2013.03....e 6.1.pdf - Cram

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Table 16: Rating of Topographic Complexity for Riverine Wetlands. Rating A Alternative States (based on worksheet and diagrams in Figure 10 above) AA as viewed along a typical cross-section has at least two benches at different elevations (not including the channel bottom or high riparian terraces not influenced by fluvial processes). Features below the bankfull elevation are part of the active channel and cannot be considered benches. Additionally, each of these benches, plus the slopes between the benches, contain physical patch types or micro-topographic features such as boulders or cobbles, partially buried woody debris, undercut banks, secondary channels and debris jams that contribute to abundant micro-topographic relief as illustrated in profile A. AA has at least two benches above bankfull elevation, but these benches mostly lack abundant micro-topographic complexity. The AA resembles profile B1. B OR AA has one bench above bankfull elevation, and this bench has abundant microtopographic complexity as described in the A condition above. The AA resembles profile B2. C AA has a single bench that lacks abundant micro-topographic complexity, as illustrated in profile C. D AA as viewed along a typical cross-section lacks any obvious bench. The crosssection is best characterized as a single, uniform slope with or without microtopographic complexity, as illustrated in profile D (includes concrete channels). 33
Metric 1: Plant Community Metric Attribute 4: Biotic Structure Definition: The Plant Community Metric is composed of three submetrics: Number of Plant Layers, Number of Co-dominant Plant Species, and Percent Invasion. A thorough reconnaissance of an AA is required to assess its condition using these submetrics. The assessment for each submetric is guided by a set of Plant Community Worksheets. The Plant Community metric is calculated based on these worksheets. A “plant” is defined as an individual of any vascular macrophyte species of tree, shrub, herb/forb, or fern, whether submerged, floating, emergent, prostrate, decumbent, or erect, including non-native (exotic) plant species. Mosses and algae are not included among the species identified in the assessment of the plant community. For the purposes of CRAM, a plant “layer” is a stratum of vegetation indicated by a discreet canopy at a specified height that comprises at least 5% of the area of the AA where the layer is expected. Non-native species owe their occurrence in California to the actions of people since shortly before Euroamerican contact. Many non-native species are now naturalized in California, and may be widespread in occurrence. “Invasive” species are non-native species that “(1) are not native to, yet can spread into, wildland ecosystems, and that also (2) displace native species, hybridize with native species, alter biological communities, or alter ecosystem processes” (CalIPC 2012). CRAM uses the California Invasive Plant Council (CalIPC) list to determine the invasive status of plants, with augmentation by regional experts. Submetric A: Number of Plant Layers Present To be counted in CRAM, a layer must cover at least 5% of the portion of the AA that is suitable for the layer. For instance, the aquatic layer called “floating” would be expected in the channel of the riverine systems, and would be judged as present if 5% of the channel area of the AA had floating vegetation. The “short,” “medium,” and “tall” layers might be found throughout the non-aquatic and aquatic areas of the AA, except in areas of exposed bedrock, deep water, or active point bars denuded of vegetation, etc. The “very tall” layer is usually expected to occur along the backshore, but may occupy most of the riparian area in some locations. It is essential that the layers be identified by the actual plant heights (i.e., the approximate maximum heights) of plant species in the AA, regardless of the growth potential of the species. For example, a young sapling redwood between 0.5 m and 1.5 m tall would belong to the “medium” layer, even though in the future the same individual redwood might belong to the “Very Tall” layer. Some species might belong to multiple plant layers. For example, groves of red alders of all different ages and heights might collectively represent all four non-aquatic layers in a riverine AA. Riparian vines, such as wild grape, might also dominate all of the non-aquatic layers. The height of any individual vine plant is determined by its current maximum growth, but a particular species may have individuals in more than one plant layer. It should be noted that widespread species may occupy different layers in different parts of California, and the identification of dominant species must be based on an identification of the actual species present in the AA. 34
Page 1: ` California Rapid Assessment Metho
Page 4 and 5: Photo Identification Numbers and De
Page 6 and 7: Identify Wetland Type Figure 1: Flo
Page 8 and 9: Valley Width A B Bankfull Width C D
Page 10 and 11: Figure 3: Diagram of the lateral ex
Page 12 and 13: Attribute 1: Buffer and Landscape C
Page 14 and 15: Table 5a: Rating for Stream Corrido
Page 16 and 17: Figure 5: Diagram of approach to es
Page 18 and 19: Submetric B: Average Buffer Width D
Page 20 and 21: Submetric C: Buffer Condition Defin
Page 22 and 23: Table 11: Rating for Water Source.
Page 24 and 25: Worksheet for Assessing Channel Sta
Page 26 and 27: Riverine Wetland Entrenchment Ratio
Page 28 and 29: Metric 1: Structural Patch Richness
Page 30 and 31: Structural Patch Type Worksheet for
Page 32 and 33: Worksheet for AA Topographic Comple
Page 36 and 37: Layer definitions: Floating Layer.
Page 38 and 39: Table 17: Plant layer heights for a
Page 40 and 41: Metric 2: Horizontal Interspersion
Page 42 and 43: Metric 3: Vertical Biotic Structure
Page 44 and 45: Stressor Checklist Worksheet HYDROL
Page 46: CRAM Score Guidelines Step 1: Calcu

2013.03....e 6.1.pdf - Cram

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?