DEVELOPMENT OF STATUS AND TREND INDICATORS FOR
STREAM CONDITION AND OTHER RESOURCES
Tahoe Basin Research supported by
Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act Round 11 Funding
Prepared by
Andrew Stubblefield, Ph.D
Humboldt State University
Allison O’Dowd, Ph.D
Humboldt State University
Chad Praul, P.E.
Environmental Incentives, LLC
October 27, 2010
DEVELOPMENT OF STATUS AND TREND INDICATORS
I.
TITLE PAGE
TITLE
Development of status and trend indicators for stream condition and other resources
SUBTHEME THIS PROPOSAL 4b: Identifying environmental indicators and developing approaches for monitoring
IS RESPONDING TO
and evaluation
Andrew Stubblefield, Ph.D
Department of Forestry and Wildland Resources
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Humboldt State University
AND RECEIVING
One Harpst St., Arcata, CA 95521
INSTITUTION
Phone: 707 826 9224 Fax: 707 826 5634
Email: aps14@humboldt.edu
CO-PRINCIPAL
INVESTIGATOR
Alison O’Dowd, Ph.D
Department of Environmental Science and Management
Humboldt State University
One Harpst St., Arcata CA 95521
Phone: (707) 826-3438
Email: ap73@humboldt.edu
CO-PRINCIPAL
INVESTIGATOR
Chad Praul, P.E.
Environmental Incentives, LLC
3351 Lake Tahoe Blvd, Ste 2, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
Phone: (530) 541-2980
Email: cpraul@enviroincentives.com
Shane Romsos
Tahoe Regional Planning Agency
AGENCY COLLABORATOR PO Box 5310, Stateline, NV 89449
Phone: (775) 589-5201
Email: sromsos@trpa.org
Jason Kuchnicki & Karen Vargas
Nevada Division of Environmental Protection
AGENCY COLLABORATOR 901 S. Stewart St., Ste 4001, Carson City, NV 89701
Phone: (775) 687-9450 Fax: (775) 687-5856
Email: jkuchnic@ndep.nv.gov or kvargas@ndep.nv.gov
Dr. Juan Carlos Morales
Director, HSU Sponsored Programs Foundation
GRANTS CONTACT PERSON 1 Harpst St., Arcata CA, 95521
(707) 826-4189
jcm215@humboldt.edu
FUNDING REQUESTED
$111,789
TOTAL COST SHARE (VALUE
OF FINANCIAL & IN-KIND
CONTRIBUTIONS)
$29,287 (26%)
DEVELOPMENT OF STATUS AND TREND INDICATORS
HSU INDICATOR D EVELOPMENT & SYNTHESIS PROPOSAL
PAGE 1
II. PROPOSAL NARRATIVE
A. PROJECT ABSTRACT
Specific indicators have been identified that provide information to managers, policy-makers and the
public regarding the status and trends of the Air, Land, People and Water of the Lake Tahoe Basin. In the
recent Environmental Improvement Program (EIP) update document, key goals for 2008-2018 included
refining and implementing monitoring and evaluation programs to assess the status of environmental
conditions and determine the effectiveness of EIP restoration projects. Other key goals included
improving data and information management to utilize web-based systems; develop and adopt standard
operating procedures for seamless data analysis and public reporting. This research will support these
key EIP goals by collecting, synthesizing and cataloguing existing data sets in order to further develop
and report status and trend indicators. Development of benthic macro-invertebrate indicators of stream
ecosystem health will be a major focus of this project. Methods used will include Multi-Metric Indices of
Biologic Integrity and the River Invertebrate Prediction and Classification System (RIVPACS). Results
will include an improved and more sensitive index that is able to discriminate levels of aquatic
disturbance thus providing an indicator of condition status and trends and effectiveness of restoration
projects. Other elements of the research will include assembling and summarizing data sets related to:
human health - drinking water quality; upland and aquatic special status species; environmental air
quality – atmospheric deposition, and Lake Tahoe’s chemical and biological parameters.
