Download EE Soils Assessment Ofiice component

Soil Effectiveness
Evaluations
Procedure
Fred Berekoff, RPF
Stewardship Forester
Stephane Dube, M.Sc. RPF
Forest Soil Specialist
PGFD Pilot Project
Introduction
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The purpose of this report is to
provide detailed instruction for the
Office component of the FRPA
Soil Conservation Effectiveness
evaluation (EE) Pilot Data Forms
an Procedure by Curran et al.
(2004)
My name is Fred Berekoff. I am a
Stewardship Forester with the
PGFD. Together with Stephane
Dube, Forest Soil Specialist from
NIFR, we have furthered the Soils
EE procedures to make better use
of higher resolution images during
the office assessment
Topics of Discussion
This report covers :

types of files (e.g., tiff, ecw, and jpeg format)
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Use of high quality aerial photographs for overview of site
conditions including identification of features of interest,
area and distance estimates, and planning of walkthru and
survey transects
 the following features are being evaluated during the
photo review of (1) Off site impacts, (2) Permanent
Access Structures (PAS) and rehabilitation, (3) on
block effects from harvesting (potential landslides,
drainage diversion and soil erosion), (4) Estimating
NAR affected by disturbance to natural drainage
patterns, (5) Soil Disturbance, (dispersed, inordinate
and roadside), and (6) green tree retention
Types of files
There are basically three types of files:

Tiff files which are images of the highest
resolution, I.e., the most compressed. The
problem with Tiffs, is the large size makes them
difficult to run on most software.
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ECW files-a compressed Tiff file, approximately
1/3 the size of a Tiff. Much easier for most
software to run but some info maybe lost with the
extra compression
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JPEG-Lowest compression, easiest to run on
most desktopsoftware.
We use ECW mosaics (see next slide) because...
ECW Mosaic
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A mosaic of compressed
photos is put together
eliminating any distortion.
.Ers files contain UTM grid
coordinate to georeference
features within a block. It
allows us to use the imagery.
(We do not open .ers files.)
You will need a computer with
at least 1000 mg. of RAM,
and the program ER viewer
Cut
block
Offsite Impact of
Logging
Using ER viewer, click on the “zoom box tool”,
and scroll your way around the area
adjacent to the cutblock. Look for any offsite
impacts such as, as soil erosion, mass
wasting, landslides, trespass or any other
non-compliance. Use the same tool to study
on block for PAS, soil disturbance,
landslides, soil erosion, and drainage
alterations. Each on-block item will be
discussed in detail in this report.
Permanent Access
Structures
Use the zoom box tool to zoom in on a
landing. Then use “measure tool” to obtain
perpendicular dimensions of landing.
Determine area of each landing, numbering
as you go.
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Do the same for roads, bladed trails, gravel
pits, and skid trails. Name or number each
section as you add. Make entries in Table 1
of 2004 Soils EE Pilot data.
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Repeat Step one for rehabilitated areas on
Access.
Ancillary questions should be answered in the
field.
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On block areas
affected/potentially affect by
landslides, drainage diversions
or significant erosion from
roads, landings, or trails
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Delineate and measure on block areas in new
failures, outside roads, landings or trails. Same
methodology as for PAS.
Delineate areas that could be affected by PAS
construction practices or roadcuts to potentially
unstable terrain. (eg. Roadcuts through finetextured soils on slide slopes)
Delineate and measure areas impacted by water
diversion (e.g. plugged streams and culverts)
Delineate and measure eroded areas or those at
significant risk of erosion.
Potential
ponding
Soil Disturbance: Dispersed,
inordinate, and roadside
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From Site Plan Soil Assessment enter hazard
ratings for compaction, forest floor
displacement, erosion, and mass wasting
Assess and delineate areas of potential
inordinate disturbance (IO). Establish
transects as shown. An area of IO requires a
minimum of 50 points
For dispersed disturbance do a combination
of Walkthru and transects. (See next slide).
Minimum of 100 points required for transects
for dispersed disturbance.
Dispersed Disturbance
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Walkthru
Transect
Roadside disturbance
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Assess and delineate
potential roadside
disturbance. Pick a big
enough area for 50
plots. Prepare a
transect plan.
Do a roadside transect
for each Standard Unit