Lotic Overview Gen Plan 310

RIPARIAN FUNCTIONS FOR A GENERAL PLAN

Sherman Swanson

UNR

Riparian PFCWhat It Is And What It Is NotPFC is a consistent assessment of the PHYSICAL

FUNCTIONING of riparian -wetland areas

PFC considers hydrology, vegetation, and soil and landform attributes

PFC describes a state of RESILIENCY

Riparian PFCWhat It Is And What It Is Not

PFC helps prioritize management/ restoration activities where the system is “AT RISK”

PFC helps determine the timing or correctness of management actions

Riparian PFCWhat It Is And What It Is NotPFC is a qualitative assessment based on

quantitative science for people with local knowledge

PFC helps analyze management strategies and design monitoring plans

PFC can reduce the frequency or cost of monitoring by focusing effort on key factors

NATURAL RIPARIAN RESOURCES

PROPER FUNCTIONING CONDITION –

DEFINITION

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 PROVIDES FOR:

Habitat for FISH and WILDLIFE

Improved WATER QUALITY

Improved FORAGE PRODUCTION

Decreased SOIL EROSION

Greater BIODIVERSITY

ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

FUNCTIONAL AT RISK

RIPARIAN-WETLAND areas that are in Functional Condition,

But, a Soil, Water, or Vegetation attribute makes them

SUSCEPTIBLE TO DEGRADATION

NONFUNCTIONALRIPARIAN-WETLAND areas that CLEARLY

ARE NOT PROVIDING adequate Vegetation, Landform or Large Woody Debris to:

Dissipate Stream Energies associated with higher flowsFilter Sediment and Capture BedloadAid in Floodplain Development Improve Floodwater Retention and Groundwater

RechargeStabilize Streambanks

NONFUNCTIONALAreas that are Nonfunctional

DO NOT provide quality wildlife habitat

DO NOT provide improved Water Quality

DO NOT improve Forage Production

EXHIBIT INCREASED Soil Erosion

EXHIBIT DECREASED Biodiversity

Riparian PFC

Team Approach!!

HydrologySoil Science/GeomorphologyPlant EcologyFish & Wildlife BiologyLandowner/Permittee

STREAM CROSS SECTIONS

Potential

Highest ecological status a riparian area can attain given no political, social or economic constraints

PFC?

PFC?

The Toolbox

Stream Classification Rosgen (1996)

Vegetation - Channel

relationships

From Rosgen 1996.

Slope: < 2 %W/D: < 12Sinuosity: > 1.5Valley: broad/meadow

E6 type channel. Silt / clay dominated substrate.

C4 type channel. Gravel-dominated substrate.

Slope: < 2 %W/D: > 12Sinuosity: > 1.4Valley: broad/terraces

Vegetation Associated with Functional Stream Types

General Rules High gradient (> 2%) = woody riparian plants Low gradient (< 2%) = herbaceous plants

CAPABILITY

The highest ecological status a Riparian-Wetland area can attain given Political, Social, or Economical Constraints

Potential and Capability Identify Locally Relevant Attributes &Processes

HydrogeomorphicVegetationErosion/DepositionSoilsWater Quality

PFC

Vulnerable

Time

Decision Space

Fisheries ValuesLivestock ValuesRecreation ValuesWildlife ValuesWatershed Values

Desired Condition

Bare Ground

PNC

Current Current ConditionsConditions

Desired Desired Future Future

ConditionsConditions

Current Current ConditionsConditions

Desired Desired Future Future

ConditionsConditions

PFCPFC

» 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

PLANNING PROCESS (Adaptive Management)

EXISTING CONDITION

POTENTIAL CONDITION

PFC (what is needed)

RESOURCE VALUES (what is wanted)