B. JUSTIFICATION STATEMENT
In the recent Environmental Improvement Program update document, key goals for 2008-2018 included
refining and implementing monitoring and evaluation programs to assess the status of environmental
conditions and determine the effectiveness of EIP restoration projects (TRPA 2010). Other key goals
included improving data and information management to utilize web-based systems; develop and adopt
standard operating procedures for seamless data analysis and public reporting. This research will
support these key EIP goals by collecting, synthesizing and cataloguing existing data sets in order to
further develop and report status and trend indicators.
Specifically, this proposal addresses much of the content of Subtheme 4b: Identifying environmental
indicators and development of approaches for monitoring and evaluation. When completed, the
proposed research will enhance the capacity of the Lake Tahoe Monitoring & Evaluation Program (M&E
Program) to report useable information in many new reporting categories. Work accomplished through
this proposal will:

Synthesize existing data to derive credible reports of resource conditions and trends in Tahoe
Basin streams and comment on the viability of current analysis methods

To the maximum extent possible, extract valuable knowledge from existing data sets, summarize
them in the M&E Program’s reporting format and make quality assured data available for further
analysis by all researchers
C. BACKGROUND & PROBLEM STATEMENT
Background
The revised Lake Tahoe Restoration Act (LTRA) that is currently under consideration in US Congress
requires the implementation of a cohesive restoration program assessment for the Environmental
Improvement Program that reports program outputs as well as outcomes.
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HSU INDICATOR D EVELOPMENT & SYNTHESIS PROPOSAL
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Outputs of the EIP have been selected and are currently being defined through development of specific
EIP Performance Measures. Further, outcomes of the EIP are aligned with TRPA’s Threshold Indicators
and the Desired Conditions defined by the US Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit’s
(LTBMU) Forest Plan.
These numeric EIP outputs and outcomes can form the foundation for a realistic reporting strategy of the
EIP’s overall effectiveness. These numeric measures can be woven into a meaningful storyline through
one of several diagrammatic approaches (e.g. conceptual models, results chains or logic models) and
narrative. However, at this time only a basic “crosswalk” table (Figure 1a & 1b) exists to relate outputs
and outcomes to each other.
M&E Program
The M&E Program also has a well-defined and operational adaptive management system for planning,
measuring, analyzing and reporting outcomes of the EIP. Developed with funding from previous
SNPLMA rounds and input from agencies with direct mandates for status and trend reporting, the M&E
Program’s management system includes explicit processes that guide continual improvement and
approaches for incorporating new findings into decision-making as documented in the M&E Program
Manual (TRPA 2009a). As part of the M&E Program Manual, a template was created to summarize status
and trend indicator data (TRPA 2009b). The template is designed to communicate technical information
to a broad audience including policy makers and the public.
Problem Statement
Status and trend information for most resource areas in the Tahoe Basin is undervalued and, as a result,
underfunded. Moreover, there has been critique of the methods used to report TRPA Threshold
Indicators. Lacking this credible scientific information, there is reduced confidence in the EIP’s ability to
report a measurable effect on the resources it is designed to restore/enhance or even evaluate its overall
program effectiveness.
These problems are a result of the lack of investment in the development of indicators and metrics for
monitoring and assessing ambient conditions and the outcomes of the EIP. Where monitoring data has
been collected, some do not produce acceptable certainty or were designed for other types of monitoring.
Further, many datasets exist that have yet to be analyzed and reported to key audiences outside of the
technical realm. Examples of such datasets include stream bioassessment and special status species
information collected with previous SNPLMA support. The research in this proposal is primarily focused
on leveraging existing data to effectively and defensibly report ambient conditions and provide a solid
foundation of data for reporting EIP effects.
