Two of the three attributes used to assess rangeland health are 1) hydrologic function and 2) soil/site stability.
- Hydrologic function refers to the site's capacity to capture, store, and safely release water from rainfall, run-on moisture, and/or snowmelt (where relevant). Two important components of hydrologic function are the site's ability to resist a reduction in it's hydrologic function following a disturbance or management action, and the site's ability to recover it's hydrologic capacity following degradation.
- Soil/site stability refers a site's capacity to limit redistribution and loss of soil resources (including nutrients and organic matter) by wind and water.
The best way to protect hydrologic function and site stability is to maintain the proper amount and kind of vegetation on the site. This should be a primary management goal, or at least at a minimum, a major consideration for any rangeland vegetation management project. When a site lacks proper hydrologic function and soil/site stability, it can lose fertile topsoil, which ultimately reduces the areas productivity and resource value.