Inventory workgroup recommendations to expedite the completion of vegetation, soils, and geology inventories: FY2016-FY2020

Martyn, Parker; Studd, Sarah; Tallent, Nita; Eiedel, Jon; Brown, Karl; Heise, Bruce; Kenworthy, Jason; Patterson, Matt; Monahan, Bill; Latham, Penny; Wesser, Sara

The National Park Service Inventory & Monitoring (I&M) Division (IMD) provides guidance, funding, and technical assistance for parks to complete a set of basic natural resource inventories. This report provides recommendations for products and funding commitments to complete vegetation, soils, and geology inventories within the five-year period from FY2016 to FY2020. The report was prepared by the Inventory Workgroup, based on their experience and input gathered through a survey of I&M networks, conversations with Inventory Program staff, and parks. Cost estimates represent best available figures as of the close of FY2015. Overviews of the Vegetation Mapping Inventory (VMI), Soil Resources Inventory (SRI), and Geologic Resources Inventory (GRI) are provided, as are brief descriptions of their status and ongoing challenges. Recommendations for expediting each inventory are provided with specific actions to take for expediting the inventory. These recommendations have been presented to the Inventory & Monitoring Division Leadership Team for their consideration. At the close of FY2015, 197 (72%) of the 275 inventory projects within the VMI were completed, 75 (27%) were in progress or planning stages, and 3 (1%) inventory projects had not been started. Figures for the SRI show that 230 (85%) of the 270 I&M parks had received a soil survey, 16 (6%) were in progress or planning stages, and 24 (9%) inventory projects had not been started. At the end of FY2015 the GRI included 148 (55%) “complete” parks, 121 (45%) “in-progress” parks, and 1 (<0.01%) park “not started.” Brief narratives and recommendations for six themes that are cross-cutting to expediting the inventories are also presented. The themes include (1) inventory program management; (2) completing all in-progress inventories; (3) reducing mapping resolution, area, and creating modified products; (4) expedited inventories in Alaska; (5) the use of standard when expediting inventories; and (6) importance of communication. 1. When qualified lead roles and skilled staff are available to oversee implementation of inventory projects the projects have a higher chance of reaching the completion stage. Recommendation: Evaluate vacant positions related to the VMI, SRI, and GRI to identify programmatic deficits, and rehire/re-staff key position/duties. 2. Inventories currently in progress are considered necessary and it is important to complete all their related products and deliverables. Recommendation: Continue projects that are in progress and scheduled for completion by FY2020. Provide support to projects in need of administrative actions (e.g., establishment of a new interagency agreements, facilitated re-scoping, etc.) and provide additional funding, if needed, to ensure completion by FY2020. 3. All three inventory programs have projects that could benefit from modified or hybrid approaches. Recommendation: Where limited resources, funding, or time will not allow standard inventory approaches to be used, work with the park, network, and/or cooperators to determine less-expensive and faster hybrid methods for producing all or part of an inventory. 4. Many recommendations identified in this report have successfully been applied to Alaska vegetation and soil inventories, and they have helped to expedite inventory completions. Recommendation: Continue on-going support for the Alaska Regional Inventory Program. Use Alaska Inventory staff experience in implementing hybrid approaches for the VMI and SRI, where possible and appropriate. 5. Standards vary across the three inventories, but the use of standards does not. Recommendation: Continue to use established, standard methodologies for remaining inventories, where possible. If methods require adjustment, ensure new standards are established to ensure quality of end products for similar projects (e.g., Standard Tiered Mapping Scales, Similar Report O

Inventory workgroup recommendations to expedite the completion of vegetation, soils, and geology inventories: FY2016-FY2020

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