D. RESEARCH GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Goal #1: Develop indicators of stream condition: the Lake Tahoe Multi-Metric Index of Biological Integrity
for benthic macroinvertebrates
An important aspect of Lake Tahoe ecosystem health is stream condition. The TRPA has recently initiated
the use of benthic macroinvertebrate surveys and measurements of physical and chemical parameters to
characterize stream condition throughout the Tahoe Basin, with 48 sites being measured per year. Stream
biological communities make an excellent indicator of aquatic health because they integrate the different
impacts of human activities through time and are of direct interest to the public as a measure of
environmental condition (Karr 2006). Variations in benthic macroinvertebrate community composition
and abundance can be directly linked to measures of riparian disturbance and habitat condition, point
source inputs and changes in water chemistry.
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The power of this approach is that indices may be developed that give an indication of the degree of
disturbance or impairment of a site as compared to the conditions that would be expected to prevail in
the absence of human disturbance. This information can then be used to assess the status of aquatic
resources across large areas, detect trends emerging from land use changes or climate change, and
answer targeted questions related to specific development projects or restoration efforts. The indices are
developed by careful characterization of biological assemblages in undisturbed reference sites. The ratio
of observed species at a site to expected species for the reference site, then gives an indication of
disturbance (O/E ratio).
Multimetric indices (MMIs) are additional tools that can be used for regional assessment of stream
quality (Barbour et al 1995). Pilot studies indicate that the MMIs developed for larger regions (northern
California MMI) are not sufficiently precise for the Tahoe Basin, given its overall excellent condition
compared to other areas. Fore (2007) has established a Multimetric Index of Biological Integrity for
benthic macroinvertebrates (B-MMI) for the Tahoe basin. The MMI applies scoring rules to the number of
stonefly taxa, caddisfly taxa, long-lived taxa, intolerant taxa, clinger taxa, and the reverse of non-insect
taxa, to generate unit less scores that are summed to create the B-MMI. Similarly Herbst and Silldorf
developed recommendations for which metric is most appropriate for use as indicators of stream
condition on the east side of the Sierra Nevada (Herbst and Silldorf 2006). A need exists to improve the
MMI for the Tahoe basin by identifying which metrics are most appropriate given the work of Fore,
Herbst and Silldorf, and the 2009 and 2010 TRPA benthic datasets.
It is important to note that indices can be biased by physical gradients in the study area and reference
sites that are selected a priori. For example, in the Tahoe Basin correlations between index values and
elevation have been observed, independent of human impacts. Lower elevation streams tend to be lower
gradient, resulting in smaller substrates and reduced oxygenation that are less conducive to benthic
macroinvertebrate abundance. One solution is to develop a predictive index with the ability to
incorporate environmental attributes into probabilistic predictions of species abundance. Statistical
modeling approaches such as the River Invertebrate Prediction and Classification System (RIVPACS)
(Clarke et al. 2003) use discriminant analyses to separate reference sites into groupings based on physical
variables such as elevation, slope, channel width and depth, channel substrate, discharge and alkalinity.
The variables cannot be ones that would be expected to change with human disturbance. Probabilities can
then be generated for a site of the likelihood of different species presence given the stream assignment
generated from physical measurements of the site. Observed taxa can then be compared against taxa
expected at a site in the absence of human disturbance. The last step is to develop an ecological status
class for the results of the indices (i.e., bad, poor, moderate, good, high).
The goals of this work are to provide synthesis and analysis of this dataset, identify which metrics are
most appropriate for inclusion into the Tahoe Basin B-MMI, apply the RIVPACS approach to reporting
stream condition, and suggest improvements to the TRPA stream sampling plan.
Objectives
A. Report on condition of Tahoe stream ecosystems – The research team will use the 2009 and 2010
TRPA stream condition dataset, to summarize the status and trends of stream reaches throughout the
Tahoe Basin.
B. Refine Tahoe B-MMI – The team will conduct an analysis to determine which metrics are most
powerful for use in the Tahoe Basin Multi-Metric Indices for Benthic Macroinvertebrates.
