OCR Text |
Show P rank Shields, local rancher and a permittee on the Moab Ranger District of the Manti-La Sal National Forest, looks on as Sonny O'Neal, U. S- Forest Service, Ser-vice, makes a trend study on the Mason Draw cattle cat-tle allotment. Trend is a term used to describe change in either soil or vegetation conditions on rangeland. Since trend involves changes that occur over a long period of time it is often difficult to determine from general observations. The study area pictured above was established and permanent ly marked in 1953. Periodic study of the area will establish a trend in condition of forage cover and soil. If the- trend in both forage cover and soil progresses pro-gresses steadily upward the land manager can rest assured that present stocking and management is satisfactory. If not, a change in management is necessary nec-essary -to get the most benefit from the range re-( re-( ' source. (U. S. Forest Service- photo) |