3492013 ) and distinguishing between treatment-dominated and weather-dominated
effects (Hardegree et al. 2011 , 2012 ).
Once climate regime and weather variability are considered, the evaluation step
should determine how site aspect, slope, and soil characteristics, including texture
and depth, modify restoration outcomes (Molinar et al. 2002 ). At a fi ner scale,
microsite variability also affects specifi c demographic processes that ultimately
explain the relative treatment success or failure in a given year (Hardegree et al.
2011 ; James et al. 2011 ). Thus, in addition to evaluating end-of-season biomass or
plant density metrics (Hardegree et al. 2012 ; Svejcar et al. 2014 ), efforts should be
made to integrate demographic data, including spatial distribution of plants (Reisner
et al. 2013 ) and site-specifi c microsite standards when describing restoration out-
comes (see Sect. 12.3.1 , Pyke et al. 2002 ; Herrick et al. 2008 ).
The adaptive management model presented by Allen et al. ( 2011 ) can be modi-
fi ed to include a mechanism for selecting preferred treatment alternatives that
accommodate or adjust for weather/management interactions (Fig. 12.2 ). Successful,
partially successful, and unsuccessful management outcomes can be ranked relative
to the climate variables and historical weather conditions at a given site (Hardegree
et al. 2012 ; Enright et al. 2014 ). Unsuccessful management options are only aban-
doned if multiple treatment iterations result in failure in years with above-average
Fig. 12.2 Model for weather informed learning through adaptive management. Management
actions should be interpreted within the context of weather conditions during a given treatment
year. Unsuccessful treatment options in poor weather years should perhaps be reassessed in future
years and possibly abandoned. Partially successful options may be more successful under better
weather conditions and considered for future applications. Successful options that emerge become
apparent under all weather conditions and should be adopted. Model adapted from the model for
knowledge accretion through adaptive management (Allen et al. 2011 )
12 Assessing Restoration and Management Needs for Ecosystems...