C. Apply RIVPACS – The RIVPACS statistical modeling approach will be used to develop stream
condition indicators.
DEVELOPMENT OF STATUS AND TREND INDICATORS
HSU INDICATOR D EVELOPMENT & SYNTHESIS PROPOSAL
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D. Technical evaluation – the team will provide evaluation of the data management, evaluation and
reporting protocols of the TRPA stream condition monitoring program.
Hypotheses
A. Streams in the Lake Tahoe Basin exhibit physical, chemical and biological reference conditions
expected in an ultra-oligotrophic system.
B. The Tahoe Basin MMI and RIVPACS analysis can be used to distinguish watersheds providing the
best and worst biological, chemical or riparian condition, and characterize the percentage of stream
miles in the basin in desired conditions or degraded conditions as described by Tahoe Basin planning
documents.
C. Comparison of metrics suggested by Fore (2007), Herbst (2006) and those generated by analysis of the
2009, 2010 TRPA datasets will result in a more precise and sensitive Tahoe Basin MMI.
Goal #2: Assemble and summarize existing status & trend data
The research necessary to achieve this goal will result in development of sections of the Status and Trends
Summary (TRPA 2009b) report for the M&E Program’s Reporting Categories with substantially complete
existing data. This research will also provide a set of well-defined research needs that can be used by
future researchers to reporting of status and trend information.
Achievement of this goal will address the aspects of the problem statement relating to lagging
development of the outcome measures of the EIP. Achievement of this goal will also provide a new level
of clarity for managers to understand the realities of producing scientifically defensible reports of
environmental and socioeconomic conditions of the Tahoe Basin.
Objectives
A. Document status and trend datasets – A variety of status and trend data exists but has not yet been
analyzed for reporting through the M&E Program. The research team will compile and characterize
the data sets that are relevant so that they can be used to report ambient conditions and also be used
by future researchers for additional analyses. Known datasets are available in the following reporting
categories
a.
Human Health - drinking water quality datasets
b. Upland Species and Communities – special status species (e.g. Strix occidentalis)
c.
Aquatic Species and Communities – special status species (e.g. Draba asterophora Payson var.
asterophora)
d. Environmental Air Quality – atmospheric deposition
e.
Lake Tahoe – chemical and biological parameters (non-Secchi depth or primary productivity)
B. Summarize ambient conditions and trends – Summarize relevant, existing data to produce complete
sections of a Status and Trends Summary targeted to a broad audience.
C. Engage M&E Working Group – Leverage an existing group of well-informed managers to provide
early input on the research plan, suggest sources of existing data and review draft products.
Hypotheses
A. There are 10 or more datasets among agencies and researchers that are not being used to report status
and trend information and could be used for this purpose.
B. The research team will be able to leverage datasets documented during this project to produce Status
& Trend Summary information for 4 M&E Program Reporting Categories.
DEVELOPMENT OF STATUS AND TREND INDICATORS
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E. APPROACH, METHODOLOGY AND LOCATION OF RESEARCH
Goal #1: Develop indicators of stream condition: the Lake Tahoe Multi-Metric Index of Biological
Integrity for Benthic Invertebrates
Approach
Stream condition data has been collected and recorded by TRPA staff according to Surface Water
Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP) protocols developed to assure consistency in water quality data
collected within California. Analysis and synthesis of the data and development of statistical tools
(RIVPACS) will be done by the principal investigators in consultation with the M&E Working Group
(MEWG) and agency collaborators.
Tasks & Methods
TASK 1.1: DEVELOP BENTHIC - INDEX OF BIOLOGICAL INTEGRITY
Analyze TRPA benthic macroinvertebrate datasets and existing multi-metric indices to
develop/refine indicators of stream condition that may be used to assess status and track trends.

