The National Resources Inventory (NRI)

1. The National Resources Inventory (NRI) • Is a statistical survey, based on well-established scientific principles • Designed & implemented to assess conditions & trends of soil, water, & related resources on non-Federal rural lands • Conducted for USDA, by NRCS, in cooperation with the Iowa State University Statistical Laboratory

2. The National Resources Inventory (NRI) • Captures data on land cover & use, soils, soil erosion, wetlands, habitat diversity, selected conservation practices, & related resource attributes -- at 800,000 scientifically selected sample sites • Purpose: To provide support for • Agricultural& Environmental Policy Development and Program Implementation

3. National Sample Density

4. Primary Sample Unit (PSU)

5. CONTINUOUS NRI • NRI 5-Year Cycles – 1982,1987, 1992 & 1997 • In 2000 we converted from 5-year inventory to a continuous annual inventory • The continuous annual inventory design: - 73,000 PSUs/year by remote sensing -14,000 PSUs by onsite methods.

8. Grazing Lands • Nonfederal Grazing Lands • 45% of all nonfederal lands (*) • Rangelands • > 40% of all lands in Nation (#) * Excludes Alaska & Federal lands # Includes Alaska & Federal lands

9. National Academy of Sciences ISSUES: • Disagreement over status of rangeland, over analysis and assessment techniques, over extent of problems, etc. • Recommendations to DOI and USDA included implement a coordinated & statistically valid national inventory to periodically evaluate health of Federal and nonfederal rangelands • NRI is statistically valid for nonfederal range but proper data are not being collected

10. Plans • Establishment of Analysis Team – concern re “Continuity and utility of data” (STC) • Make sure we can monitor and look at trends over time • Make sure that we can and do utilize all data • Agency implementation of rangeland field protocols • Many pilot studies; inter-agency development • Federal government – National Cooperative Rangeland Study – DOI, USDA, SRM, others • Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP)

11. NRI Rangeland Assessment - Objectives • In addition to the usual NRI objectives as stated in policy, use of the NRI (rangeland) field protocols will provide data that: • can be used to further range science • provide more knowledge about interactions among environmental, soil, and plant variables, and management practices

12. NRI Rangeland Field Study-2003

13. Scientific Requirements – for NRI Rangeland Data • Continuous NRI • To be conducted on the basis of rigorous, scientifically developed sample survey (e.g., statistical) principles and protocols [Policy] • Features prescribed mixture of data collection types [on-site; PI; satellite] & full QA program • Timely, credible, useful data • Move from qualitative/subjective measures to quantitative/objective [National Academy]

14. Sample Design for Field & Special Resource Studies • Use photo-interpretation sample • First phase in multi-phase design • Use historical information to design sample • Borrow strength from photo-interp data in estimation • Often requires extra stage in sampling • Reduce study costs by selecting geographic clusters • Example: select counties within states first, then PSUs

15. NRI Rangeland Data Collection, NRCS • 2003 Data Collection • Preceded by a number of pilots in association with personnel from BLM/FS/USGS. • Part of 3-year effort • The 2003 data can not be used by themselves to obtain statistical estimates • 2004 and 2005 data collection • On-site data collection • Standard facet of NRI; Monitoring • Continue to work with other agencies and to pursue remote techniques

16. 2003 Sample/Non-Federal • 2003- Pilot Year • 600 Primary sampling units • Across 110 counties in 17 states • 2004 and 2005 • 2400 Primary sampling units/each year • 19 States

17. Rangeland Inventory Oracle Data base (Source for historical data and storage for new submitted data) Front end machines Modem bank or Network access to mobile device • PSU and associated historical to mobile computing device • New data uploaded from mobile computing device • All via modem or network connection

18. Computer-Assisted Survey Information Collection • Hand-held pen-based computer • controlled input formats & navigation • edit checking • communication w/ central server &other peripherals • Central warehouse • sample data base, process metadata • web pages: survey progress, interactive training, data views, instructions

19. CASI- (Computer Assisted Survey Instrument) • Paper worksheet with embedded rules, logic and communication capabilities. • Key to high quality data

20. Equipment/Software • Apple Newton Message Pads • Model 2000/2100 • Modem or Network connection* • CASI (Range02.pkg) • Rockwell PLGR (GPS) • Cables, backpack • Some specialized equipment (cover pole, soil stability test kit, tapes etc.)

21. PSU Data/General • Entry for data collection team members and job titles. • PSU ID information displayed for information.

22. Locating the Point, Land Cover and Transect Ends

23. Plot Layout and Design

24. Landscape and Soils

25. Ecological Site Information

26. Rangeland Health

27. Noxious Weed and Invasive/Alien Plants

28. Disturbance Indicators

29. Conservation Practices (from NRCS technical guide)

30. Conservation Treatment Needs

31. Soil Stability Indictor

32. Rangeland Inventory

33. Line Point Transects for Cover Composition

34. Line intercept Transects for Basal and Canopy Cover

35. Gap Examples Basal gaps Canopy gaps

36. Cover, Density and Height(Cover pole)

37. Cover Pole B Transect line Viewing pole A Y 39.4” offset X

38. Species Composition by Weight (Biomass)

39. Species Composition by Weight (Biomass)

40. Criterion 1-Water Based

41. Criterion 2- (Indicators 11-15)

42. Criterion 2 (Indicators 16-20)

43. Criterion 3