PRIORITIZE AT-RISK areas

BASE-LINE MONITORING

GOALS and OBJECTIVES

PLANNED ACTIONS

SHORT & LONG-TERM MONITORING

FLEXIBILITY

STREAM RECOVERY

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

KGC-11KGC-11

-40-40

-20-20

00

2020

4040

6060

8080

100100

8-Aug

8-Aug

10-A

ug

10-A

ug

12-A

ug

12-A

ug

14-A

ug

14-A

ug

16-A

ug

16-A

ug

18-A

ug

18-A

ug

20-A

ug

20-A

ug

22-A

ug

22-A

ug

24-A

ug

24-A

ug

26-A

ug

26-A

ug

28-A

ug

28-A

ug

30-A

ug

30-A

ug

DateDate

Tem

per

atu

re (

Deg

rees

F)

Tem

per

atu

re (

Deg

rees

F)

AirAir

WaterWater

DifferenceDifference

Difference in Air & Water TemperaturesDifference in Air & Water TemperaturesBear Creek - Central OregonBear Creek - Central Oregon

19761976

IFLM-22

KGC-12

00

2020

4040

6060

8080

100100

120120

7-Aug

7-Aug

9-Aug

9-Aug

11-A

ug

11-A

ug

13-A

ug

13-A

ug

15-A

ug

15-A

ug

17-A

ug

17-A

ug

19-A

ug

19-A

ug

21-A

ug

21-A

ug

23-A

ug

23-A

ug

25-A

ug

25-A

ug

27-A

ug

27-A

ug

29-A

ug

29-A

ug

31-A

ug

31-A

ug

DateDate

Tem

per

atu

re D

egre

es F

Tem

per

atu

re D

egre

es F

AirAir

WaterWater

DifferenceDifference

Difference in Air & Water TemperaturesDifference in Air & Water TemperaturesBear Creek - Central OregonBear Creek - Central Oregon

19981998

IFLM-23

1

2 3

A Management Chain Reaction Rotation grazing (or other strategy) leads to At least a four inch stubble height 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, where is the objective?

A Management Chain ReactionWhere is the objective?

Rotation grazing At least a four inch stubble height An increase in colonizers Deposition there of fine sediments An increase in stabilizers Leads to narrowing a stream Increased floodplain access & aquifer recharge Improved base flow etc. Improved water and habitat quality Increased fish populations Increased recreationist satisfaction

Efficiently MonitoredObjectives

Efficiently MonitoredActions

PFC

Values

ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENTADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT

TTII

MMEE

ANNUALANNUALINDICATORS OFINDICATORS OFRECOVERYRECOVERY

= End-of-season condition= End-of-season conditionresidual vegetationresidual vegetationbank alterationbank alteration

3 - 5 - YEARS3 - 5 - YEARSINDICATORS OFINDICATORS OFRECOVERYRECOVERY

= Vegetative= Vegetative greenlinegreenline

= = Water and Habitat QualityWater and Habitat Quality

DECADESDECADESINDICATORS OFINDICATORS OFRECOVERYRECOVERY

5 - 10 YEARS5 - 10 YEARSINDICATORS OFINDICATORS OFRECOVERYRECOVERY

= Vegetative/Physical= Vegetative/Physical X-section compositionX-section composition Woody recruitmentWoody recruitment Greenline to GreenlineGreenline to Greenline WidthWidth Bank StabilityBank Stability

e.g.e.g.

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TempTemppoolspools

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TTII

MMEE









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TempTemppoolspools

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MMEE









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TempTemppoolspools

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TTII

MMEE









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TempTemppoolspools

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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

»Determine appropriate monitoringDetermine appropriate monitoring

PFC HelpsPFC Helps

»Determine potential and capabilityDetermine potential and capability

»Define issues that need to be addressedDefine issues that need to be addressed

»Selecting appropriate management practicesSelecting appropriate management practices

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

Ideas for a General PlanPermanently protect floodplains with flood-

compatible land usesRebuild bridges that focus flood energyAvoid rip-rap and give rivers room to be riversPlan for storm water retention in new

developmentEmbrace a functioning economy and functional

water catchments & riparian areas

ATTRIBUTES/PROCESS LISTHYDROGEOMORPHIC

GROUND-WATER DISCHARGE ACTIVE FLOODPLAIN GROUND-WATER RECHARGE FLOODPLAIN STORAGE & RELEASE FLOOD MODIFICATION BANKFULL WIDTH WIDTH/DEPTH RATION SINUOSITY GRADIENT STREAM POWER HYDRAULIC CONTROLS BED ELEVATION

