National Resources Inventory Rangeland Field Study

The National Resources Inventory (NRI) Rangeland Field Study is a vital component of the continuous inventory process. Since 2003, rangeland data are being collected onsite in 20 states, including California, using rangeland protocols established and researched by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the USDA Agricultural Research Service, and the United States Department of the Interior (USDI) Bureau of Land Management.

The NRI Rangeland Field Study utilizes the NRI statistical framework. Rangeland management specialists collect onsite data for a sample point at the same location where NRI data were previously collected using photo interpretation of high quality photography. The important concept of obtaining rangeland field measurements from the exact same locations over time strengthens the NRI database and supports the continuous inventory process.

NRI rangeland field study is conducted cooperatively with the Iowa State University Center for Survey Statistics and Methodology (CSSM).

Types of data collected on each rangeland point in the study include:

• Land cover and land use
• Landscape and soils
• Ecological site information
• Rangeland health
• Invasive/noxious plant presence
• Disturbance indicators
• Conservation practices and resource concerns
• Plant composition and patterns
• Plant production, cover, density, and height

Collected data will be used to address grazing lands programmatic issues having to do with water quality and carbon sequestration. Rangeland field data will be used to evaluate trends in natural resources over time.

Background—The NRI field study program

NRI plays a key role in development of conservation policy and programs for the Nation. It serves to educate the public regarding natural resource issues and provides a comprehensive, nationally consistent source of data for researchers in many fields. Informed and valid decisions are best made when based upon scientifically derived data. NRI has been developed to supply this type of information. The NRI database is powerful, credible, and scientifically designed.

The rangeland field study is designed to:

• Fulfill legislative mandates
• Conduct all phases of NRI in accordance with scientifically developed statistical principles, procedures, and practices
• Obtain scientifically credible, timely and relevant information about the Nation’s natural resources and environmental conditions at national, regional, and sub-regional levels
• Collect and develop science-based, continuous natural resource information in support of NRCS strategic planning and accountability
• Provide information to evaluate the effectiveness of conservation programs
• Support development of agri-environmental policy and programs at national, regional, and local levels
• Provide information to the public on status, condition, and trends of the Nation’s soil, water, and related resources
• Provide the scientific community with natural resource information to facilitate the development of models, analysis tools, and reports

The NRI program serves as the Federal Government’s principle source of information on natural resources in the United States. The NRI provides a nationally consistent database that allows for resources assessment. Analyses of the NRI database are useful for public policy considerations because the database

• has a high degree of reliability,
• looks at the natural resources over a period of time,
• and permits analyses at National, regional, and local levels.

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