Rangeland Ecology & Management

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Teaching and Use of Riparian Proper Functioning Condition Assessment in Nevada
Author
Robert Gibson
Sherman Swanson
Publication Year
2013
Body

Proper Functioning Condition (PFC) was developed in the early 1990's as a tool for rapid assessment of the condition, trend, and needs of riparian systems (Prichard et al. 1998). In Nevada, PFC has been taught for 15 years by the Nevada Creeks and Communities Team (Nevada Team) and is in widespread use by various land management agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the USDA Forest Service (USFS). A survey of Nevada Team classes' participants, field users, and land managers investigated the effectiveness of the teaching of PFC, its utility in the field, and its current use in management. The content and presentation of PFC classes were rated highly, as was PFC's utility and importance to management. In all sections, questions regarding the basic concepts of performing riparian assessment scored higher than those involving the finer points of addressing riparian needs and building cooperative, adaptive management. However, an examination of documents prepared by the Elko District BLM indicates that this office has incorporated many of these ideas in their management practices. The Nevada Team may wish to make minor adjustments to their curriculum or presentation at PFC classes to build greater understanding and use of the insights available from the PFC assessment process. In concert with such changes, the Nevada Team should continue to seek avenues outside of the PFC classes to teach effective management through cooperative and adaptive strategies.

Language
eng
Additional Information
Robert Gibson, Sherman Swanson --- University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV, USA