11

Natural Riparian ResourcesNatural Riparian Resources

Erosion/Deposition

Water

Vegetation

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8. There is a diverse age-class distribution 8. There is a diverse age-class distribution of riparian-wetland vegetation (recruitment of riparian-wetland vegetation (recruitment

for maintenance/recovery)for maintenance/recovery)

Purpose:Purpose:– Determine if sufficient age classes Determine if sufficient age classes

are present to indicate recruitment are present to indicate recruitment is occurringis occurring

– Does not mean all age-classes are Does not mean all age-classes are presentpresent

– Usually two age classes are Usually two age classes are sufficientsufficient

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Mature shrubs

Young shrubs

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Is there a diverse age class of riparian-wetland vegetation?

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Is there a diverse age class of riparian-wetland vegetation?

Item 8: Diverse age classesItem 8: Diverse age classes

An “N/A” answer would apply for those An “N/A” answer would apply for those riparian-wetland areas that occur in riparian-wetland areas that occur in bedrock, such as this CA reservoirbedrock, such as this CA reservoir

66

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9. There is diverse composition of riparian-wetland 9. There is diverse composition of riparian-wetland vegetation (for maintenance/recovery)vegetation (for maintenance/recovery)

Purpose:Purpose:– Determine if sufficient plant species are Determine if sufficient plant species are

present for maintenance or recoverypresent for maintenance or recovery– Documents the existence of the Documents the existence of the

appropriate plantsappropriate plants– Does not indicate whether there is enough Does not indicate whether there is enough

of the plantsof the plants– Usually 2 or more species are sufficientUsually 2 or more species are sufficient

9. There is diverse composition of riparian-9. There is diverse composition of riparian-wetland vegetation (for maintenance/recovery)wetland vegetation (for maintenance/recovery)

88

CattailsBulrush

Sedge

AlderRed osierdogwood

Is there diverse composition of riparian-wetland vegetation?

9. There is diverse composition of riparian-9. There is diverse composition of riparian-wetland vegetation (for maintenance/recovery)wetland vegetation (for maintenance/recovery)

A “No” response would occur if:A “No” response would occur if: The ID team determined that a riparian-The ID team determined that a riparian-

wetland area required both woody and wetland area required both woody and herbaceous vegetation, but only one or the herbaceous vegetation, but only one or the other was present.other was present.

If only one (or more) species was (were) If only one (or more) species was (were) present, but it (they collectively) had a present, but it (they collectively) had a narrow range of tolerance to narrow range of tolerance to environmental conditions. environmental conditions.

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IIIIII 1212

Is there diverse composition of riparian-wetland vegetation?

9. There is diverse composition of riparian-9. There is diverse composition of riparian-wetland vegetation (for maintenance/recovery)wetland vegetation (for maintenance/recovery)

““N/A” would apply to those types of areas N/A” would apply to those types of areas that do not require vegetation to function that do not require vegetation to function properly.properly.

1313

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

Purpose:Purpose:– Indicate the presence of a shallow water Indicate the presence of a shallow water

tabletable– It does not ask if there is enough plantsIt does not ask if there is enough plants– Only that the plants that are there indicate Only that the plants that are there indicate

the maintenance of riparian-wetland the maintenance of riparian-wetland moisture conditionsmoisture conditions

Wetland Plants Wetland Plants Indicator CategoriesIndicator Categories

Obligate Wetland (OBL)Obligate Wetland (OBL) Facultative Wetland (FACW)Facultative Wetland (FACW) Facultative (FAC)Facultative (FAC) Facultative Upland (FACU)Facultative Upland (FACU) Obligate UplandObligate Upland (UPL)(UPL)

• based on the likelihood of their based on the likelihood of their occurrence in wetlands or nonwetlandsoccurrence in wetlands or nonwetlands

Wetland Plant Lists RegionsWetland Plant Lists Regions

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Obligate WetlandObligate WetlandPlants that almost always occur (99% of Plants that almost always occur (99% of the time) in wetlands under natural the time) in wetlands under natural conditionsconditions

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Facultative WetlandFacultative WetlandPlants that occur most of the time, 67 to 99 Plants that occur most of the time, 67 to 99 percent of the time, in wetland situations. percent of the time, in wetland situations. They usually occupy the drier side of They usually occupy the drier side of wetland areas.wetland areas.

