Attachment 3 Lentic and Lotic Forms.pdf

Appendix A—Assessment Forms and Instructions

RIPARIAN AREA MANAGEMENT – Proper Functioning Condition Assessment for Lentic Areas

Lentic Riparian-Wetland Assessment Area Information Form

I. Background information: Date:

Riparian-wetland area name: Area ID:

Management unit (allotment/pasture, other):

Administrative unit/state:

ID team members:

Areal extent of riparian-wetland assessment area: (acres/hectares – circle one)

Assessment method:

Complete ground reconnaissance

Ground inspection of selected representative areas

Remote imagery with selective ground inspection of representative or other areas requiring closer inspection

II. Location of riparian-wetland assessment area:

Location: Attach aerial image, USGS 7.5-minute topographic map, or GIS map with the riparian-wetland assessment area delineated. Use GIS in the office or GPS in the field to obtain a representative location to affix a point to the riparian-wetland assessment area.

GIS/GPS point location of riparian-wetland assessment area

Latitude: N Longitude: W or

UTM E m UTM N m

Datum: NAD27 NAD83 WGS84 Other (specify):

UTM Zone (required for UTM coordinates):

III. Description of potential and rationale: Should include description of hydrologic regime, geomorphic setting, important soil properties, and riparian-wetland plant communities at potential (if altered potential is present, use the “Altered Potential Attachment” below):

IV. Other assessment or monitoring data or information about the riparian-wetland assessment area:

Lentic Riparian-Wetland Assessment Area Information Form – Altered Potential Attachment

See appendix D for instructions and examples for addressing these questions.

1. Have the alterations created artificial conditions for a substantial part of the site (and riparian-wetland functions are not present or expected)?

2. Are alterations present, but the potential of the site remains unchanged?

3. Has a new lentic riparian-wetland area been created in a former upland area?

4. Are alterations present that have changed the potential of an existing lentic site (but have not created artificial site conditions described in question #1 for a substantial part of the site)?

PFC Assessment Form (Lentic)

Riparian-wetland area name: Date:

Assessment ID team members:

Riparian-wetland area ID:

Yes No NA HYDROLOGY

1. Riparian-wetland area is saturated at or near the surface or inundated in “relatively frequent” events.

Rationale:

2. Fluctuation of water levels is within a range that maintains hydrologic functions and riparian-wetland vegetation.

Rationale:

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

Rationale:

4. Riparian-wetland impairment from the contributing area is absent.

Rationale:

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

Rationale:

6. Disturbances or features that negatively affect surface- and subsurface- flow patterns are absent. These disturbances/features include but are not limited to hoof action, dams, dikes, levees, spring boxes, diversions, trails, roads, rills, gullies, drilling activities.

Rationale:

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

Rationale:

Yes No NA VEGETATION

8. There is adequate diversity of stabilizing riparian-wetland vegetation for recovery/ maintenance.

Rationale:

9. There are adequate age classes of stabilizing riparian-wetland vegetation for recovery/maintenance.

Rationale:

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

11. Stabilizing plant communities are present that are capable of withstanding overland flows (e.g., storm events, snowmelt), and wind and wave actions, and can resist physical alteration.

Rationale:

12. Riparian-wetland plants exhibit high vigor.

Rationale:

13. An adequate amount of stabilizing riparian-wetland vegetation is present to protect soil surfaces and shorelines, to dissipate energy from overland flows and wind and wave actions, and to resist physical alteration.

Rationale:

14. Abnormal frost or hydrologic heaving is absent.

Rationale:

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

Yes No NA SOILS/GEOMORPHOLOGY

16. Accumulation of chemicals affecting plant productivity/composition is absent.

Rationale:

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

Rationale:

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

Rationale:

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

Rationale:

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

Summary Determination

Functional rating (check one)

Proper functioning condition

Functional–at risk

Nonfunctional

Trend for FAR rating (check one) Monitored trend Apparent trend

Upward Upward

Downward Downward

Static Not apparent

Rationale for rating:

Rationale for trend (for FAR rating):

PFC

FAR

NF

Are there factors present preventing the achievement of PFC or affecting progress towards desired condition that are outside the control of the manager?

Yes No

If yes, what are those factors? Check all that apply.

Flow regulation Land ownership Road encroachment

Mining activity Dewatering Oil field water discharge

Watershed condition Dredging activity Augmented flows

Other (specify): __________________________________________________________________

Explain factors preventing achievement of PFC:

RIPARIAN AREA MANAGEMENT – Proper Functioning Condition Assessment for Lotic Areas

107Appendix A—Instructions and Forms

Reach Information Form (Lotic)

I. Background information: Date:

Riparian area/stream name: Reach ID:

Management unit (allotment/pasture, other):

Administrative unit/state:

ID team members:

Assessment method: Reach length (miles/km):

o Complete reconnaissance o Selective inspection of representative areas o Remote imagery with selective ground inspection

Location: Attach aerial image, USGS 7.5-minute topographic map, or GIS map with reach breaks indicated.

II. Reach break location:

Reach starting point (upstream) Reach ending point (downstream)

N. Lat. UTM E m N. Lat. UTM E m or or

W. Long. N m W. Long. N m

Positions by GPS? o Yes o No Photos taken? o Yes o No UTM Zone:

Datum: o NAD27 o NAD83 o WGS84 o Other (specify):

Rationale for reach breaks:

III. Description of potential and rationale (should include description of hydrologic regime, stream type(s), and riparian plant communities at potential; may include additional information such as valley type, gradient, entrenchment ratio, sinuosity, width/depth ratio, and bed and bank materials):

108 Appendix A—Instructions and Forms

IV. Other assessment or monitoring data or information about the reach:

111Appendix A—Instructions and Forms

PFC Assessment Form (Lotic)

Riparian area/stream name: Reach ID: Date:

Yes No NA HYDROLOGY

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

Rationale:

2) Beaver dams are stable.

Rationale:

Rationale:

4) Riparian area is expanding or has achieved potential extent.

Rationale:

5) Riparian impairment from the upstream or upland watershed is absent.

Rationale:

112 Appendix A—Instructions and Forms

Yes No NA VEGETATION

6) There is adequate diversity of stabilizing riparian vegetation for recovery/maintenance.

Rationale:

7) There are adequate age classes of stabilizing riparian vegetation for recovery/maintenance.

Rationale:

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

Rationale:

Rationale:

10) Riparian plants exhibit high vigor.

Rationale:

Rationale:

113Appendix A—Instructions and Forms

12) Plant communities are an adequate source of woody material for maintenance/recovery.

Rationale:

Yes No NA GEOMORPHOLOGY

Rationale:

14) Point bars are revegetating with stabilizing riparian plants.

Rationale:

15) Streambanks are laterally stable.

Rationale:

16) Stream system is vertically stable (not incising).

Rationale:

Rationale:

114 Appendix A—Instructions and Forms

Summary Determination

Functional rating (check one) o Proper functioning condition o Functional–at risk o Nonfunctional

Trend (check one)

Monitored trend Apparent trend o Upward o Upward o Downward o Downward o Static o Not apparent

Rationale for rating:

Rationale for trend:

PFC

FAR

NF

115Appendix A—Instructions and Forms

Are there factors present preventing the achievement of PFC or affecting progress towards desired condition that are outside the control of the manager?

o Yes o No

If yes, what are those factors? Check all that apply.

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

Explain factors preventing achievement of PFC:

(Revised 2014)