California Rapid Assessment Method for Wetlands - State Water ...

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California Rapid Assessment Method for Wetlands v. 5.0.2 – Chapter 4 AA Assessment Area (AA) Extended AA Non-buffer Land Cover Segments 500 m Figure 4.1: Diagram of method to assess Landscape Connectivity of riverine wetlands. This example shows that about 400 m of non-buffer cover crosses at least one half of the buffer corridor within 500 m downstream of the AA, and about 10 m crosses the corridor upstream of the AA. Worksheet 4.2: Landscape Connectivity Metric for Riverine Wetlands Lengths of Non-buffer Segments For Distance of 500 m Upstream of AA Lengths of Non-buffer Segments For Distance of 500 m Downstream of AA Segment No. Length (m) Segment No. Length (m) 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 Upstream Total Length Downstream Total Length Table 4.3: Rating for Landscape Connectivity for Riverine wetlands. Notes: a. Assume the riparian width is the same upstream and downstream as it is for the AA, unless a substantial change in width is obvious for a distance of at least 100 m. b. Assume that open water areas serve as buffer (only for this metric as it applies to riverine wetlands). c. The minimum length for any non-buffer segment (measured parallel to the channel) is 10 m. d. To be a concern, a non-buffer segment must cross the riparian area on at least one side of the AA. e. For wadeable systems, assess both sides of the channel upstream and downstream of the AA. f. For systems that cannot be waded, only assess the accessible side of the channel, upstream and downstream of the AA. 46
California Rapid Assessment Method for Wetlands v. 5.0.2 – Chapter 4 Table 4.3 (Continued): Rating for Landscape Connectivity for Riverine wetlands. Rating A B B C D D For Distance of 500 m Upstream of AA: The combined total length of all nonbuffer segments is less than 100 m for wadeable systems (“2-sided” AAs); 50 m for non-wadeable systems (“1-sided” AAs). The combined total length of all nonbuffer segments is less than 100 m for “2- sided” AAs; 50 m for “1-sided” AAs. OR The combined total length of all nonbuffer segments is between 100 m and 200 m for “2-sided” AAs; 50 m and 100 m for “1-sided” AAs. The combined total length of all nonbuffer segments is between 100 m and 200 m for “2-sided” AAs; 50 m and 100 m for “1-sided” AAs. The combined total length of non-buffer segments is greater than 200 m for “2- sided” AAs; greater than 100 m for “1- sided” AAs. any condition OR For Distance of 500 m Downstream of AA: The combined total length of all non-buffer segments is less than 100 m for wadeable systems (“2-sided” AAs); 50 m for nonwadeable systems (“1-sided” AAs). The combined total length of all non-buffer segments is between 100 m and 200 m for “2- sided” AAs; 50 m and 100 m for “1-sided” AAs. The combined total length of all non-buffer segments is less than 100 m for “2-sided” AAs; is less than 50 m for “1-sided” AAs. The combined total length of all non-buffer segments is between 100 m and 200 m for “2- sided” AAs; 50 m and 100 m for “1-sided” AAs. any condition The combined total length of non-buffer segments is greater than 200 m for “2-sided” AAs; greater than 100 m for “1-sided” AAs. 4.1.2 Percent of AA with Buffer A. Definition: The buffer is the area adjoining the AA that is in a natural or semi-natural state and currently not dedicated to anthropogenic uses that would severely detract from its ability to entrap contaminants, discourage visitation into the AA by people and non-native predators, or otherwise protect the AA from stress and disturbance. B. Rationale: The ability of buffers to protect a wetland increases with buffer extent along the wetland perimeter. For some kinds of stress, such as predation by feral pets or disruption of plant communities by cattle, small breaks in buffers may be adequate to nullify the benefits of an existing buffer. However, for most stressors, small breaks in buffers caused by such features as trails and small, unpaved roadways probably do not significantly disrupt the buffer functions. C. Seasonality: This metric is not sensitive to seasonality. D. Office and Field Indicators: The assessment should be conducted first in the office, using aerial imagery and land-use maps, as available. The office work should then be verified in the field. This metric is assessed by visually estimating the total percentage of the perimeter of the 47
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