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Facultative (FAC)Facultative (FAC)Plant species that occur equally (34% Plant species that occur equally (34% to 66%) in wetland and upland areasto 66%) in wetland and upland areas

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Facultative UplandFacultative UplandPlant species that occur most of the Plant species that occur most of the time (67% to 99%) in uplands time (67% to 99%) in uplands

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Do species present indicate maintenance of riparian-wetlandsoil moisture characteristics?

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

Purpose:Purpose:– Shorelines (e.g.,open water areas) and soil Shorelines (e.g.,open water areas) and soil

surface (e.g., springs, seeps, wet meadows surface (e.g., springs, seeps, wet meadows have the right plants or plant communities in have the right plants or plant communities in place.place.

Only asks if the right species are present, NOT if Only asks if the right species are present, NOT if they are in sufficient amounts (but more than they are in sufficient amounts (but more than scattered plants).scattered plants).

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Is vegetation comprised of those plants or plant communities that have root masses capable of withstanding wind events, wave flow events, or overland flows?

11. Vegetation to prevent soil erosion11. Vegetation to prevent soil erosion

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Is vegetation comprised of those plants or plant communities that have root masses capable of withstanding wind events, wave flow events, or overland flows?

““N/A” would apply to those types of areas N/A” would apply to those types of areas that do not require vegetation to function that do not require vegetation to function properly.properly.

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11. Vegetation to prevent soil erosion11. Vegetation to prevent soil erosion

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12: Riparian-wetland plants exhibit high vigor12: Riparian-wetland plants exhibit high vigor

Purpose:Purpose:– Determine if riparian-wetland plants are Determine if riparian-wetland plants are

healthy and robust with appropriate healthy and robust with appropriate reproductionreproduction

– Or stressed and weakened with little or Or stressed and weakened with little or no reproductionno reproduction

Plant Vigor—ProductionNebraska Sedge

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12: Riparian-wetland plants exhibit high vigor12: Riparian-wetland plants exhibit high vigor

Low vigor can be illustrated by:•Color (chlorosis)•Necrosis (tissue degeneration)•Wilting•Relative size, productivity or reproductivity

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13: Adequate riparian-wetland vegetative 13: Adequate riparian-wetland vegetative cover is present to protect shoreline/soil cover is present to protect shoreline/soil

surface and dissipate energy during high wind surface and dissipate energy during high wind and wave events or overland flows.and wave events or overland flows.

Purpose:Purpose:– To determine if there is a sufficient amount To determine if there is a sufficient amount

of riparian wetland vegetation to dissipate of riparian wetland vegetation to dissipate energy from high wind/wave events or energy from high wind/wave events or high overland flowhigh overland flow

13: Adequate riparian-wetland 13: Adequate riparian-wetland vegetative covervegetative cover

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Softstem bulrush

Three-square bulrush

13: Adequate riparian-wetland 13: Adequate riparian-wetland vegetative covervegetative cover

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14: Frost or abnormal hydrologic 14: Frost or abnormal hydrologic heaving is not presentheaving is not present

PurposePurpose– Determine whether frost or hydrologic Determine whether frost or hydrologic

heaving is at a normal or aggravated heaving is at a normal or aggravated raterate

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

characteristicscharacteristics

PurposePurpose– Determine if microsite conditions are Determine if microsite conditions are

necessary for proper functioning, necessary for proper functioning, and if so, whether adjacent site and if so, whether adjacent site characteristics are maintaining those characteristics are maintaining those conditionsconditions