Adverse impacts to grassland and shrubland communities include actions that contribute to the decline in abundance or distribution of these communities. Conversely, beneficial impacts to grassland and shrubland communities include actions that protect or restore the communities in the Planning Area.

Direct impacts to grassland and shrubland communities result from surface disturbance and other activities that remove vegetation and cause mechanical damage to plants. Surface-disturbing activities generally result in an adverse direct impact. Activities such as livestock grazing, wildlife use, wildland fire, and vegetative treatments (e.g., planned ignitions, chemical, or biological) also result in direct adverse or beneficial impacts to these communities.

Indirect impacts to grassland and shrubland communities result from activities that alter the quality and health of these communities. For example, activities that compact soil, cause erosion, cause changes in hydrology, and cause invasive species encroachment would cause indirect impacts. Beneficial impacts to grassland and shrubland communities include vegetative treatments to improve these communities and activities that minimize, reduce, or prevent the spread of invasive species into these communities.