Determine most effective metrics for Multi-Metric Index of Biological Integrity

Apply River Invertebrate Prediction and Classification System (RIVPACS)

Assess status and trends of Lake Tahoe stream condition based on physical and chemical
information present in TRPA and NDEP database

Evaluate data management, evaluation and reporting protocols of the TRPA stream
condition monitoring program; evaluate stream biologic integrity conceptual model
TASK 1.2: SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNICAL RATIONALE FOR THRESHOLD INDICATOR UPDATE
Combine results from the stream assessment portion of this scope with draft products from
previous efforts including Pathway Technical Working Group information to provide a technical
rationale for making an adjustment to the TRPA Threshold reporting approach for stream
environment zone conditions in the Tahoe Basin.
TASK 1.3: PRESENTATION OF FINDINGS
Results will be distilled into several formats to improve sharing and accessibility of information.
A summary of status and trends will be developed in M&E Program template. Opportunities for
agency and technical review of work products will be provided and incorporated into final
versions of a research report for stream conditions. Present results at a Tahoe Basin forum and
publish findings in peer-reviewed outlets.
Goal #2: Assemble and summarize existing status and trend data
Approach
This research will use standard approaches to gather available information, develop elemental research
products, synthesize them into a draft deliverable and review with management stakeholders. Existing
datasets will be discovered through journal database searches for published information and through
interviews with researchers who have conducted relevant research. Interim existing datasets results will
be summarized in tabular format for reference by the MEWG and future researchers. As research
continues, datasets that are judged to be of sufficient quality will be analyzed to produce summary status
and trend information according to the template for this type of M&E Program document as defined in
the M&E Program Manual (TRPA 2009a). As full draft products are produced, they will be presented to
the MEWG for review and comment.
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Tasks & Methods
TASK 2.1: RESEARCH, COLLECT AND ARCHIVE EXISTING DATASETS
Review literature and interview a list of institutions/individuals that are likely to have existing
status and trend, baseline conditions or “natural resource inventory” data. Collect data in
available formats and store appropriately for analysis by the research team and future
investigators. Consider the implications of public vs. private posting based on the quality
assurance level of the data. Document existing data using a tabular format and review with the
MEWG.
TASK 2.2: PRODUCE COMPLETE SECTIONS OF A STATUS AND TREND SUMMARY REPORT
The Status & Trend Summary (S&T Summary) provides a brief overview of the ambient
conditions of a broad range of resources in the Tahoe Basin, ranging from scenic conditions to
recreation to Lake Tahoe clarity. For each designated resource in the Basin, The S&T Summary
includes an icon that communicates status, trend and certainty for the resource described. Each
section also contains a trend chart, monitoring maps and basic findings regarding the conditions
of the resource (Figure 2).

Prioritize indicators for summary based on executive input on reporting categories and
level of effort to produce useable section of the summary

Clearly document data gaps or policy issues that prohibit full completion when necessary

Review sections with MEWG and incorporate comments
TASK 2.3: ENGAGE M&E WORKING GROUP
The M&E Working Group (MEWG) is an existing body that is well-formed and meets regularly.
MEWG members are ideally suited to know who has been funded to perform status and trend
data collection and who may have underutilized data. This research effort will leverage the
consistency and familiarity of MEWG members, assuring an efficient and effective use of
resources. The MEWG will be engaged to suggest sources of existing data, recommend content
for key products and review draft products.
Team Organization
Humboldt State University (HSU) (Receiving Institution, organization of Principal Investigators) will
conduct the technical analysis, bioassessment reporting, and develop conceptual model/monitoring plan
recommendations. As receiving institution, HSU will also conduct project management duties.
Environmental Incentives, LLC (EI) (organization of Co-Principal Investigator) will assemble existing
data sources and lead the development of summary reporting, management integration. EI will also
provide document development, and will leverage its local presence and Tahoe Basin context to facilitate
the project with key stakeholders at crucial milestones.
