Society for Ecological Restoration, Texas Chapter & Texas Riparian Association November 2, 2013 Aaron Richter City of Austin, Watershed Protection Department

 Index of Riparian Integrity  City of Austin Riparian Assessments  Building the Model Integrity Indicator Variables Spatial Component  Model Selection  Model Results  Questions

Macro-scale model based on aerial photography and land use data to assess and quantify the riparian integrity in Austin, TX

Assessment includes water quality, sediment stability, and riparian vegetation scores Assessment performed at one site for an entire reach

Environmental Integrity Indicator Weighting Matrix Error Explanatory Variables: Landscape Values

Environmental Integrity Indicator Index

Explanatory Variables: Landscape Values

Robust Vegetation Sparse Vegetation Shadow Impervious Cover Woody VegetationWater

Multi Family Single Family CommunityAgriculture/Undev ManufacturingUtilities/Roads OfficePark/Preserve Commercial

Weighting Matrix

LBA1LBA2LBA3 LBA10d d LBA200d LBA3000 LBA1 LBA2 LBA3

 Single variable of most significance was Woody Vegetation in the 50ft buffer in small drainage areas ( acres).  General Linear Models were compared via BIC, Adjusted R 2  Multicollinearity and model diagnostics were compared for top models

50 ft. Buffer400 ft. Buffer SmallMediumLargeSmallMediumLarge Impervious Cover Sparse Vegetation Single Family Residential Robust Vegetation Woody Vegetation Residential: Duplex Sparse Vegetation Roads Woody Vegetation Apartments Single Family Residential *Small = acres, Medium = acres, Large = >640acres

Poor [25-37] Marginal [38-50] No Score Very Good [76-87] Good [63-75] Fair [51-62]

 Mateo Scoggins and Surface Water Team City of Austin, Environmental Resource Mgmt.  Jon Meade and Kathryn Murray City of Austin, Policy and Planning