AIM Master Sample: A Tool to Support Statistically Valid Sample Designs

Transcription

1 AIM Master Sample: A Tool to Support Statistically Valid Sample Designs

2 AIM A National Strategy designed to: Promote integrated, cross-program resource inventory, assessment, and monitoring at multiple scales of management Scale: National Question: What is the condition and trend of the s streams and rivers? Design: Extensive, probabilistic, national sample Sampling: Specialized regional crews Scale: Regional (e.g., field office, state) Question: Are land use plans effective? Design: Intensive, probabilistic, regional sample Sampling: Specialized regional crews Scale: Stream reach Question: Habitat quality Design: Targeted Sampling: Field offices Scale: Allotment Question: Permitting Design: Probabilistic Sampling: Field offices Scale: Fire boundary Question: Effectiveness Design: Probabilistic Sampling: Field offices

3 Core indicators and standardized methodologies o What to measure and how to measure it Statistically valid sampling frameworks o Where and how to locate sample sites Integration of remote sensing technologies o How to obtain spatially explicit resource information Data acquisition and management plans o How to increase data quality, availability and usability Analytical tools o How to use data to inform management decisions

4 Need for statistically-valid designs Most of the time we can t measure everything everywhere manages > 200,000 km of perennial streams and rivers (>4x earth equatorial circumference) 45,075 km Sampling: allows us to estimate attributes of a larger population using select members

5 Need for statistically-valid designs Selecting a statistically representative sample from a population allows us to estimate attributes of the population in an unbiased manner with known level of confidence Individual stream reach Watershed or population of reaches Population of watersheds or stream km

6 Master sample A large number of pre-selected, potential sample locations from which project-level designs can be selected Terrestrial: 2 million points (1 point per 35 hectares) Aquatic: 67,000 points (1point per 0.5 km) Both encompass contiguous western U.S. 12 states

7 Master sample attributes States Districts Field offices Planning units Grazing allotments PHMA Wilderness areas SSURGO map units Stream order HUCs Elevation Slope Many more

8 Using the master sample Similar to conducting a query: Bruneau FO Perennial streams lands Results: 1141 possible points

9 Using the master sample Similar to conducting a query: Bruneau FO Perennial streams lands Sample size = 30

10 Using the master sample Web interface in development to be completed for 2016

11 Using the master sample

12 Using the master sample

13 Benefits of Master Sample Increased efficiency and standardization of sample designs More efficient and effective field office assistance with sample designs Easier and more defensible estimates of resource conditions across spatial scales Increased ease and defensibility of analyses that combine data from multiple AIM monitoring efforts

14 Example Master Sample Applications Project effectiveness monitoring (depending on project size) Grazing permit renewals (depending on allotment size) Watershed assessments Land-use plan effectiveness monitoring State level reporting Ecoregional level reporting National level reporting