F. RELATIONSHIP OF THE RESEARCH TO PREVIOUS & CURRENT RELEVANT RESEARCH,
MONITORING, AND/OR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT EFFORTS
This research defines incremental development and advancement of the existing M&E Program. The
M&E Program is a partnership of agencies responsible for reporting the status and trend of ambient
conditions. The partnership is lead by the TRPA and LTBMU, but includes executive representation from
Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board, Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, Nevada
Division of State Lands, and the California Tahoe Conservancy. SNPLMA support has been used in
development of a management system for the M&E Program through the Adaptive Management
Framework (AMF) series of projects. The products of the AMF research include the M&E Program
Manual which will guide development of many of the deliverables of this research.
DEVELOPMENT OF STATUS AND TREND INDICATORS
HSU INDICATOR D EVELOPMENT & SYNTHESIS PROPOSAL
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SNPLMA research funds have also supported a multitude of land management and research
organizations to collect datasets which were analyzed for other needs. Many of these data sets will be
leveraged as the central focus of Goal #1 of this project. For example data for Tahoe Draba (Draba
asterophora Payson var. asterophora) and Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis) will be summarized. Other datasets
will not be analyzed because they are subjects of focused analysis: for example LiDAR post-processing is
a subtheme in this RFP.
Other datasets may be targeted towards other types of monitoring (e.g. effectiveness monitoring of water
quality best management practices, etc.) and will be documented as such but not developed in this
research.
G. STRATEGY FOR ENGAGING WITH MANAGERS
The M&E Working Group (MEWG) is a well-established and long standing working group of agency
representatives. The project team will leverage the familiarity and context of this group to facilitate
informed and timely review. Researchers will engage this group three times at key points throughout the
project to 1) understand project objectives and provide input on agency needs, 2) discuss interim results
and 3) review draft products.
Final products of this research will be specifically targeted toward management audiences and the
interested public. The research team will also submit two papers to academic journals based on the
results of this effort. Finally, the project team will present findings at a relevant local venue open to
agency staff, managers, executives and the public such as the Biennial Tahoe Science Symposium.
H. DESCRIPTION OF DELIVERABLES/PRODUCTS
The research team will produce a variety of interim products during this effort, however the following
items will be the major deliverables from this work which will be reviewed and made available to end
users.






Existing Dataset Inventory – a tabular record of actual data acquired; the inventory will include
appropriate and available meta information for datasets
Status and Trend Summary Report Sections – draft sections completed according to M&E
Program Manual specifications for all datasets deemed complete and of high enough quality to
produce a viable section
Research Report for Stream Data – draft and final versions of a report describing process, results
and management implications of stream data analysis including comments on stream monitoring
plan and conceptual model
Technical Rationale for Indicator Update – draft and final versions of the technical rationale for
updating TRPA’s Threshold reporting approach to use the best available information; this
product will explicitly include completion of the TRPA’s Initial Environmental Checklist
Results Presentation – a MS Powerpoint file used to summarize the process, results and
management implications of the stream data analysis, including presentation at one appropriate
forum in the Tahoe Basin.
Two Publishable Manuscripts – including submission to relevant scientific journals.
DEVELOPMENT OF STATUS AND TREND INDICATORS
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III. SCHEDULE OF MAJOR MILESTONES/DELIVERABLES
START
DATE
END
DATE
Existing Dataset
Inventory
August
2011
Nov.
