General Information for Riparian Assessment
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Instructions for Riparian Assessment |
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This riparian assessment was created for use by volunteer monitors to locate and compare riparian zones in need of restoration. This assessment was developed to be used with little to no training or experience in these types of field assessments. The only equipment needed to use this assessment is a map of the watershed, tape measure and the assessment form. This is a non-technical assessment and should not be used to prove that one site is of exceptional quality versus one site is of very poor quality. It should only give a relative comparison between the sites. It is very easy to over quantify these measures but remember many of the parameters are estimates, not exact data. There may be little or no difference between a site with a rating of 30 versus a site with a rating of 25.
It is hard to compare buffers within different land uses, but this assessment can be used in all land uses. A buffer within an agricultural area has many different needs and functions than one within a forested area. When there is a substantial change to land use another assessment should be done for that area. Averages should not be taken between very different buffers even if they are on the same stream. When looking at a buffer a fifty to one hundred foot length of stream should be assessed.
1. Riparian Width
This is a rough measurement of the width of the riparian buffer; this can be directly measured or estimated. Only include areas uncultivated by humans, do not include mowed lawns or agricultural fields. Though vegetated, these areas may have substantial negative impacts on both the riparian area and the stream. While doing this assessment, remember that the left bank should be distinguished from the right bank while facing downstream.
2. Riparian Density
This a measurement of the density of ground cover associated with the riparian vegetation. Remember that mowed grass or agricultural fields directly adjacent to the stream are not taken into account, even if these areas are very thick in vegetation; include only areas already designated as the buffer. A good way to look at this is to estimate the amount of soil covered by vegetation at a height of one inch above the ground.
3. Riparian Zonation
This is a measurement of the three designated zones of a riparian buffer. It is possible that a forested area reaches beyond the watershed without the presence of grassy or shrubby areas. Since forested areas are the best known buffer this is not a problem but a substantial indicator of a healthy buffer. These areas should be given the highest ratings. Areas missing only Zone 3 should be rated higher than if either of the other zones were not present.
4. Bank Stability
*Pictures taken from EPA Habitat Assessment and Physicochemical Parameters*
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60 100 Percent affected |
<5 Percent affected |
Symptoms of poor bank stability include bank failure due to eroding or collapsing banks and noticeable lack of vegetation. Stable banks show no or little sign of collapsing, often have substantial vegetation and have the ability to limit lateral movement of the channel. While doing this assessment remember that the left bank should be distinguished from the right bank while facing downstream.
5. Sedimentation
*Pictures taken from EPA Habitat Assessment and Physicochemical Parameters*
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>50 Percent of bottom affected |
<5 Percent of bottom affected |
Sedimentation occurs when larger particles settle in slower moving sections of the stream. Over time these particles can accumulate to form point bars and islands.
6. Embeddedness
*Pictures taken from EPA Habitat Assessment and Physicochemical Parameters*
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Embedded |
Not Embedded |
This measures the rate at which sediment accumulates over the entire stream bottom. Because larger particles tend to rise to the top, having a large amount of small particles over large particles indicates rapid sediment deposition. Picture a box of cereal, the larger pieces of cereal are on top of the crumbs, if you were to pour crumbs over the top of the cereal eventually the larger particles would be on the top.
7. Shading
One of the substantial effects of a riparian buffer is to shade the stream during hot periods of the year. This helps to keep the water at a cooler temperature which increases the capacity of the water to hold dissolved oxygen, making better habitat for species. Shading can vary during different periods of the day and the year. When doing an estimate of shading always think about summer vegetation and take into account different angles of the sun. At certain times of the day the sun can have a greater impact than others.
8. Percent Invasive Species
Compare invasive species to other native species and define if they are
relatively common or rare in the riparian area. A short list of common
Best Management Practices Methods, measures or practices to prevent or reduce water pollution, including but limited to, structural and non-structural controls, operation and maintenance procedures, and other requirements and scheduling and distribution of activities. This can include, but is not limited to, stream fencing to prevent animals from being in the stream, no till practices, organic farming and intercropping.
