site inspection | Site | Degradation or loss of significant fossil resources | Annually | Loss or damage to significant fossil resources as a result of human or natural causes |
| Recreation | M-17 | General recreation use | Inspection or remote sensing | Area wide with emphasis on dispersed recreation | Change over time and visitor days | Prioritize areas and monitor higher priority areas every 1-3 years and lower priority areas every 2-4 years | When change is causing undue or unnecessary degradation of the site or area |
| M-18 | Concentrated recreation use | Inspect developed recreation sites or areas that have facilities | Recreation site | Condition of recreation site, facilities, and visitor days | Annually | When change is causing undue or unnecessary degradation of facilities and use areas | |
| M-19 | Compliance with commercial authorization | Administrative review, site inspection | Activity site | Permit stipulations, resource conditions, and site restoration | During and after an event | When non-compliance is determined or degradation of resources is occurring | |
| Special Designations and Management Areas | M-20 | Resource condition | Site visit or remote sensing | Special designation and management area | Amount of degradation or loss of resources | Every 1 to 5 years | Undue or unnecessary degradation or loss of resources as a result of human or natural causes |
| Transportation and Access Management | M-21 | Roads and trails3 | Road and trail inspection through on site inspection or remote sensing | Area wide | Miles | Per 5 year Condition Assessment Plan | Conditions represent a hazard to life and property |
| M-22 | Seasonal closures6 | Aerial and field inspections | Area wide | Acres | Every 5 years | Changes in use of seasonal habitat requiring closure | |
| Vegetation | M-23 | Trend | BLM approved monitoring methods | Area wide | Representative sample | Every 2 to 10 years | Not achieving desired conditions set forth in management action 4032 |
| M-24 | Precipitation1 | Weather stations | Representative sample to detect precipitation patterns | Inches of precipitation | Monthly and annually | Precipitation incompatible with meeting desired conditions set forth in management action 4032 | |
| M-25 | Climate1 | Weather stations | Representative sample to detect patterns | Degrees | Monthly and annually | Temperatures incompatible with meeting desired conditions set forth in management action 4032 | |
| M-26 | Noxious weed and invasive plant trends4 | Remote sensing or site visit | Priority areas | Acres of established weeds and potential habitat areas | Annually | Spreading or establishment of invasive species in new areas | |
| M-27 | Special Status Species | Site inspection | Special Status Species’ habitats | Population and trend | Annually | A declining trend in populations | |
| M-28 | Wetland/riparian condition | Proper Functioning Condition | Priority wetlands/riparian areas | Stream miles and acres along with rating | Every 1 to 3 years | Not achieving Proper Functioning Condition or not exhibiting and upward trend | |
| Visual Resource Management | M-29 | Intrusions | Remote sensing or site visit | Class I and II areas | Impacts of an individual intrusion | Annually | Intrusion that exceeds the definition of the classification |
| Water Quality, Watershed and Soils Management | M-30 | Surface water quality5 | Water sampling | All surface water | Milligrams per liter and tons per day | On a priority basis | Water quality does not meet state standards |
| M-31 | Groundwater quality5 | Groundwater sampling | Established monitoring stations | Representative sample of water quality | Annually | Water quality does not meet state standards and water is migrating from one aquifer to another | |
| M-32 | Channel geometry | Riparian cross sections | Priority streams | Change in stream channel (width, depth, side channel modification, and bank sloughing) | Every 1 to 3 years | Conditions are moving away from Proper Functioning Condition | |
| M-33 | Soil erosion uplands | Visual observation and surveyed erosion pins | Area wide where land use activities are occurring | Soil loss in tons per acre | Visual examination while land use activity is active and annual site surveys | When soil loss is accelerated beyond natural levels | |
| M-34 | Soil erosion on stream banks and floodplains | Visual observation and surveyed erosion pins | Area wide where land use activities are occurring | Area affected in square feet or acres | Visual examination while land use activity is active and annual site surveys | Water table is shrinking beyond average precipitation fluctuations | |
| M-35 | Soil compaction | Penetrometer or visual inspection | Area affected by land use activities | Pounds per square inch | 1 to 2 times annually | Compaction restricts water infiltration and plant growth | |
| M-36 | Soil compaction, porosity, permeability, and depth to water | Monitoring wells (peizometers) | Riparian areas | Depth to water table | Every 2 to 3 years | Accelerated stream banksoil loss | |
| Wildlife and Fisheries6 | M-37 | Big game seasonal habitat | Aerial and field inspections | Crucial wildlife habitat areas | Numbers during occupancy periods | Annually | A change in numbers beyond the normal fluctuations |
| M-38 | Special Status Species occupancy and productivity | Aerial and field inspections | Habitat areas and established buffer zones | Numbers during occupancy periods | Annually | A decline in numbers beyond the normal fluctuations | |
| M-39 | Threatened and endangered species occupancy and productivity | Aerial and field inspections | Habitat areas and established buffer zones | Numbers during occupancy periods | Annually | A decline in numbers beyond the normal fluctuations | |
| M-40 | Macroinvertebrate indicator species | Collecting macroinvertebrate species | Perennial streams | Species and condition of macroinvertebrates | Every 2 to 10 years | No presence of macroinvertebrates that represent good quality water in the stream | |
| M-41 | Neo-tropical bird habitat | Site visit | Area wide | Numbers during occupancy period | Every 2 to 3 years | Declining trend in habitat occupancy | |
| M-42 | Raptors | Site visit | Area wide | Nest occupancy rate | Every 2 to 5 years | Declining trend in nest site occupancy | |
| M-43 | Greater Sage-grouse | Lek site visit | Lek sites | Number of male and females (occupied or unoccupied) | Annually | Declining trend in the number of males and females | |
| 1 Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Division is responsible for data collection 2 The State Historic Preservation Officer is responsible for data collection 3 The County with jurisdiction is responsible for data collection 4 The Weed and Pest District and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service are responsible for data collection 5 Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Water Division is responsible for data collection 6 Wyoming Game and Fish Department is responsible for data collection BLM Bureau of Land Management | |||||||