Revised_SOW_Range_Inventory.pdf

Project Proposal

Chinle Agency

FY-2024

Land Management District 4 Unit 4 and 5

Range Inventory

Branch of Natural Resources Chinle Agency

P.O. Box 7H Chinle Arizona

January 4, 2024

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This proposal addresses the need to provide a current range data for Black Mesa and Blue Gap communities in Grazing District 4 of Central Navajo Agency (CNA) by conducting range inventories. The Chinle Agency – Branch of Natural Resources (CNA-BNR) has prioritized the need to determine baseline information on vegetation production and range condition for their administrative management district 4 units 4 and 5. The project area will consist of 114,237 acres, in addition there are two (2) Range Management Unit (RMU) evaluated separately, totaling 11,747 acres. The range inventory will provide up-to-date range data, adjusted stocking rates needed to reduce potential overgrazing, monitor rangeland health, and help to make better informed land management decisions. Rangeland inventories also help managers comply with the American Indian Agriculture Resource Management Act (AIARMA) as amended.

Chinle Agency consists of approximately 1.4 million acres of Navajo Nation trust lands, it is estimated at least 114,237 acres in District 4 to be analyzed. Range inventories were conducted in these units 2014, no current production and range condition analysis were done. The initial soil and range inventories were done to support the U.S. Soil Conservation Service’s creation of land management districts and to establish carrying capacities and stocking rates for these districts. The conservation and maintenance of a sustained yield of rangeland resources is a basic trust responsibility of the United States. Most of the rangeland is used for grazing livestock, but there has been an increase of residential settlements, which has further reduced the rangeland available for livestock grazing.

The plan is to conduct a range inventory (forage production) to compare annual biomass production of current species compositions by assigning forage values of good, fair or poor. For stocking rates, only good-plus fair averages will be used. With known rating establish by Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and Bureau of Indian Land Classification Section (2001). If poor forage were included, stocking rates could be estimated too high because inedible species would contribute to available forage. We will assign values to plants using various sources and personal knowledge. The stocking rate will be determined from the annual biomass production for each analysis unit (e.g., district, soil map unit, RMU, ecological site description). Many times, especially during drought, permit holders need to quickly determine if there is sufficient forage to carry their animals for an extended period. A balance between carrying capacity and available forage is essential in maintaining future ecosystem function. To achieve this balance the Bureau and Navajo Nation need information on current forage production, rangeland health, condition, and trend. The primary objectives of the range inventory are:

• To document changes in vegetation over time and use the information in evaluating management practices and the natural process occurring in Black Mesa and Blue Gap communities within District 4.

• Estimate total biomass or forage production to determine carrying capacity on Tribal Trust Lands for Land Management District 4.

• To adhere management objectives identified in the American Indian Agriculture Resource Management Act, Title I – Rangeland and Farmland Enhancement. (AIRMA Act).

• To support the ongoing effort by Natural Resource Conservation Service’s in their updates of ecological site descriptions.

A map of District 4 showing stablished range units 4 and 5, and two (2) range management units (RMU), is attached. Also attached is the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance summary for this range inventory.

The range of inventory funding for this proposal extends one year from the date of the notice to proceed. The Contractor will conduct a vegetation survey in Black Mesa and Blue Gap communities. The vegetation survey encompasses 114,237 acres. The cost is estimated, or the amount of funds required to conduct a vegetation survey is $________. At the conclusion of the funding period, a final accomplishment report will be provided to the approving officials. The accomplishment report will document the funding received (initial and supplemental funding) and complete the report on this vegetation survey for district 4.

Statement of Need

The current carrying capacities and stocking rates were initially established in early 1940’s, when livestock grazing permits were issued to individuals who had livestock within the boundary of the Navajo Reservation. Livestock grazing has occurred year-round in Grazing Districts 4 for the past 70 years with the stocking rate remaining the same. The current stocking rate could be higher than the land carrying capacity and could cause the range conditions to decline. The range inventory data will assist Chinle Agency in establishing new carrying capacities based on the current range data gathered through the range inventory. The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Natural Resource Conservation Services (NRCS) have joined forces to bring about better use and management of the rangeland resources on the Navajo Nation. While the Bureau of Indian Affairs has initiated range inventory surveys to determine the current conditions of the rangelands, information collected in these surveys will be used to devise soil/water conservation and range management program.

Project Area Description

In the 1930’s, land management (grazing) districts were established by the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) and adopted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs to manage rangeland resources (soil, water, and plants). The reservation was stocked far beyond the grazing capacity of the ranges, and this excessive stocking combined poor range management and periodic drought, beating down the native plants. Later, these land management districts were further subdivided into units. The Navajo Indian Reservation was divided into five agencies, and each agency was subdivided into land management districts. Chinle Agency has three (3) management districts (4, 10 and 11). Individual Navajos were then issued livestock grazing permits assigned to specific grazing districts and range units. The project area, Black Mesa and Blue Gap consists of 114,237 acres, (RMU) consist of 11,747 acres and will be evaluated separately. The land status is primarily Tribal Trust, and these lands are targeted for range inventory for FY 2024.

Methodology

Chinle Agency (CNA) plans to have a qualified or competent contractor that specializes in a range of inventory to perform the tasks. The sampling type procedure selected for this project is Double Sampling Method paired with collecting biomass data. The double sampling method is specifically designed to determine the amount of the current year above ground vegetation production and species compositions (by weight) and providing a measure of the relative contribution of different species to the total biomass. The method will need to be modified to include measurement of canopy cover and total biomass for shrubs. Data is needed for these plant communities in Chinle Agency to evaluate livestock grazing management practices. The Natural Resource Conservation Service Soil and Range Survey maps will be used in locating representative points. A statistical analysis will be made to demonstrate how accurate and precise biomass data are. This vegetative methodology will be able to provide Chinle Agency and Navajo Nation with current information on carrying capacity, rangeland health, and trend and condition of the trust resources in Grazing District 4.

Organization Information

The Bureau of Indian Affairs, Branch of Natural Resources will provide the contractor a soil/ecological site map showing the location of 228 sample locations. The information will include the latitude/longitude and/or UTM coordinates for each sample location. A competent Rangeland Management Specialist and trained Contract Officer Technician Representative (COTR) will monitor the contractor during the sampling activities.

Narrative Budget

The cost estimate for the range inventory is $ and is based on the following tasks:

1. Use 2005 satellite imagery and soil survey information to determine grazeable acres per ecological site and compartments; map and locate representative acres in each range site.

2. Develop a representative photographic reference of known forage quantities for the various ecological sites; at each transect measure vegetation for frequency, cover, total annual forage production, density, document rangeland health, and GPS sample location.

3. Conduct data reduction, data interpretation, and provide final report. The report should include discussions on the results of data reduction, data interpretation, compare present data with data collected from transects and make conclusions in regard to trend as well as potential, the precipitation events, with correlated growing season and precipitation events, and a statistical analysis of data collected.

Cost Estimate: The cost estimate is based on historic cost.

(500 acres per transect) (Dist. 4) = 114,237 ac. divided by 500 ac. = (228) transects

(500 acres at 228 transect x $ = $ )