California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM)

for Wetlands and Riparian Habitats

Martha Sutula, Eric Stein, Betty FetscherSCCWRP

Josh Collins, Cristina Grosso, Letitia Grenier SFEI

Adam WiskindMLML

Ross ClarkCalifornia Coastal Commission

• assessment tool: wetland & riparian habitat condition

• rapid

• observational, multiple choice

• identifies stressors

What is CRAM?

CRAM Applicationso regional monitoring programs (e.g. So

Cal WRP & statewide) o watershed assessmentso agency-specific monitoring programs

(e.g. State & National Parks and Refuges)

o project monitoring(permits/restoration)

All wetlands of all types in CaliforniaCRAM Scope

streams & assoc. riparianestuarine

coastal lagoondepressionalvernal pools

wet meadowsseeps and springslacustrine (lake)

CRAM Conceptual Framework: Condition and Stressors

Wetland Condition

Landscape Hydrology Physical Structure

Biotic Structure

Stressor Check List

CRAM Conceptual Framework: Condition Attributes and Metrics

Wetland Condition

Landscape Context

Hydrology Physical Structure

Biotic Structure

% of AA with Buffer

Buffer Condition

Ave Buffer Width

Connectivity

Wetland Condition

Buffer Hydrology Physical Structure

Biotic Structure

Water Source

Hydrologic Connection

Hydroperiod

CRAM Conceptual Framework: Condition Attributes and Metrics

Wetland Condition

Buffer Hydrology Physical Structure

Biotic Structure

Structural Patch Richness

Topographic Complexity

CRAM Conceptual Framework: Condition Attributes and Metrics

Wetland Condition

Buffer Hydrology Physical Structure

Biotic Structure

Organic Matter Acc.

Vertical Biotic Structure

Interspersion & Zonation

Plant Comm. Composition

No. of Plant Layers Present

% Layers Dominated by Natives

No. of Co-dominant Spp.

% of Co-dominants as Natives

CRAM Conceptual Framework: Nested Condition Attributes & Metrics

BUFFER / LANDSCAPE CONTEXT ATTRIBUTE

A > 75 - 100% B > 50 - 75% C 25 - 50%

Percent of AA with Buffer metric

D < 25% A > 100 m B > 60 - 100 m C 30 - 60 m

Average Buffer Width metric

D < 30 m

A Buffer for AA is characterized by abundant native vegetation and little to no cover of non-native invasive plants from the CalEPPC “A” list, with intact soils, and little or no refuse.

B

Buffer for AA is characterized by moderate cover of native vegetation, moderate cover of non-native invasive plants, intact or moderately disrupted soils, moderate or lesser amounts of trash or refuse, and minor intensity of human visitation or recreation.

C

Buffer for AA is characterized by a prevalence of non-native invasive plants, and either moderate or extensive soil disruption, moderate or greater amounts of trash or refuse, and moderate intensity of human visitation or recreation.

Buffer Condition metric

D

Buffer for AA is characterized by barren ground and highly compacted or otherwise disrupted soils, with moderate or greater amounts of trash or refuse, and moderate or greater intensity of human visitation or recreation.

Metric Rating SchedulesTypes of metric rating schedules:

1. continuous values / threshold cutoffs

2. narratives (indicators)

3. schematics

Where to Assess

With

in

AA

Out

side

of

AA

Hydrology Present?• • Point Source (PS) Discharges (POTW, other non-stormwater discharge)• • Non-point Source (Non-PS) Discharges (urban runoff, farm drainage)• • Flow diversions • • Dams (reservoirs, detention basins, recharge basins)• Flow obstructions (culverts, paved stream crossings)• Weir/drop structure, tide gates• Dredged inlet/channel• Engineered channel (riprap, armored channel bank, bed)• Dike/levees, fills (e.g. from construction)• Groundwater extraction• • Other

Subtotal by Attribute

Physical Structure Present? • Filling or dumping of sediment orsoils (N/A for restoration areas)• Grading/ compaction (N/A for restoration areas)• Plowing/Discing (N/A for restoration areas)• Resource extraction (sediment, gravel, oil and/or gas) • Vegetation management• Excessive sediment or organic debris from watershed

• Nutrient-impaired (PS or Non-PS pollution)• Heavy-metal-impaired (PS or Non-PS pollution)• Pesticide- or trace-organics impaired (PS or Non-PS pollution)• Bacteria- and pathogen- impaired (PS or Non-PS pollution)• Trash or refuse• • Other

Stressor ChecklistStressor checklist

How Was CRAM Developed?

San Francisco Bay Area

Wetlands Regional Monitoring Program

San Francisco Bay Area

Wetlands Regional Monitoring Program

Central California Wetlands

Comprehensive GIS Project

Central Coast Wetlands

Working Group

Regional Partners across State

North Coast(SFEI)

Central Coast(MLML)

South Coast(SCCWRP)

CRAM Core Team

California Wetlands Monitoring

Venture

CRAM Developmental Steps1. formed Statewide & Regional Teams

2. developed conceptual models of form and function draft classification, attributes, and metrics

3. conducted “verification”, followed by revision

4. conducted calibration v 4.2 – PUBLIC!

5. completed CRAM web site, software, user’s manual, training materials, reference resources.

cramwetlands.org

• correlation w/ independent data

• reproducibility (w/in & between)

• user friendliness

• score distributions

Calibration Objectives

Estuarine vegetation

Riparian birds

Stream benthic macroinvertebrates

Independent Data Sources

for CRAM calibration

Map of statewide calibration

sites

Total sites used for calibration: 38 estuarine sites & 95 riverine sites

CRAM attribute Type of Intensive Data

rcorrelation

pValue

-BMI IBI +0.623 <0.0001-richness of non-riparian bird species (MAPS3)

+0.427 0.006

-richness of non-riparian bird species (MAPS3)

+0.386 0.01-BMI IBI +0.592 <0.0001

Hydrology -species richness of all birds (MAPS1)

+0.323 0.04

Landscape

0.01

0.003

Physical -BMI IBI +0.346

Biotic -BMI IBI +0.404

Overall

All CRAM Attributes Had Sign. Correlation with Intensive Measure of Condition

Example: Riverine wetlands

CRAM Developmental Steps1. formed Statewide & Regional Teams

2. developed conceptual models of form and function draft classification, attributes, and metrics

3. conducted “verification”, followed by revision

4. conducted calibration v 4.2 – PUBLIC!

5. completed CRAM web site, software, user’s manual, training materials, reference resources.

cramwetlands.org

Accessing CRAM materials:www.cramwetlands.org

More information:Betty Fetscher

bettyf@sccwrp.org 714-372-9237

More information:Betty Fetscher

bettyf@sccwrp.org 714-372-9237