Range - Uplands function checklist

• Document No.

• Area

• Tenure Holder

• Conducted on

  Date

• Prepared by

• Location
  Address

• Personnel

Site Description

• BEC Zone

  Select AT BGxh1 BGxh2 BGxh3 BGxw1 BGxw2 BWBSdk1 BW

  • AT
  • BGxh1
  • BGxh2
  • BGxh3
  • BGxw1
  • BGxw2
  • BWBSdk1
  • BW

Observations

Hydrologic and soils

• Organic material protects the soil surface from raindrop impact and evaporative effects of the sun and wind.<br>Note: most of the ground surface should be protected by live vegetation (including biological soil crusts) or dead plant material.

  Yes

  No

  Borderline

  N/A

• Water will easily infiltrate the soil surface (absence of physical soil crusting, capping).<br>Note: soil surface conditions should allow for precipitation to penetrate. Soil crusting or capping should not occur. Do not confuse physical crusting with biological soil crusts.

  Yes

  No

  Borderline

  N/A

• Subsurface soil conditions support infiltration (compaction layers are uncommon).<br>Note: check for soil compaction or impermeable layers.

  Yes

  No

  Borderline

  N/A

• Vegetation and plant litter detain overland water flow.<br>Note: no signs of filling. Sediment is trapped.

  Yes

  No

  Borderline

  N/A

Biotic/Vegetation

• The plant community is showing good vigor (including recruitment of decreases).<br>Note: Proper growth form and stature, community structure, and species composition of native decreaser species.

  Yes

  No

  Borderline

  N/A

• The plant community reflects a fully occupied root zone.<br>Note: Dig a soil pit. Roots should penetrate deeply into the soil profile.

  Yes

  No

  Borderline

  N/A

• A diversity of habitat structure for vertebrate and invertebrate life is apparent.<br>Note: If you build it they will come. Consider soil organisms, insects, and vertebrates.

  Yes

  No

  Borderline

  N/A

Erosion/Deposition

• Evidence of rills, gullies, pedestalling, and other excessive soil movement is uncommon. <br>Note: Vegetation should prevent formation of these erosional features. Old rills and gullies should be revegetated.

  Yes

  No

  Borderline

  N/A

Mineral Cycle

• Plant cover and litter create a micro-site environment conducive to biological breakdown.<br>Note: dead plants should decompose rather than oxidize on the stem. In order for this to happen it needs contact with the soil surface. Is dung breaking down rapidly, or does it remain intact for years.

  Yes

  No

  Borderline

  N/A

• Biological soil crusts and nitrogen fixing forbs and shrubs are present as in reference condition.<br>Note: Nitrogen poor grasslands will be yellow-green in colour and dung/urine patches will show up as deep green. Biological soil crusts are essential in the carbon and nitrogen cycles.

  Yes

  No

  Borderline

  N/A

Notes

• Is the desired plant community present (diversity, species, age, structure, form)

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Do seeps and springs support phreatophytic plants?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are there outside factors affecting the dynamics of the system

Choose factors based on who made the changes

• Land uses beyond the control of the holder

  Select Logging/ Silviculture Ingrowth/ Encroachment Fire Wildfire Recreation Other

  • Logging/ Silviculture
  • Ingrowth/ Encroachment
  • Fire
  • Wildfire
  • Recreation
  • Other

• Land uses under the control of the holder

  Select Brushing/ Clearing Dams Draining Fire Grazing Mowing Range Structures Seeding Other

  • Brushing/ Clearing
  • Dams
  • Draining
  • Fire
  • Grazing
  • Mowing
  • Range Structures
  • Seeding
  • Other

• Photo

  Media

• Litter

  Select nil low mod-good excessive

  • nil
  • low
  • mod-good
  • excessive

• Missing species

• Missing layers

• Soil type

• Soil texture

• Salinity

• Notes

Degree Altered by Livestock

• Off

  On

• Use levels

  Select Nil Light Moderate Heavy Extreme

  • Nil
  • Light
  • Moderate
  • Heavy
  • Extreme

• Seral stage

  Select PNC (>= 75%) Late (50-75% similar) Mid (25-50% similar) Early (0-25% similar)

  • PNC (>= 75%)
  • Late (50-75% similar)
  • Mid (25-50% similar)
  • Early (0-25% similar)

• Degree altered

  Select Not Slightly Moderately Substantially Greatly

  • Not
  • Slightly
  • Moderately
  • Substantially
  • Greatly

• Missing species

• Indicator species

• Grass/ Forbs

If switch is on

• Grass/ Forb Species

• Percent cover

• Grazed Height (cm)

• Ungrazed Height (cm)

• Leaf stage