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AIM Applications: Terrestrial and

Aquatic Examples

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BLM multi-scale data

needs:

• Permit renewals

• RMP effectiveness

• State-wide reporting

• Ecoregional

assessments

• Bureau-wide

The need for periodic assessment

Sc

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BLM multi-scale data

needs:

• Permit renewals

• RMP effectiveness

• State-wide reporting

• Ecoregional

assessments

• Bureau-wide

The need for periodic assessment

Sc

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Watershed function

Ecological processes

Species/habitat

Water quality

Fundamentals of Land Health:

Ecosystem Integrity

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AIM: A tool for periodic assessment

A comprehensive, multi-program approach following AIM

• Quantitative core indicators and methodologies

• Statistically valid sampling frameworks

• Data acquisition and management plans

• Analytical tools

Watershed

function

Ecological processes

Species/habitat

Water quality

AIM

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Applications of the

AIM-National Aquatic

Monitoring Framework:

Examples from Lotic

Systems

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• What percentage of BLM’s

streams and rivers are in

good, fair or poor biological

condition?

• What is the risk posed by

the observed stressors to

biological condition?

• Public Land Statistics

reporting

• Regional mngt. priorities

NAMF: National scale example - WRSA

Monitoring goals & applications:

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WRSA: How were sites selected?

Survey design:

1. Target population = NHD streams and rivers on

BLM lands (lower 48; wadeable + non-wadeable)

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WRSA: How were sites selected?

Survey design:

1. Target population = NHD streams and rivers on

BLM lands (lower 48; wadeable + non-wadeable)

2. Probability-based

design (GRTS):

~350 sites

a. Intensification of

EPA NRSA (50+

BLM sites)

3. Stratified by hybrid

level III ecoregions

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WRSA: What did we measure?

Chemical

Total Nitrogen

Total Phosphorous

Conductivity

pH

Physical

Temperature

Substrate

Pool dimensions/freq.

Bankfull width/depth

Incision depth

Bank angle/stability

Thalweg profile

Instream habitat complexity

Biological

Macroinvertebrates

% Shade

LWD

Riparian veg. cover 20 x

BFW

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WRSA: Instream biological integrity results

Biological condition

significantly differs among

ecoregions

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WRSA : Stressor prioritization results

Priority stressors and their impact to biological condition

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• Establish quantitative,

baseline conditions

• Assess LHS attainment

• Identify priority stressors

by region

• Inform more intensive,

local monitoring and

management actions

NAMF: Statewide scale example: UT

Monitoring goals & applications:

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Survey design specifics:

1. Probability-based design

2. Stratified by district/ecoregion

• Provide sufficient accuracy and precision at mngt. level

• Goal: 80 sites; 20 per district

UT: How were sites selected?

0.0

200.0

400.0

600.0

2 3 4 5 2 3 4 5 2 3 4 5 2 3 4 5

Green West Canyon Color

Str

eam

km

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UT: What did we measure?

Chemical

Total Nitrogen

Total Phosphorous

Conductivity

pH

Physical

Temperature

Substrate

Pool dimensions/freq.

Bankfull width/depth

Incision depth

Bank angle/stability

Biological

Macroinvertebrates

% Shade

LWD 20 x

BFW

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UT: Priority stressors

Percentage of stream km

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UT: Priority stressors by district

Salinity is a priority stressor in

parts of UT

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UT: Land-uses associated w/ priority stressors

Salinity: 65% of spatial variability explained by % ag,

density of oil & gas wells, % hydrologic alteration

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• Establish quantitative,

baseline conditions

• Monitor LUP effectiveness

• Quantify the response and

recovery of streams to

placer mining

NAMF: FO scale example - EIFO

Monitoring goals and applications:

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EIFO: How were sites selected?

Survey design specifics:

1. Probability-based design

2. Target population

• Wadeable perennial

streams and rivers

3. Stratified by mngt. Unit (x3)

• Provide sufficient

accuracy and precision

at mngt. level

• Goal: 65 sites sampled

between 2014 – 2016

4. Targeted sampling of

reclaimed sites

• N = 15+

Teal: random sample pts

White: mine reclamation pts:

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EIFO: What did we measure?

Land Health

Fundamental Indicator Core

Contingent/

Supplemental

Acidity X

Salinity X

Temperature X

Turbidity X

Pool depth, length and frequency (Thalweg profile) X

Bed particle size distribution X

Bank stability and cover X

Floodplain connectivity X

Large woody debris X

Macroinvertebrate biological integrity X

Ocular est. of riparian vegetative cover and structure X

Canopy cover X

Fish assemblage composition X

Ecosystem

functionSee indicators from other fundamentals

2 NA NA

Water quality

Watershed

function and

instream habitat

quality

Biodiversity /

riparian habitat

quality

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Placer mining = example reclamation effectiveness results

EIFO: Baseline & Placer mining reclamation

Functioning

at Risk

Functioning

Not

Functioning

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Placer mining = significant alterations to water quality,

riparian and instream habitat

EIFO: Baseline & Placer mining reclamation

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NAMF – Lotic projects & collaborations