Establishing quantitative benchmarks for soil erosion and ecological monitoring, assessment, and management

Authors: Webb, Nicholas - Nick; EDWARDS, BRANDON - New Mexico State University; Heller, Alexandra; McCord, Sarah; SCHALLNER, JEREMY - New Mexico State University; TREMINIO, RONALD - New Mexico State University; WHEELER, BRANDI - New Mexico State University; Stauffer, Nelson; Spiegal, Sheri; DUNIWAY, MICHAEL - Us Geological Survey (USGS); TRAYNOR, ALEXANDER - Bureau Of Land Management; KACHERGIS, EMILY - Bureau Of Land Management; HOUDESHELL, CARRIE-ANN - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS, USDA)

Submitted to: Ecological Indicators
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/25/2024
Publication Date: 2/5/2024
Citation: Webb, N.P., Edwards, B.L., Heller, A., McCord, S.E., Schallner, J.W., Treminio, R.S., Wheeler, B.E., Stauffer, N.G., Spiegal, S.A., Duniway, M.C., Traynor, A.C., Kachergis, E., Houdeshell, C. 2024. Establishing quantitative benchmarks for soil erosion and ecological monitoring, assessment, and management. Ecological Indicators. 159. Article e111661. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.111661.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.111661

Interpretive Summary: Soil erosion can have a many negative impacts on the environment and society. There remains a need for tools to support its management. Quantitative benchmarks based on understanding of erosion processes, ecology of landscapes and land use objectives can be used with monitoring data and models to inform assessments and land management decisions. However, managers currently lack a framework for how benchmarks can be established. Practical guidance on how to establish benchmarks from existing data and models is needed. Here, we present a framework and evaluation of different approaches to establishing quantitative benchmarks for soil erosion and ecological monitoring and assessment that can inform land management decisions. We use monitoring data collected across Chihuahuan Desert ecosystems in the United States and an aeolian sediment transport model to illustrate establishment of benchmarks based on relationships between wind erosion indicators, reference states and land potential, including ecological state-and-transition models, and desired conditions from existing monitoring data. We discuss the benefits and caveats of the different approaches and show how combining different benchmarking approaches can help users ensure that benchmarks appropriately reflect thresholds for soil erosion and achievable management outcomes. We finish by identifying future research needs to support establishment and application of erosion benchmarks across agroecosystems and recognize the opportunity to extend the benchmarking approaches to management of other agroecosystem processes and services.

Technical Abstract: Soil erosion can have a multitude of negative impacts on agroecosystems and society and there remains an urgent need for tools to support its management. Quantitative benchmarks based on holistic understanding of erosion processes, ecosystem function and land use objectives can be used with monitoring data and models to inform assessments and make objective and actionable decisions about erosion management. However, managers currently lack a framework for how benchmarks can be established. Practical guidance on how to establish benchmarks from existing data and models is needed. Here, we present a framework and evaluation of different approaches to establishing quantitative benchmarks for soil erosion and ecological monitoring and assessment that can inform land management decisions. We use monitoring data collected across Chihuahuan Desert ecosystems in the United States and an aeolian sediment transport model to illustrate establishment of benchmarks based on relationships between wind erosion indicators, reference states and land potential, including ecological state-and-transition models, and desired conditions from existing monitoring data. We discuss the benefits and caveats of the different approaches and show how combining different benchmarking approaches can help users ensure that benchmarks appropriately reflect thresholds for soil erosion and achievable management outcomes. We finish by identifying future research needs to support establishment and application of erosion benchmarks across agroecosystems and recognize the opportunity to extend the benchmarking approaches to management of other agroecosystem processes and services.