Checklist_Forms.pdf

Standard Checklist

Name of Riparian-Wetland Area:__________________________________________

Date:__________________ Segment/Reach ID: ____________________________

Miles:__________________ Acres:_________________

ID Team Observers: ____________________________________________________

Yes No N/A HYDROLOGY

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

Yes No N/A VEGETATION

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 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)

Yes No N/A EROSION/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)

(Revised 1998)

Remarks

Summary Determination

Functional Rating:

Proper Functioning Condition ________ Functional—At Risk ________

Nonfunctional ________ Unknown ________

Trend for Functional—At Risk:

Upward _____ Downward _____

Not Apparent _____

Are factors contributing to unacceptable conditions outside the control of the manager?

Yes ___ No ___

If yes, what are those factors?

___ Flow regulations ___ Mining activities ___ Upstream channel conditions ___ Channelization ___ Road encroachment ___ Oil field water discharge ___ Augmented flows ___ Other (specify)_________________________________

Lentic Standard Checklist

Name of Riparian-Wetland Area:__________________________________________

Date:___________ Area/Segment ID: _________________ Acres:___________

ID Team Observers: ____________________________________________________

Yes No N/A HYDROLOGY

1) Riparian-wetland area is saturated at or near the surface or inundated in

“relatively frequent” events

2) Fluctuation of water levels is not excessive

3) Riparian-wetland area is enlarging or has achieved potential extent

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

5) Water quality is sufficient to support riparian-wetland plants

6) Natural surface or subsurface flow patterns are not altered by disturbance

(i.e., hoof action, dams, dikes, trails, roads, rills, gullies, drilling activities)

7) Structure accommodates safe passage of flows (e.g., no headcut affecting dam or spillway)

Yes No N/A VEGETATION

8) There is diverse age-class distribution of riparian-wetland vegetation

(recruitment for maintenance/recovery)

9) There is diverse composition of riparian-wetland vegetation

(for maintenance/recovery)

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

11) Vegetation is comprised of those plants or plant communities that have root masses capable of withstanding wind events, wave flow events, or overland flows (e.g., storm events, snowmelt)

12) Riparian-wetland plants exhibit high vigor

13) Adequate riparian-wetland vegetative cover is present to protect shoreline/soil surface and dissipate energy during high wind and wave events or overland flows

14) Frost or abnormal hydrologic heaving is not present

15) Favorable microsite condition (i.e., woody material, water temperature, etc.) is maintained by adjacent site characteristics

Yes No N/A EROSION/DEPOSITION

16) Accumulation of chemicals affecting plant productivity/composition is not apparent

17) Saturation of soils (i.e., ponding, flooding frequency, and duration) is sufficient to compose and maintain hydric soils

18) Underlying geologic structure/soil material/permafrost is capable of restricting water percolation

19) Riparian-wetland is in balance with the water and sediment being supplied by the watershed (i.e., no excessive erosion or deposition)

20) Islands and shoreline characteristics (i.e., rocks, coarse and/or large woody material) are adequate to dissipate wind and wave event energies

(Revised 1999)

Remarks

Summary Determination

Functional Rating:

Proper Functioning Condition ________

Functional—At Risk ________

Nonfunctional ________

Unknown ________

Trend for Functional—At Risk:

Upward _____

Downward _____

Not Apparent _____

Are factors contributing to unacceptable conditions outside the control of the manager?

Yes ___

No ___

If yes, what are those factors?

___ Dewatering ___ Mining activities ___ Watershed condition

___ Dredging activities ___ Road encroachment ___ Land ownership

___ Other (specify)____________________________________

Date: Riparian Area:

ID Team: Reach ID:

Comments:

NA Optimal Sub-Optimal Marginal Poor

Instream Cover

Habitat available in stream (fallen trees, logs, branches, large rocks, and undercuts)

>50% 31-50% 11-30% <11%

Embeddedness

Extent which rocks (gravel, cobble, boulders) are covered or sunken into stream)

0-25% 26-50% 51-75% >75%

Stream Bank

Conditions

Extent which erosion is occurring, or has the potential to occur.

Stable

No evidence of erosion or bank failure.

Moderately Stable

Infrequent small areas of erosion, mostly healed over.

Moderately

Unstable

Up to 50% of banks have areas of erosion

Unstable

Many eroded areas, “raw” areas frequent, 51-100% of the bank has erosional scars.

Bank Vegetation

Conditions The amount of the stream bank that is covered by vegetation.

>90% 71-90% 51-70% <50%

Extent of Grazing

Pressure

The extent of grazing impacts and its effect on streamside vegetation and instream pools.

Minimal or Not

Evident

Almost all plants are allowed to grow naturally, little evidence of manure accumulation, little trampling near instream pools.

Evident

Only moderate impacts on stubble height, only scattered manure present, instream pools are being used by cattle but are not significantly impacted

Obvious

Patches of bare soil or closely cropped vegetation area common.

High

Patches of bare soil or closely cropped vegetation area common, less than 25% of the potential stubble height is remaining, grazing is affecting plant species composition, manure accumulation is very high, cattle are using instream pools and are having severe impacts on pool vegetation and water quality.