SPRNCA: Maintaining Riparian/Wetland Function

What does that mean today?Isn’t SPRNCA already “protected and enhanced?” When will it be “good enough”?Isn’t it too late already to save the River?What are the benefits and consequences to the SPRNCA, the economy and the community? The SPRNCA has been studied to death, why do we need more information?

SEC. 102. (a) GENERAL AUTHORITIES.-The Secretary shall manage the conservation area in a manner that conserves, protects, and enhances the riparian area and the aquatic, wildlife, archeological, paleontological, scientific, cultural, educational, and recreational resources of the conservation area.

How do we answer the questions and move ahead with management?

Acknowledgement – We understand there has been many excellent studies and reports on the SPRNCA; all are important and useful. But they do not provide the integrated assessments necessary to move forward with planning and answering questions such as those on the previous slide.

How do we answer the questions and move ahead with management?

1. What is going on? What is the existing condition? Is riparian “as good as it can be?”

2. What could go on? What is range of choices?

3.What will go on? What level of riparian condition will SPRNCA be managed for? What will be the benefits, consequences and effects to the environment, economy and community?

Sustaining the SPRNCA, Communities and EconomiesIt’s all linked

Riparian FunctionRiparian Functio

n

SPRNCA Law

Fort Huachuca

Fish, Wildlife & Recreation

Watershed Health

SustainabilityFuture Developmen

t

Local Economy

T&E Species

Assessing and Understanding Riparian Function and Choices

Riparian Function – What is the existing condition and trend; how has it changed over the years? What is the potential – what is the “best” it could be?

Management Choices – Given difference between current condition and trend and potential, what are feasible management choices (objectives)?

Future Management – Decisions made through appropriate public processes that weigh the choices available with the benefits and consequences, and fully disclose those to the public.

Physical Function and Resource Values

PFC PNC

Values

Tim

e

NF FAR

Recreation / Birding

Watershed Values

Livestock Values

Fisheries/Wildlife/ESA

?

Outline of Process

I: First Steps – Pre-work, studying the

project area

II: Next Steps – Assessments and

Interpretations

III: Final Steps – Management Steps

I: First Steps – Pre-work, studying the project area & engaging the public

July 2011 - Technical Riparian Workshop, Tucson – Community Results Workshop

“It is rewarding to have science that has been done used for management and policy.” (workshop participant)

Stratify Stream into Reaches

Gather background information / Divide stream into reaches with distinct features:Geology/landform/physiographyHydrology – surface and subsurfaceChannel conditionsSoil Properties – Physical and ChemicalVegetationManagement Activities/Land Use History

Note- J. Stromberg reaches from Mexico border toBenson Narrows: 20 river segments

LegendPopulus/Salix

Shrubland/woodland

Grassland, bare ground, anthropogenic

Channel boundaries

St. David Ditch

Stromberg et al. 2010. A century of riparian forest expansion following extreme disturbance: spatio-temporal change in Populus/Salix forests along the Upper San Pedro River, Arizona. Forest Ecology and Management 259:1181-1189.

Narrow Valley Reach

Narrow Valley Reach

Wide Valley Reach

Reach Stratification

Primary purpose of reach breaks is to insure that a relatively homogenous section of stream is being assessed. Wide valley reaches usually have very different attributes and processes than narrow valleys of the same river system.

II. Next Steps: Assessments and Interpretations

1.Determine Potential

2.Understand limiting factors (capability)

3.Assess Status and Trend

4. Interpret, Document, Dialogue, Report

Determine Potential and Capability (Process)

Contractor ResponsibilitiesLead a highly technical interdisciplinary effort to synthesize existing information.Identify data gaps that need to be filled.Coordinate with BLM, NRST and partner specialists.Provide draft written description of potential and capability on reach-by-reach basis. Complete by February, 2012.

Contractor is Jim Fogg, retired BLM hydrologist.

1. Determine Potential(example)

Given wide valley bottom, gravel substrate, water availability, etc., 1955 photo (left) shows potential to be cottonwood forest with sinuous narrower channel. Hindsight is a great tool!

2) Depth to water table, water table fluctuation

- Cottonwood and willow favored by shallow water table - Saltcedar is deeper rooted (7 m+) and tolerates deeper andmore fluctuating water tables

Lite SJ, JC Stromberg. 2005. Surface water and ground-water thresholds for maintaining Populus - Salix forests, San Pedro River, Arizona. Biological Conservation 125:153-167.

Validation, Technical Review

•February, 2012

1-2 day meeting with technical specialists from BLM, partner agencies and organizations to review and finalize report.

Conducting the Assessment

Highly qualified interdisciplinary team – Local BLM specialists supported by NRST.

Participation by partner agencies, interested public and organizations welcome and encouraged.

Fully documented in report, including important questions/disagreements.

PFC Assessment can help:

Help identify potential and relationship to current condition – define decision space

Provide spatial context of conditionsHelp prioritize need for management

actionHelp interpret cause and effectCommunicate with users on conditions &

potential remediesDetermine appropriate monitoring

protocols and time frames

Reporting the Findings

Critical to gain common understanding, support, and to know concerns for findings of Assessment.

- Draft will be prepared and distributed for public review.

- Technical meeting for facilitated review.

- Public meeting following technical review.