2011
Status and Trend
Summary Report
Sections
Nov. 2011
March
2012
Research Report for
Stream Data
October
2011
July
2012
Technical Rationale for
Indicator Update
January
2012
July 2012
Results Presentation
October
2012
MILESTONES/DELIVERABLES
Two Publishable
Manuscripts
March
2012
DESCRIPTION
Tabular record of actual data acquired; the
inventory will include appropriate and available
meta information for datasets
Draft sections completed according to M&E
Program Manual specifications for all datasets
deemed complete and of high enough quality to
produce a viable section
Draft and final versions of a report describing
process, results and management implications of
stream data analysis including comments on
stream monitoring plan and conceptual model
Draft and final versions of the technical rationale
for updating TRPA’s Threshold reporting
approach to use the best available information;
this product will explicitly include completion of
the TRPA’s Initial Environmental Checklist
MS Powerpoint file used to summarize the
process, results and management implications of
the stream data analysis, including presentation at
one appropriate forum in the Tahoe Basin
August
2012
Including submission to relevant scientific
journals
SNPLMA progress
reports
Ongoing
Quarterly to specifications in RFP
SNPLMA Annual
accomplishment report
Ongoing
Annually to specifications in RFP
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IV. LITERATURE CITED/REFERENCES
Barbour, M. T., Stribling, J. B. & Karr, J. R. (1995). Multimetric approach for establishing biocriteria and
measuring biological condition. In Biological assessment and criteria: tools for water resource planning
and decision making. (Davis, W. S. & Simon, T. P., Eds), pp. Chapter 6, pg. 63-77. Lewis, Boca Raton, FL.
Clarke, R.T., J.F. Wright, and M.T. Furse. 2003. RIVPACS models for predicting the expected
macroinvertebrate fauna and assessing the ecological quality of rivers. Ecological Modeling 160:219-233.
Fore, L. S. 2007. Development and Testing of Biomonitoring Tools for Stream Macroinvertebrates in the
Lake Tahoe Basin. Final report to USDA-Forest Service
Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, South Lake Tahoe, CA.
Herbst, D. B. and E. L. Silldorff. 2006. Comparison of the performance of different bioassessment
methods: similar evaluations of biotic integrity from separate programs and procedures. Journal of the
North American Benthological Society 25: 513–530
Karr, J. R. 2006. Seven foundations of biological monitoring and assessment. Biologia Ambientale 20(2): 718.
TRPA 2009a. Tahoe Status and Trend Monitoring and Evaluation Program Manual. Version 1.0.
Originally prepared by Environmental Incentives, LLC for the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.
Stateline, NV.
TRPA 2009b. Tahoe Monitoring & Evaluation Program- Annual Status and Trend Summary: Lake
Tahoe’s Environmental and Socioeconomic conditions. Unpublished draft document template for the
Tahoe Regional Planning Agency. Stateline, NV. Contact TRPA Science, Monitoring and Evaluation
Program Manager for more information.
TRPA 2010. Restoration In Progress: Environmental Improvement Program Update. Tahoe Regional
Planning Agency. Stateline, NV.
http://www.trpa.org/documents/docdwnlds/EIP/Update/EIP_Update_Pgs_1-45.pdf and
http://www.trpa.org/documents/docdwnlds/EIP/Update/EIP_Update_Pgs_46-end.pdf. Retrieved
10/24/10.
