1

The PFC concept is:Based on the fact that systems need to be

functional before they can produce aquatic or riparian values – or desired conditions

Current Current ConditionsConditions

Desired Desired Future Future

ConditionsConditions

Current Current ConditionsConditions

Desired Desired Future Future

ConditionsConditions

PFCPFC

PFC Provides necessary broad scale perspective Triage: Assign priority order to projects where

resources can be best used, are most needed, or are most likely to achieve success

• Focus on FAR reaches w/high values (to avoid loss of function & values)

• Focus management & monitoring to on “no answers”

Appropriate time for experienced IDT to locate representative DMAs

Why PFC (Prichard et al. 1998)?

Broad scale assessments provide landscape scale overview of existing conditions…

define the scope of the issues/problem…develop solutions that become alternatives)

…

Focusing on physical functioning helps communicate among stakeholders

WHY PFC?

Step 1: Assess riparian resource function using PFC

 a.Identify assessment area and assemble an ID teamb.Review existing information and delineate and stratify reachesc.Determine reach potentiald.Complete PFC assessment (validate with monitoring data if necessary)

  

Integrated Riparian Management

 

Step 3: Identify issues, goals, actions and priorities and establish objectives

 

a.Identify issues, goals, actions, and priorities b.Collect baseline data and establish or modify existing objectives 

  

Step 4: Design and implement management and restoration actions

Step 6: Implement adaptive actions

 

Modify Objectives

if Necessary

Monitor Adaptive Actions

Step 2: Identify riparian resource values and complete additional assessments

 

 Step 5: Monitor and analyze effectiveness of actions and update resource condition ratings (PFC)

 

 

 

 

 

Step 1: Assess riparian resource function using PFC  

Degradation Rates

0

2

4

6

8

10

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Time (yrs)

Condition

Herb. veg

Woody veg

Channel

Water Qual

WQS/RMOs

PFC

Recovery RatesNon-Functional

0

2

4

6

8

10

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Time (yrs)

Condition

Herb. veg

Woody veg

Channel

Water Qual

WQS/RMOs

PFC

Bear Creek, Oregon Aug 1977Bear Creek, Oregon Aug 1977

Bear Creek May 1977

Bear Creek Sept 199720 years

DateDate

-40-40

-20-20

00

2020

4040

6060

8080

100100

8-Aug

8-Aug

12-A

ug

12-A

ug

16-A

ug

16-A

ug

20-A

ug

20-A

ug

24-A

ug

24-A

ug

28-A

ug

28-A

ug

Tem

pera

ture

(D

egre

es F

)T

empe

ratu

re (

Deg

rees

F)

AirAirWaterWaterDifferenceDifference

Difference in Air & Water Temperatures

Bear Creek - Central Oregon1976

Difference in Air & Water TemperaturesBear Creek - Central Oregon

1998

00

2020

4040

6060

8080

100100

120120

7-Aug

7-Aug

11-A

ug

11-A

ug

15-A

ug

15-A

ug

19-A

ug

19-A

ug

23-A

ug

23-A

ug

27-A

ug

27-A

ug

31-A

ug

31-A

ug

DateDate

Tem

pera

ture

Deg

rees

FT

empe

ratu

re D

egre

es F AirAir

WaterWaterDifferenceDifference

Bear Creek (3.5 Miles)

Data from C. Rasmussen (1996) and W. Elmore

1978 1994

Riparian Area

3.8 acres 12 acres

Bank Erosion

12,448 feet 799 feet

Water Storage

500,000 gal/mi

2,096,000 gal/mi

Production 200 lbs/acre 2000 lbs/acre

Management needs changeA.Continue what worksB.Focus on risks:

1. Trampling - season of use

2. Weak plants - duration of use

3. Up or Downstream - water, sediment, ___?

E.Focus on recovery:1. Willows -

season of use, rest2. Sedges -

rotation, durationF. Continue what works

Good Resource Objectives

Describe the continuing resource attributes to be achieved by management

Achievable, Measurable,

Worthy

Objectives should Be:Specific – What will be achieved, where, and when

Measurable – With recognized monitoring methods

Achievable – With likely management

Realistic – Within the timeframe and budget

Trackable – Within law, policy, plans, and issues

A Management Chain Reaction Rotation grazing for three weeks (or other strategy) leads to A four inch stubble height and 85% growing season recovery leads to An increase in colonizers leads to Deposition there of fine sediments leads to An increase in stabilizers leads to Narrowing a stream leads to Increased floodplain access & aquifer recharge leads to Improved base flow leads to Improved water and habitat quality leads to Increased fish populations leads to Increased recreationist satisfaction

So, which of these provides the best focus for an objective?

A Management Chain ReactionWhere is the objective?

