Title: This document is contained within the Visitor Use Management Toolbox on Wilderness.net. Since other
1- This document is contained within the Visitor Use
Management Toolbox on Wilderness.net. Since other
related resources found in this toolbox may be of
interest, you can visit this toolbox by visiting
the following URL http//www.wilderness.net/index
.cfm?fusetoolboxessecvum. All toolboxes are
products of the Arthur Carhart National
Wilderness Training Center.
2Indicators and Standards
What measures define when there is a problem
3Definition
Indicators
- Variables that can be measured to track change in
conditions caused by human activity
4Process
Indicators
- Purpose
- Focus data collection efforts
- Translate desired character into something
measurable - Track trends in conditions over time
- Evaluate effectiveness of management
- 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
5Untrammeled What are the status and trends of
actions that control or manipulate the community
of life in wilderness? of agency actions that
control or manipulate plant communities, animal
populations, soils, water bodies or natural
disturbance processes
Natural What is the status and trends of human
threats to natural conditions? 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)
6Undeveloped 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
7Screening 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?
8Indicator Screen
- Indicators are REQUIRED to meet the following
criteria - 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
- 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
9Indicators 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.
10CRYPTOBIOTIC 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 (gt 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.
11LAC StandardsDefinition
- 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.
12LAC Standards
Without some 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.
Explicitly defining a balance
Freedom from restrictions
Quality resource and experience conditions
13LAC Standards
Objectives
- Directional statement
- Desired conditions
- Does not define when there is problem no end
point - May define acceptable management performance
- Absolute limits
- Acceptable conditions
- Clearly defines when there is problem triggers
action - Public assurance that restrictive action wont be
taken unless standard not met
Both LAC Standards and Objectives must be
measurable and attainable.
14LAC 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.
15Objectives 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.
16Setting Standards
Standards should be informed by science but
setting standards is a value-based, management
decision
17(No Transcript)
18(No Transcript)
19(No Transcript)
20(No Transcript)
21(No Transcript)
22(No Transcript)
23What management hoped for
Percent reporting acceptable condition
Number of people in view
24What management got
Percent reporting acceptable condition
Number of people in view
25Standards 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.
26WildernessExamples ?