Canopy The top most layer of a forest formed by mature trees.
Embeddedness The extent to which gravel, cobble and boulders are sunken into the silt, sand or mud of the stream bottom.
Invasive Species Organisms that are not native to a given location and can cause problems, which may include a decrease in biodiversity.
Point Bars Accumulation of sediment formed behind obstructions in the stream. These areas often appear as islands and cause streams to split.
Riffle Zone Shallow section of stream or river with rapid current and a surface broken by gravel, rubble or boulders.
Riparian Zone The area directly adjacent to a body of water that provides a transition between aquatic and upland environments. This area is often referred to as a Riparian Buffer, which can include several types of vegetation from grasses to old growth trees.
Sediment Small particles of weathered rock, soil, organic materials, etc. that can be carried and suspended by runoff or streams.
Streambank - The portion of the stream cross-section which restricts lateral movement, where the water meets the land.
Stream Channel The course that water follows while moving downstream, this includes the streambanks and stream bottom.
Stream Order Helps to give scientist a relative measure of stream size at certain points within a watershed and also may determine species living at that point.
Streams in headwaters without tributaries are designated first order streams. When two first orders streams come together it is then a second order stream. If a first and second order stream combine it is still only a second order stream. Streams must be of the same order when combining to obtain the next larger order.
Instructions for Riparian Buffer Assessment
1. Riparian Width:
This is a measure of the Riparian Zone measured from the edge of the stream channel to the first disturbance. Some examples of disturbances are: Pavement, buildings, agricultural lands or lawn using fertilizers and pesticides, cow pasture, etc.
2. Riparian Density:
This is an estimate of the percent ground cover of riparian vegetation. This is only the percent of ground cover and does not include the canopy.
3. Riparian Zonation:
A three-zone system has been developed to aid in riparian planning which
involves the following areas: Zone 1
Zone 1 is nearest to the stream, its primary purpose is to stabilize the banks and provide aquatic habitat in the way of fallen logs and other debris. This area also serves for shade and is normally best when it has large canopy trees. This area is often missing from Agricultural areas.
Zone 2 is the middle segment that contains a managed forest, which may be harvested, and shrubby vegetation. This area is very important because it is said to remove 50-80% of pollutants. The width of this zone can vary due to and depending on land use and needs of landowners.
Zone 3 is the last segment of the riparian area and is farthest away from the stream. This area is the first line of defense against pollutants and often contains a thick, stiff grass filter area that slows runoff and removes the majority of sediment loads.
(DEP Stream ReLeaf Technical Training Manual)
4. Bank Stability:
This is a measure of the erosion and potential for erosion of the stream bank. Eroded, steep and undercut banks are more likely to collapse and cause sedimentation of the stream.
<5% of bank affected: Rate at this level if bank shows minimal or absence of bank failure and erosion; little chance of future problems; less than 5% affected.
5-30% of bank affected: Rate at this level if small infrequent areas are noticeably eroded or unstable affecting 5-30% of the bank. These areas may be healed over.
30-60% of bank affected: Rate at this level if banks are moderately unstable and 30-60% has noticeable areas of erosion.
60-100% of bank affected: Rate at this level if banks are severely unstable and raw areas are frequent with erosion scars affecting 60-100% of bank.
5. Sedimentation:
This is a measure of sediment accumulating in pools and changes in the stream bottom that may cause formation of islands or point bars.
<5% of bottom affected: Rate at this level if less than 5% of the bottom is affected by sedimentation with very little enlargement of point bars and islands.
5-30% of bottom affected: Rate at this level if 5-30% of bottom is affected and only noticeable enlargement of bars is from fine sediment and gravel.
30-50% of bottom affected: Rate at this level if 30-50% of bottom is affected with moderate deposition of gravel and fine sediment on old and new bars. Moderate deposition of pools frequent and noticeable sedimentation occurring at obstructions, bridges and bends.
