Site Assessment Worksheet page 1 of 2
Name_________________________________________________
Lake/River________________________________
Date___________________
County_____________________
General Conditions
Biome:
❏ Coniferous forest
❏ Deciduous forest
❏ Prairie grasslands
Slope or aspect faces which direction:
❏ East
❏ West
❏ North
❏ South
Steepness of slope:
❏ Nearly vertical
❏ > 45% angle
❏ < 45% angle
❏ Relatively flat
Wave action on shoreline:
❏ Severe
❏ Moderate
❏ Infrequent
❏ Minimal
Source of wave action:
❏ Wind
❏ Boat traffic
❏ Other _________
Ice ridge present:
❏ No
❏ Yes
If yes, how high __________
Water level fluctuation:
❏ Highly variable
❏ Moderately variable
❏ Relatively stable
Reasons for water level change:
❏ Seasonal (high in spring, low in summer and fall)
❏ Control at the outlet
❏ Changes after most rains
Physical Conditions by Shoreland Zone
UPLAND (Moist to dry area within 25-50 feet from the waters edge)
Depth/Width of zone: ________________
Soil—type:
❏ Sand
❏ Loam
❏ Silt/clay
❏ Gravel (<2 in)
❏ Rubble (2-10 in)
❏ Boulders (> 10 in)
❏ Other _________
Soil—nutrient levels: ❏ Nitrogen (N) _______ ❏ Phosphorus (P) _______
❏ Potassium (K) _______
Soil—pH: ❏ Alkaline ❏ Neutral
❏ Acidic
Exposure: ❏ Full sun ❏ Partial sun
❏ Full shade
❏ Other ___________
Moisture: ❏ Usually damp ❏ Seasonally damp
❏ Well-drained (usually dry)
❏ Other ____________
TRANSITIONAL (Area of moist to saturated soil between the aquatic and upland zones)
Depth/Width of zone: ________________
Soil—type:
❏ Sand
❏ Loam
❏ Silt/clay
❏ Gravel (<2 in)
❏ Rubble (2-10 in)
❏ Boulders (> 10 in)
❏ Other _________
Soil—nutrient levels: ❏ Nitrogen (N) _______ ❏ Phosphorus (P) _______
❏ Potassium (K) _______
Soil—pH: ❏ Alkaline ❏ Neutral
❏ Acidic
Exposure: ❏ Full sun ❏ Partial sun
❏ Full shade
❏ Other ___________
Moisture: ❏ Saturated
❏ Usually damp
❏ Seasonally damp
❏ Other __________
AQUATIC (Area normally in standing water; includes emergent, submergent & floating-leaved plants)
Depth/Width of zone: ________________
Soil—type:
❏ Sand
❏ Silt/clay
❏ Soft muck
❏ Organic detritus
❏ Gravel (<2 in)
❏ Rubble (2-10 in)
❏ Boulders (> 10 in)
❏ Other __________
Exposure: ❏ Full sun ❏ Partial sun
❏ Full Shade
❏ Other __________
Ryeousrtore
Shore
Site Assessment Worksheet page 2 of 2
Biological Features—Plants and Animals
Native plant community type(s):
Upland: _____________________________________________________________________________
Transitional: __________________________________________________________________________
Aquatic: _____________________________________________________________________________
Existing vegetation (how much, what kind)?
Upland: ❏ Turf grass
❏ Mostly invasives
❏ Mix of invasives & natives
❏ Mostly natives
Transitional: ❏ Sand/rock beach
❏ Turf grass
❏ Mostly invasives
❏ Invasives & natives
❏ Mostly natives
Aquatic: ❏ None
❏ Mostly invasives
❏ Mix of invasives & natives ❏ Mostly natives
Special features, such as rare plants, high quality wildlife habitat or wildlife use (what kind, when):
Upland: _____________________________________________________________________________
Transitional: __________________________________________________________________________
Aquatic: _____________________________________________________________________________
Nuisance plants and/or animals (for example purple loosestrife, flowering rush, Canada geese, carp):
Upland: _____________________________________________________________________________
Transitional: __________________________________________________________________________
Aquatic: _____________________________________________________________________________
Current Management and Shoreline Problems
Upland: ❏ Natural ❏ Mowed
❏ Rock ❏ Wooded
❏ Garden
❏ Other _____________
Transitional: ❏ Natural ❏ Mowed
❏ Rock ❏ Wooded ❏ Garden
❏ Other _____________
Aquatic: ❏ Natural
❏ Weed-rolled
❏ Sand
❏ Rock
❏ Other ______________
Shoreline treatment: ❏ Riprap
❏ Keystone
❏ Retaining wall
❏ Coir log
❏ Other ______________
Is the shoreline treatment failing:
❏ Yes
❏ No
Degree of upland erosion:
❏ Severe
❏ Moderate
❏ Some
❏ None
Description (such as gullies, ground settling) __________________________________________
Degree of shoreline erosion:
❏ Severe
❏ Moderate
❏ Some
❏ None
Description (such as undercut banks) ________________________________________________
Other Comments: _______________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Ryeousrtore
Shore