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EXHIBIT J-1 <br /> Contributors <br /> J. Lee Broadbent <br /> Garth Leishman <br /> Approval <br /> Kirt Walstad, 3/05/2022 <br /> Rangeland health reference sheet <br /> Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health is a qualitative assessment protocol used to determine ecosystem <br /> condition based on benchmark characteristics described in the Reference Sheet.A suite of 17(or more) indicators <br /> are typically considered in an assessment.The ecological site(s)representative of an assessment location must be <br /> known prior to applying the protocol and must be verified based on soils and climate.Current plant community <br /> cannot be used to identify the ecological site. <br /> Author(s)/participant(s) V. Keith Wadman(NRCS Retired). <br /> Contact for lead author shane.green@ut.usda.gov <br /> Date 04/17/2012 <br /> Approved by Kirt Walstad <br /> Approval date <br /> Composition (Indicators 10 and 12)based on Annual Production <br /> Indicators <br /> 1. Number and extent of rills: A very few rills present. Some increase in rill development may occur on steeper slopes or <br /> on areas located below exposed bedrock,or other water shedding areas,where increased runoff may occur.Rills should <br /> be< 1 inch deep,fairly short(< 10 feet)and somewhat widely spaced (8-10 feet).On steeper slopes, rills will be 10 to <br /> 15+feet long and spaced 6 to 8 feet apart.More active rill development may be observed following major thunderstorm <br /> or spring runoff events but should heal during the next growing season.The expression of rills may be less defined <br /> where coarse fragments(i.e.,gravels and/or channers)dominate the soil surface. <br /> 2. Presence of water flow patterns: A very few sinuous flow patterns wind around perennial plants and surface rock. <br /> Evidence of flow patterns is expected to increase somewhat with slopes greater than 15%.Water flow patterns are long <br /> (15-20 feet), narrow(<1 foot wide),and spaced widely(10-20 yards)on gentle slopes(<15%)and more closely(<10 <br /> yards)on steeper slopes(>15%). <br /> 3. Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes: Small pedestals may form at the base of plants that occur <br /> on the edge of water flow patterns, but should not show any exposed roots.Terracettes are fairly common,forming <br /> behind debris dams of small to medium sized litter(up to 2 inches in diameter)in water flow patterns.These debris dams <br /> may accumulate smaller litter(leaves,grass and forb stems)and sediment. <br /> 4. Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies(rock,litter,lichen,moss, plant canopy are not <br /> bare ground):20-30%.(Soil surface is typically covered by up to 35%surface fragments).Most bare ground is <br /> associated with water flow patterns, rills, and gullies. Poorly developed biological soil crusts that are interpreted as <br /> functioning as bare ground should be recorded as bare ground. <br />