Rotation grazing A four inch stubble height and 85% growing season recovery An increase in colonizers Deposition there of fine sediments An increase in stabilizers Narrowing a stream Increased floodplain access & aquifer recharge Improved base flow etc. Improved habitat quality Improved water quality Increased fish populations Increased recreationist satisfaction

Efficiently Monitored (MIM)Objectives

Efficiently MonitoredActions or tools

PFC

Values(difficult to monitor)

Objectives should be quantified for a specific location using baseline data and experience

For example:

At the Designated Monitoring Area 2 on Bear Camp Creek:

Increase colonizers by X % Increase stabilizers by Y % Narrow the greenline to greenline width by Z %

Match Objectives to Planning Timeline

TTII

MMEE

ANNUALINDICATORS OFMANAGEMENT

= End-of-season conditionresidual vegetationbank alterationRecovery period3 - 5 - YEARS3 - 5 - YEARS

INDICATORS OFRECOVERY

= Vegetative greenline

= Water and Habitat Quality

DECADESDECADESINDICATORS OFRECOVERY

5 - 10 YEARS5 - 10 YEARSINDICATORS OFRECOVERY

= Vegetative/Physical X-section composition Woody recruitment Greenline to Greenline Width Bank Stability

e.g.

e.g.

e.g.

TempPools

e.g.

TTII

MMEE

ANNUALANNUALINDICATORS OFINDICATORS OFMANAGEMENTMANAGEMENT

= End-of-season condition= End-of-season conditionresidual vegetationresidual vegetationbank alterationbank alterationRecovery periodRecovery period3 - 5 - YEARS

INDICATORS OFRECOVERY

= Vegetative Greenline composition

= Water and Habitat Quality

DECADESDECADESINDICATORS OFRECOVERY

5 - 10 YEARS5 - 10 YEARSINDICATORS OFRECOVERY

= Vegetative/Physical X-section composition Woody recruitment Greenline to Greenline Width Bank Stability

e.g.

e.g.

e.g.e.g.

Temppools

e.g.

Match Objectives to Planning Timeline

TTII

MMEE

ANNUALANNUALINDICATORS OFINDICATORS OFMANAGEMENTMANAGEMENT

= End-of-season condition= End-of-season conditionresidual vegetationresidual vegetationbank alterationbank alterationRecovery periodRecovery period3 – 5+ - YEARS3 – 5+ - YEARS

INDICATORS OFINDICATORS OFRECOVERYRECOVERY

= Vegetative= Vegetative Greenline compositionGreenline composition

= Water and Habitat Quality

DECADESDECADESINDICATORS OFRECOVERY

5 – 10+ YEARSINDICATORS OFRECOVERY

= Vegetative/Physical X-section composition Woody recruitment Greenline to greenline width Bank Stability

e.g.

e.g.e.g.

e.g.e.g.

Temppools

e.g.

Match Objectives to Planning Timeline

TTII

MMEE

ANNUALANNUALINDICATORS OFINDICATORS OFMANAGEMENTMANAGEMENT

= End-of-season condition= End-of-season conditionresidual vegetationresidual vegetationbank alterationbank alterationRecovery periodRecovery period3 – 5+ - YEARS3 – 5+ - YEARS

INDICATORS OFINDICATORS OFRECOVERYRECOVERY

= Vegetative= Vegetative Greenline CompositionGreenline Composition

= Water and Habitat Quality

DECADESINDICATORS OFRECOVERY

5 – 10+ YEARS5 – 10+ YEARSINDICATORS OFINDICATORS OFRECOVERYRECOVERY

= Vegetative/Physical= Vegetative/Physical X-section compositionX-section composition Woody recruitmentWoody recruitment Greenline to greenline widthGreenline to greenline width Bank StabilityBank Stability

e.g.e.g.

e.g.e.g.

e.g.e.g.

Temp. or widthPool quality

e.g.

Match Objectives to Planning Timeline

NON-LINEAR TIMELINES

The power of drought – For allowing vegetation to encroach into a stream The power of Floods – For moving sediment, building banks, forming channels

The power of disturbance – for reinitiating succession

More generally successful than notGenerally successful

Early use

Short duration

Cool season

Riparian pasture

Rotate use areas and timing

Light to moderate use

Long recovery periods

Regrowth before winter

Jumpstart or occasional rest

Stutter deferred

More off-riparian water

Well scattered supplements/salt

Cleaned pastures and closed gates

PFC – Resilience

Select for hill climbers

Riding for animal placement

Yearlings

• Generally unsuccessful• Season-long use• Long season of use• Hot or dry growing season use• Giant pastures - upland objectives• Consistent seasonal use• Heavy use too often• Little time for regrowth• Late use• Annual use• Little woody recovery• Only riparian water• Salt on creeks• Stragglers• At risk or nonfunctional• Retain riparian dwellers• Little or no riding• Cow calf pairs

Core Grazing Management Principles

Avoid stress on important forage plants Moderate or lower utilization OR Graze for only a short period when plants

are growing (shorter when growing faster)

Provide long growing season recovery with no grazing before next use

Graze in a different season at next use

PFC in Documents

• Communicating with stakeholders• Purpose and need • Description of the existing environment• Selection of alternatives• Effects of proposed actions• Planning monitoring• Criteria for adapting management

» Desired Future Condition (DFC)Desired Future Condition (DFC)

PFCPFC does notdoes not equalequal

PFCPFC does notdoes not replacereplace»Legal Requirements, e.g., ESA, CWALegal Requirements, e.g., ESA, CWA

Supports

Supports

»Strategize appropriate monitoring

PFC HelpsPFC Helps»Understand what can be achieved

»Define/prioritize issues to address

»Select appropriate management practices

»Provide linkage between reach/watershed processes and habitat/water quality conditions

Communicate among stakeholders