The following two forms can be copied and filled out, or used as a content guide for writing a narrative monitoring plan. They are intended to address the major decisions faced by rangeland managers as they determine what to monitor; where, when, and how; and who will take responsibility for which tasks. Form 1 focuses on one objective for the rangeland and it would be used as often as needed to address the many objectives in the management plan. Form 2 focuses on an individual study site. It too would be used as many times as needed to address all the study sites and all the short- and/or long-term (implementation and effectiveness) monitoring that will take place at each key area, critical area, photo point or designated monitoring area.

An important first step at a monitoring plot is to characterize the plot location and determine which of the possible ecological sites best represents the plot location among those that can occur in a soil map unit:

Describe the location of the plot.
Describe the topography of the plot.
Describe the landscape unit and position.
Dig a small soil pit and describe it.
Determine soil map unit component and ecological site (Herrick et al. 2005b).

Monitoring Area Plan Form 1

Download the Monitoring Area Plan (Form 1) (fillable PDF)

Monitoring Area Plan Form 2

Download the Monitoring Area Plan (Form 2) (fillable PDF)

Swanson, S., Schultz, B., Novak-Echenique, P., Dyer, K., McCuin, G., Linebaugh, J., Perryman, P., Tueller, P., Jenkins, R., Scherrer, B., Vogel, T., Voth, D., Freese, M., Shane, R., McGowan, K. 2018, Nevada Rangeland Monitoring Handbook (3rd) || Appendix K - Monitoring Plan Forms, Extension | University of Nevada, Reno, SP-18-03

Learn more about the author(s)

Gary McCuin

Barry Perryman

Brad Schultz

Sherman Swanson

Also of Interest:


*A Change in the Ecological Understanding of Rangelands in the Great Basin and Intermountain West and Implications for Management: Revisiting Mack and Thompson (1982)* Perryman, P., Schultz, B., Meiman, P. 2021, Rangeland Ecology & Management Vol 76, Pages 1-11
*Historical Fire and Ventenata dubia Invasion in a Temperate Grassland* Ventenata is an invasive annual grass that has rapidly expanded its range across temperate grassland and shrub-steppe ecosystems in western North America. Luke W. Ridder, JoAnna M.Perrena, Lesley R.Morris, Bryan A.Endress, Robert V.Taylord, Bridgett J.Naylore 2021, Rangeland Ecology & Management, Vol 75, March 2021, Pg. 35-40
*Strategies for Grazing Management* Informational publication on various strategies for grazing management, such as targeted grazing, for fuel management, or with multiple grazing species. Swanson, S., Voth, D. 2019, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, IP-19-02
*Up in smoke: University ecologists help firefighters protect Nevada's lands* Fires unleash devastating losses on Nevada ranches, grazing areas, and habitat. Each leaves Nevada lands more vulnerable to future fires. Knowing how to care for Nevada's land before and after disturbances is key to reducing wildland fire risk and repairing lands post-fire. This ... Andrews, A. 2019, Nevada Today
*Nevada Rangeland Monitoring Handbook (3rd) - Introduction* This report was designed to provide a clear overview of the complex and often confusing world of rangeland monitoring. Included are a suite of short- and long-term monitoring methods. Swanson, S., Schultz, B., Novak-Echenique, P., Dyer, K., McCuin, G., Linebaugh, J., Perryman, P., Tueller, P., Jenkins, R., Scherrer, B., Vogel, T., Voth, D., Freese, M., Shane, R., McGowan, K. 2018, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, SP-18-03

Nevada Rangeland Monitoring Handbook (3rd) || Appendix K - Monitoring Plan Forms

Introduction
A Framework for Monitoring
Tools for Objectives
Resource Objectives
Adaptive Management
Triggers and Indicators
Monitoring Methods - General Considerations
Monitoring Methods - Short-Term or Implementation Monitoring
Monitoring Methods - Long-Term or Effectiveness Monitoring
Detecting Patterns of Vegetation Change Across a Landscape
Supplemental Techniques and Information
Developing a Cooperative Monitoring Plan
Interpretation and Use of Monitoring Data
Appendix A - Cooperative Monitoring
Appendix B - Ecological Sites
Appendix C - Weather Variability
Appendix D - Adaptive Management
Appendix E - Characteristics of Good Objectives
Appendix F - Scales in Monitoring
Appendix G - Remote Sensing to Monitor
Appendix H - Procedures for Selecting Key Areas & Species
Appendix I - Statistical Considerations
Appendix J - Use Mapping, Key Species Method & Proper Use
Appendix K - Monitoring Plan Forms
Appendix L - Glossary, Acronyms & Abbreviations
Appendix M - References

Describe the location of the plot.
Describe the topography of the plot.
Describe the landscape unit and position.
Dig a small soil pit and describe it.
Determine soil map unit component and ecological site (Herrick et al. 2005b).

Monitoring Area Plan Form 1

Download the Monitoring Area Plan (Form 1) (fillable PDF)

Monitoring Area Plan Form 2

Download the Monitoring Area Plan (Form 2) (fillable PDF)

Published by: Swanson, S., Schultz, B., Novak-Echenique, P., Dyer, K., McCuin, G., Linebaugh, J., Perryman, P., Tueller, P., Jenkins, R., Scherrer, B., Vogel, T., Voth, D., Freese, M., Shane, R., McGowan, K., 2018, Nevada Rangeland Monitoring Handbook (3rd) || Appendix K - Monitoring Plan Forms, Extension | University of Nevada, Reno, SP-18-03