>50% of bottom affected: Rate at this level if >50% of bottom is affected with heavy deposits of fine material and there is highly increased bar development. Pools arealmost absent due to substantial deposition.
6. Embeddedness:
This parameter refers to the extent to which gravel, cobble and boulders are sunken into the silt, sand or mud of the stream bottom. To measure this simply lift several rocks (approximately 10) from the stream bottom at the cross-section of a riffle zone and measure the percent that was covered by sediment. There should be a noticeable line where the rock begins to be exposed to the flow of water, take an average of these percentages.
7. Shading (Percent of stream shaded by vegetation):
Determine what percent of the stream that riparian vegetation around it shades. Estimate summer vegetation if this is being done in the winter or fall. This includes vegetation that is not very far above the water and may be growing low on the banks or in the stream itself.
8. Invasive Species:
Invasive species tend to disrupt diversity and disrupt the health of the buffer. Estimate the percent of invasive species present compared to native species.
Your Name: _______________________________
Stream Name: ______________________________
County: ___________________________________
Latitude: ____________ Longitude: ____________ Order: _______
Width: _____________ Depth: ________________
Surrounding Land Use: ___________________________
Best Management Practices in Use: ________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________
Sketch:
Additional Comments: __________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________
1. Riparian Width (in feet):
Left Bank:
>50
49-40
39-30
29-20
19-10
9-0
5
4
3
2
1
0
Right Bank:
>50
49-40
39-30
29-20
19-10
9-0
5
4
3
2
1
0
2. Riparian Density (Percent Cover):
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100-80 |
79-60 |
59-40 |
39-20 |
19-0 |
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5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
3. Riparian Zonation (Presence of 3 Zones):
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All 3 are present |
2 of 3 are present |
1 of 3 are present |
0 of 3 are present |
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5 |
4 3 |
2 |
1 |
4. Bank Stability:
Left Bank
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<5% bank affected |
5-30% affected |
30-60% affected |
60-100% affected |
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5 |
4 3 |
2 |
1 |
Right Bank
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<5% bank affected |
5-30% affected |
30-60% affected |
60-100% affected |
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5 |
4 3 |
2 |
1 |
5. Sedimentation:
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<5% of bottom affected |
5-30% affected |
30-50% affected |
>50% affected |
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5 |
4 3 |
2 |
1 |
6. Embeddedness:
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<25% cobble surrounded |
25-50% surrounded |
50-75% surrounded |
>75% surrounded |
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5 |
4 3 |
2 |
1 |
7. Shading:
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Complete |
Adequate |
Marginal |
Poor |
None |
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5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
8. Invasive Species
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Absent |
Extremely Rare |
Rare |
Somewhat Common |
Common |
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5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
Total Score:_______________
Applied Vegetation Dynamics Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, GIANT
HOGWEED.
http://www.appliedvegetationdynamics.co.uk/hogweed/
Invasive Exotic Species, Japanese Honeysuckle. http://www.invasive.org/weeds/JH.html
National Park Service. http://www.nps.gov/
Pennsylvania DCNR. Invasive Plants in Pennsylvania (Pamphlet). (2000)
Phragmites australis: The Common Reed. http://omega.cc.umb.edu/~conne/leslie/lesliepage.htm
Purdue University: School of Veterinary Medicine, Johnsongrass. http://www.vet.purdue.edu/depts/addl/toxic/plant43.htm
Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Common Reed. http://www.noble.org/imagegallery/grasshtml/CommonReed.htm
Schnier, Melissa. Riparian Area Assessment. Penn State University
Stream ReLeaf Technical Training Manual 2001. Contributing organizations include Pennsylvania DEP, Pennsylvania DCNR, NRCS, York County Conservation District. Organized by Pennsylvania DEP Bureau of Watershed Management
United States EPA. Rapid Bioassessment Protocol: “Habitat Assessment and Physicochemical Parameters”. http://www.epa.gov/owow/monitoring/rbp/ch05b.html