ATTRIBUTES/PROCESS LIST

VEGETATION COMMUNITY TYPES COMMUNITY TYPE DISTRIBUTION DENSITY CANOPY COMMUNITY DYNAMICS & SUCCESSION RECRUITMENT/REPRODUCTION SURVIVAL


EROSION/DEPOSITION BANK STABILITY BED STABILITY DEPOSITIONAL FEATURES

ATTRIBUTES/PROCESS LISTSOILS

CAPILLARITY ANNUAL PATTERN OF SOIL WATER STATES ERODIBILITY FERTILITY


WATER QUALITY TEMPERATURE SALINITY NUTRIENTS DISSOLVED OXYGEN SEDIMENT

NON-LINEAR TIMELINESNON-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

To set the amount of change in an objective, consider:

•The magnitude of the change expected, •The variation in the data•The expense of monitoring needed to detect the change•Drivers and responses

INVENTORY ALL STREAMS UTILIZING PFC PROCESS

Modify Management Strategy

FAR w/Downward Trend Or

Non- Functional

Attain RMOs

Continue MonitoringRMOS

Upward Trend

Continue ManagementStrategy

PFCOr

FAR w/Upward Trend

Continue Management Strategy

Static/Downward Trend

Modify Management

Strategy

Monitor RMOS Monitor “NOs” From Checklist

Modify Management Strategy

Static/DownwardTrend

Attain PFC

Continue ManagementStrategy

Continue Monitoring(Iinclude RMOs)

Upward Trend

These objectives could be quantified for a specific location.

For example:At the Designated Monitoring Area 2 on Bear

Camp Creek: Increase colonizers by 50% Increase stabilizers by 50% Narrow the greenline to greenline width by 20%

But, When?

STANDARD CHECKLIST -- HydrologyYES NO NA 1) Floodplain above bankfull is inundated in

“relatively frequent” events

2) Where beaver dams are present, they are active and stable

3) Sinuosity, width/depth ratio, and gradient are in balance with the landscape setting (i.e., landform, geology, and bioclimatic region)

4) Riparian-wetland area is widening or has achieved potential extent

5) Upland watershed is not contributing to riparian-wetland degradation

1.) FLOODPLAIN ABOVE BANKFULL IS INUNDATED IN “RELATIVELY FREQUENT” EVENTS

1.) Floodplain above bankfull is inundated in “relatively frequent” events

2.) Where beaver dams are present they are active and stable

2.) Where beaver dams are present they are active and stable

3.) Sinuosity, width/depth ratio, and gradient are in balance with the landscape setting (i.e., landform, geology, and bioclimatic region)

3.) Sinuosity, width/depth ratio, and gradient are in balance with the landscape setting (i.e., landform, geology, and bioclimatic region)

4.) Riparian zone is widening or has achieved potential extent.

5.) Upland watershed is not contributing to riparian-wetland degradation

-- VegetationYES NO NA 6) There is diverse age-class distribution of riparian-wetland

vegetation (recruitment for maintenance/recovery)

7) There is diverse composition of riparian-wetland vegetation (for maintenance/recovery

8) Species present indicate maintenance of riparian-wetland soil moisture characteristics

9) Streambank vegetation is comprised of those plants or plant communities that have root masses capable of withstanding high-streamflow events

10) Riparian-wetland plants exhibit high vigor

11) Adequate riparian-wetland vegetation cover is present to protect banks and dissipate energy during high flows

12) Plant communities are an adequate source of coarse and/or large woody material (for maintenance/recovery)

6.) There is diverse age-class distribution of riparian-wetland vegetation (recruitment for maintenance/recovery)

7.) There is diverse composition of riparian-wetland vegetation (for maintenance/recovery)

8.) Species present indicate maintenance of riparian-wetland soil moisture characteristics