DEVELOPMENT OF STATUS AND TREND INDICATORS
HSU INDICATOR D EVELOPMENT & SYNTHESIS PROPOSAL
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PAGE 10
V. FIGURES
M&E Program Structure
Overarching
Category
Broad
Reporting
Category
Applicable
Desired
Conditions
Threshold
Indicators
Examples of
Updated
Indicators
Detailed
EIP Structure
EIP
Performance
Measures
EIP Action
Priorities
Detailed
EIP Programs
EIP Focus
Areas
Broad
FIGURE 1A. THIS BASIC CONCEPTUAL ILLUSTRATION OF THE CROSSWALK MATRIX’S STRUCTURE SHOWS BOTH THE M&E PROGRAM AND EIP REPORTING
STRUCTURES SIDE-BY-SIDE. BROAD, HIGHER-LEVEL CATEGORIES ARE IN THE OUTSIDE COLUMNS AND MORE DETAILED CATEGORIES ARE IN THE COLUMNS AT
THE CENTER OF THE DIAGRAM
DEVELOPMENT OF STATUS AND TREND INDICATORS
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PAGE 11
M&E Program Reporting Structure
Overarching Category
Reporting Category
Applicable Desired
Conditions
SQ-1 Natural Environment
Existing Threshold Indicators
PAGE 11
EIP Reporting Structure
EIP Performance Measures
EIP Programs
EIP Focus Areas
Scenic
Recreation and
Scenic Resources
Air Quality &
Transportation
Air Quality and
Transportation
None
None
Recreation
Recreation and
Scenic Resources
None
None
Air Quality &
Transportation
Air Quality &
Transportation
Forest Ecosystem Health
and Hazardous Fuels
Forest Management
SR-1 Travel Route Ratings, SR2 Scenic Quality, SR-3 Public Projects Meeting Scenic Quality Standards, Miles
Recreation Area Scenic Quality
of Utility Lines Buried Underground
Ratings
Viewscape
Miles of Utility Lines Buried Underground
SQ-2 Community Design
SR-4 Community Design
None
AQ-1 Visibility
TR-1 Mobility/ SocioEconomic Vitality
Mobility
AQ-4 Visibility
Pounds of Air Pollutant Removed or Avoided by
Project, Non-compliant Wood Stoves Removed
or Retrofitted
AQ-5 US 50 Traffic Volume, AQ- Miles of Pedestrian and Bicycle Routes Improved
7 VMT
or Constructed
TR-2 Environmental
Impacts
AQ-8 Atmospheric Nutrient
Loading
Pounds of Air Pollutant Removed or Avoided by
Project
SE-3 Town Centers
None
None
SE-1 Sustainable Economy
Economy
SE-4 Social Communities
None
None
SE-5 Regulatory Framework
PEOPLE
Housing
SE-2 Housing Opportunities
None
REC-1 Opportunity
Recreation
Experience
REC-2 Access
R-1 High Quality Recreation
Experience & Access, R-2
Capacity Available to the
General Public
Educational and Interpretive Programs Produced,
Facilities Improved or Created, People Served
REC-3 Education
Soundscape
N-1 Single Event Noise
Sources
N-1 Single Event (Aircraft), N-2
Single Event (Other)
N-2 Community Noise Levels
N-3 Community Noise
WQ-2 Human and
Environmental Health
None
Human Health
AQ-2 Human and Ecosystem AQ-1 CO, AQ-2 Ozone, AQ-3
Health
Particulate, AQ-6 Wood Smoke
Public Safety - Fuels
VEG-4 Hazardous Fuels
Length of Public Shoreline Added, Facilities
Improved or Created, Miles of Trails Developed
or Improved
Length of Public Shoreline Added, Facilities
Improved or Created, Miles of Trails Developed
or Improved
None
Pounds of Air Pollutant Removed or Avoided by
Project, Non-compliant Wood Stoves Removed
or Retrofitted
Acres of Forest Fuels Reduction Treatment,
Private Parcels with Defensible Space
None
FIGURE 1B. AN EXCERPT OF THE DRAFT CROSSWALK TABLE RELATING THE M&E PROGRAM STRUCTURE TO THE EIP REPORTING STRUCTURE. ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION ABOUT OTHER RESOURCES OF INTEREST INCLUDING AIR, LAND AND WATER ARE PRESENTED IN THE COMPLETE TABLE.
DEVELOPMENT OF STATUS AND TREND INDICATORS
.
HSU INDICATOR D EVELOPMENT & SYNTHESIS PROPOSAL
PAGE 12
FIGURE 2. AN EXAMPLE OF AN INDICATOR SECTION OF THE STATUS AND TREND SUMMARY SHOWING A
REPORTING ICON, TREND GRAPH, MONITORING MAP AND FINDINGS TO HELP INTERPRET INFORMATION FOR
NON-TECHNICAL AUDIENCES. THIS EXAMPLE IS BASED ON EXISTING M&E PROGRAM TEMPLATES.
DEVELOPMENT OF STATUS AND TREND INDICATORS