TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2001

Issues: Mancos shale is easily erodible and contains a great deal of natural salts. Recent concerns have surfaced regarding selenium-related impacts from disturbance of the Mancos.

Participants for the field trip will meet for an orientation meeting with BLM Hydrologist Dennis Murphy and Field Trip Facilitator Dave Kauffman.

Discussion Leads: Jim Ferguson (Uncompahgre Field Office Wildlife Biologist), Amanda Clements (UFO Ecologist)

Topics: Landscape health assessment and NCA plan challenges

What We Know: Historic sheep grazing, National Guard maneuvers, and OHV use have resulted in an ecological “blow out” of the site. Nonnative annual invasion has taken over. Landscape Health Assessment shows area to be marginal for restoration. NCA mandate requires enhanced management and restoration.

Science Needs: What are the seral stages in Mancos shale vegetative communities? How do we restore this area given its current condition and low potential for restoration? How do we determine what the area is capable of producing and what management will sustain this level? How do we test for success and monitor results?

Discussion Leads: Jim Ferguson, Amanda Clements

Topics: Threatened and endangered (T&E) site protection, NCA legislation

What We Know: Recent landscape health assessment field work discovered new plant community not on BLM T&E inventories. NCA legislation allows for continued off-road use; however, UFO land use plan amendment incorporates Public Land Health Standards requiring management and uses to be in conformance. Other impacts on kit foxes, prairie dogs, burrowing owls, and others.

Science Needs: How do we protect this community and manage uses to conform with land health standards? What level of use or types of uses are compatible on this site? How do we test for success and monitor results?

Views of Gunnison River

Science Needs: How do we accommodate different visitor uses, such as fishing, hiking, rafting, and kayaking?

Discussion Leads: Jim Ferguson, Amanda Clements

Topics: Pinyon-Juniper invasion/decline of shrub community, Fuels Reduction Program, wildlife habitat concerns

What We Know: Landscape health assessments - shrub vigor, utilization, exotic plant problems, plant and animal distribution. UFO Fire Management Plan - landscape mosaic objectives. Gunnison Sage Grouse Habitat Plans, Bighorn sheep

Science Needs: Remote sensing data/processing for wildlife habitat treatment areas (rollerchop, restoration, burns). Recent National Air Photo Program (NAPP) photographic base. Archival information, GEO referencing of existing photos. Update Landsat vegetation map.

Discussion Leads: Dave Kauffman, Jim Sazama, or Kurt Kubik (UFO Rangeland Management Specialist)

Topic: Grazing management in the NCA

What We Know: Historic and current grazing levels. Visual impacts of trailing and bed ground areas along NCA’s main access roads.

Science Needs: What impacts do trailing and OHV use have on Mancos shale hillsides? How do we restore this area given its current condition and low potential for restoration? How do we manage grazing in the NCA to conform with land health standards and NCA enhanced management objectives? What kind of grazing systems are compatible with treatments that are planned? How do we test for success and monitor results?

Discussion Leads: Jim Ferguson, Paul Vonguerard (USGS Hydrologist), Carl Bauer

Topics: Salinity/selenium issues, rare plant habitat issues, CNHP area

What We Know: Dennis Murphy and Paul Vonguerard studies, CNHP data, increased OHV use and impacts, total maximum daily load (TMDL) for selenium.

Science Needs: Better understanding of the salinity variability on microsites and how to better manage to minimize salinity yields from these sites. Relationship of rare plant occurrences to salinity levels. Better understanding of soil site potential to develop NCA plan management objectives for site protection and travel management.

Discussion Lead: Carl Bauer (UFO Recreation Planner)

Topics: Relationship of Flat Top to NCA (connecting trails, visitor use zone for Benefits-based Survey) and management implications, OHV (impacts, increasing use by locals, vandalism, need for facilities).

What We Know: OHV trail locations, types and amount of use, obvious impacts (erosion, visual scars, vegetation loss). Benefits-based Visitor Survey

Science Needs: Show direct correlation between OHV and resource impacts (salinity and erosion yields, plant and wildlife disturbance, sound and visual impacts) Develop monitoring plans; identify thresholds of use. Trail design and construction to reduce impacts