9.) Streambank vegetation is comprised of those plants or plant communities that have root masses capable of withstanding high stream flow events

9.) Streambank vegetation is comprised of those plants or plant communities that have root masses capable of withstanding high stream flow events

0 2 4 6 8 10Relative Stability Class

Bare Ground

Willow-Sedge

Willow-Bluegrass

Beaked Sedge

Bluegrass

Baltic Rush

Anchored Rock

Coyote Willow

STABILITY

ROOT MASS

0

5

10

15

20

25

Miles

NebraskaSedge

Baltic Rush DouglasSedge

NevadaBluegrass

Column of soil12"X12"X16"

0 to 4 in

4 to 8 in

8 to 12 in12 to 16 in

10.) Riparian-wetland plants exhibit high vigor

11.) Adequate vegetative cover is present to protect banks and dissipate energy during high flows

12.) Plant communities are an adequate source of coarse and/or large woody material (for maintenance/recovery)

12.) Plant communities are an adequate source of coarse and/or large woody material (for maintenance/recovery)

-- Erosion/Deposition

YES NO NA 13) Floodplain and channel characteristics (i.e., rocks, overflow channels, coarse and/or large woody material) are adequate to dissipate energy

14) Point bars are revegetating with riparian-wetland vegetation

15) Lateral stream movement is associated with natural sinuosity

16) System is vertically stable

17) Stream is in balance with the water and sediment being supplied by the watershed (i.e., no excessive erosion or deposition)

13.) Floodplain and channel characteristics (i.e., rocks, overflow channels, coarse and/or large woody material) are adequate to dissipate energy

14.) Point bars are revegetating with riparian-wetland vegetation

15.) Lateral stream movement is associated with natural sinuosity

16.) System is vertically stable

17.) Stream is in balance with the water and sediment being supplied by the watershed (i.e., no excessive erosion or deposition)

17.) Stream is in balance with the water and sediment being supplied by the watershed (i.e., no excessive erosion or deposition)

RIPARIAN-WETLAND AREAS FUNCTION RIPARIAN-WETLAND AREAS FUNCTION PROPERLY WHEN ADEQUATE PROPERLY WHEN ADEQUATE VEGETATION LANDFORM, OR LARGE VEGETATION LANDFORM, OR LARGE WOODY DEBRIS IS PRESENT TO WOODY DEBRIS IS PRESENT TO DISSIPATE STREAM ENERGY DISSIPATE STREAM ENERGY ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH WATERFLOWS, THEREBY REDUCING WATERFLOWS, THEREBY REDUCING EROSION AND IMPROVING WATER EROSION AND IMPROVING WATER QUALITY; FILTER SEDIMENT, CAPTURE QUALITY; FILTER SEDIMENT, CAPTURE BEDLOAD, AND AID FLOODPLAIN BEDLOAD, AND AID FLOODPLAIN DEVELOPMENT; IMPROVE FLOOD-DEVELOPMENT; IMPROVE FLOOD-WATER RECHARGE; DEVELOP ROOT WATER RECHARGE; DEVELOP ROOT MASSESS THAT STABLIZE MASSESS THAT STABLIZE STREAMBANKDS AGAINST CUTTING STREAMBANKDS AGAINST CUTTING ACTION; DEVELOP DIVERSE PONDING ACTION; DEVELOP DIVERSE PONDING AND CHANNEL CHARACTERISTICS TO AND CHANNEL CHARACTERISTICS TO PROVIDE THE HABITAT AND THE PROVIDE THE HABITAT AND THE WATER DEPTH, DURATION, AND WATER DEPTH, DURATION, AND TEMPERATURE NECESSARY FOR FISH TEMPERATURE NECESSARY FOR FISH PRODUCITON, WATERFOWL BREEDING, PRODUCITON, WATERFOWL BREEDING, AND OTHER USES; AND SUPPORT AND OTHER USES; AND SUPPORT GREATER BIODIVERSITYGREATER BIODIVERSITY.

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Lotic Overview Gen Plan 310