Watersheds Capture, Store And Safely Release Water

RIPARIAN AREAS A form of wetland transition between permanently saturated wetlands and uplands areas Exhibit vegetation or physical characteristics of permanent surface or subsurface water Examples: LAND ADJACENT to PERENNIAL or INTERMITTEN FLOWING STREAMS, LAKESHORES, GLACIAL POTHOLES

NATURAL RIPARIAN RESOURCES

PROPER FUNCTIONING CONDITION RIPARIAN-WETLAND areas are functioning properly when adequate vegetation, landform, or large woody debris is present to: –Dissipate STREAM ENGERGY associated with high flows –Filter SEDIMENT and CAPTURE BED LOAD –Aid FLOODPLAIN DEVELOPMENT –Improve FLOOD WATER RETENTION and GROUNDWATER RECHARGE –Stabilize STREAMBANKS

PROPER FUNCTIONING CONDITION ACHIEVED PROVIDES FOR: FISH Habitat for FISH and WILDLIFE Improved WATER QUALITY Improved FORAGE PRODUCTION SOIL Decreased SOIL EROSION Greater BIODIVERSITY

FUNCTIONAL AT RISK RIPARIAN-WETLAND areas that are in Functional Condition, but an existing Soil, Water, or Vegetation attribute makes them SUSCEPTIBLE TO DEGRADATION

NONFUNCTIONAL RIPARIAN-WETLAND areas that CLEARLY ARE NOT PROVIDING adequate Vegetation, Landform or Large Woody Debris to: Dissipate Stream Energies associated with higher flows Filter Sediment and Capture Bedload Aid in Floodplain Development Improve Floodwater retention and Groundwater Recharge Stabilize Streambanks

NONFUNCTIONAL Areas that are Nonfunctional –DO NOT provide Wildlife Habitat –DO NOT provide improved Water Quality –DO NOT improve Forage Production –EXHIBIT INCREASED Soil Erosion –EXHIBIT DECREASED Biodiversity

ATTRIBUTES/PROCESS LIST HYDROGEOMORPHIC –GROUND-WATER DISCHARGE –ACTIVE FLOODPLAIN –GROUND-WATER RECHARGE –FLOODPLAIN STORAGE & RELEASE –FLOOD MODIFICATION –BANKFULL WIDTH –WIDTH/DEPTH RAITON –SINUOSITY –GRADIENT –STREAM POWER –HYDRAULIC CONTROLS –BED ELEVATION

ATTRIBUTES/PROCESS LIST VEGETATION –COMMUNITY TYPES –COMMUNITY TYPE DISTRIBUTION’SURFACE DENSITY –CANOPY –COMMUNITY DYNAMICS & SUCCESSION –RECRUITMENT/REPRODUCTION –SURVIVAL

ATTRIBUTES/PROCESS LIST EROSION/DEPOSITION –BANK STABILITY –BED STABILITY –DEPOSITIONAL FEATURES

ATTRIBUTES/PROCESS LIST SOILS –CAPILLARITY –ANNUAL PATTERN OF SOIL WATER STATES –ERODIBILITY –FERTILITY

ATTRIBUTES/PROCESS LIST WATER QUALITY –TEMPERATURE –SALINITY –NUTRIENTS –DISSOLVED OXYGEN –SEDIMENT

ATTRIBUTES/PROCESSES Hydrogeomorphic Vegetation Erosion/Deposition Soils Water Quality

STREAM CROSS SECTIONS

POTENTIAL The highest ecological status a Riparian-Wetland area can attain given no political, social, or economical constraints

MAJOR STREAM TYPES LONGITUDINAL, CROSS-SECTION, AND PLAN PROFILES

DETERMINATION OF RIPARIAN-WETLAND SYSTEMS CAPABILITY AND POTENTIAL Relic areas information Historic information Species Lists Habitat Needs Soils Information Hydrology Information Current Vegetation Watershed Condition/Major Landforms Limiting Factors

PFC Vulnerable Time Decision Space Fisheries Values Livestock Values Recreation Values Wildlife Values Watershed Values Desired Condition Bare Ground PNC

4.) RIPAIAN ZONE IS WIDENING OR HAS ACHIEVED POTENTIAL EXTENT.

VEGETATION

6.) DIVERSE AGE-CLASS DISTRIBUTION (RECRUITMENT FOR MAINTENANCE/RECOVERY

VEGETATION

6.) DIVERSE AGE-CLASS DISTRIBUTION (RECRUITMENT FOR MAINTENANCE/RECOVERY

7.) DIVERSE COMPOSITION OF VEGETATION (FOR MAINTENANCE/RECOVERY)

8.) SPECIES PRESENT INDICATE MAINTENANCE OF RIPARIAN SOIL MOISTURE CHARACTERISTICS

9.) STREAMBANK VEGETATION IS COMPRISED OF THOSE PLANTS OR PLANT COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE ROOT MASSESS CAPABLE OF WITHSTANDING HIGH STREAM FLOW EVENTS

10.) RIPARIAN PLANTS EXHIBIT HIGH VIGOR

11.) ADEQUATE VEGETATIVE COVER PRESENT TO PROTECT BANKS AND DISSIPATE ENERGY DURING HIGH FLOWS

12.) PLANT COMMUNITIES IN THE RIPARIAN AREA ARE AN ADEQUATE SOURCE OF COARSE AND/OR LARGE WOODY DEBRIS

PLANNING PROCESS STEP 1. EXISTING CONDITION STEP 2. POTENTIAL CONDITION STEP 3. PFC STEP 4. RESOURCE VALUES STEP 5. MANAGEMENT GOALS and OBJECTIVES STEP 6. PLANNED ACTIONS STEP 7. MONITORING STEP 8. FLEXIBILITY

SUMMARY MINIMUM ASSESSMENT TOOL PFC USUALLY NOT THE SAME AS DFC POTENTIAL VS. CAPABILITY QUALITATIVE VS. QUANTITATIVE INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM BE CONSERVATIVE DO THE PREP. WORK NORMAL STREAM PROCESSES (25 YR FLOOD EVENT)

WHY MAKE THE INVESTMENT IN PFC?? ENGAGES PUBLIC IN COOPERATIVE RIPARIAN RESTORATION MANY RIPARIAN PROBLEMS ARE CAUSED OR AGGRAVATED BY OFF-SITE MANAGEMENT AN ID TEAM CREATES AN INTERDISCIPLINARY BASIS FOR INTERATED MANAGEMENT QUALITATIVE ASSESSMENT SUPPORTED BY QUANTITATIVE SCIENCE WITH MEASUREMENT TOOLS WHEN NEEDED

WHY MAKE THE INVESTMENT IN PFC?? FOCUS FUTURE MONITORING ON KEY DATA NEDED TO CHECK MANAGEMENT PROVIDES A FRAME WORK FOR INTERPRETING ALL OTHER WATERSHED AND STREAM DATA MANDATED BY GOVT. TWO LEVELS –ID TEAM IN FIELD –AIR PHOTOS