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CHAPTER 5 - ANALYZING RIPARIAN CONDITION
Contents
CHAPTER 5 - ANALYZING RIPARIAN CONDITION ......................................................... 1
Contents ...................................................................................................................................... 1
5.1 - GENERAL GOALS FOR RIPARIAN-DEPENDENT RESOURCES. ...................... 1
5.2 - STANDARDS FOR RIPARIAN-DEPENDENT RESOURCES. ............................... 2
5.3 - RATING RIPARIAN CONDITION. .......................................................................... 4
The Region 3 riparian area policy requires restoring and maintaining satisfactory conditions for
riparian-dependent resources (FSM 2526). Use of a standard technique will facilitate
determining whether existing conditions are satisfactory or not. Establish general goals for the
dependent resources to set these standards of measurement.
5.1 - GENERAL GOALS FOR RIPARIAN-DEPENDENT RESOURCES.
The goals expressed below define what a given area could achieve under natural (undisturbed)
conditions for the key riparian-dependent resources: water, fish, and some wildlife.
1. Maintain surface runoff and erosion rates from riparian areas near natural
(undisturbed) levels.
2. Maintain water temperatures near natural (undisturbed).
3. Maintain water surface shade and bank cover near natural
(undisturbed) levels.
4. Maintain stable channel systems.
5. Maintain pool-riffle ratios of fish-bearing streams as near to the 40:60 to 60:40 range
as possible.
6. Maintain maximum area and depth of individual pools.
7. Maintain sediment deposition in channels near natural (undisturbed) levels.
8. Maintain the supply of in-channel woody debris near natural (undisturbed) levels.
9. Maintain maximum amount and duration of dry-season water supply.
10. Maintain maximum abundance and diversity of riparian plant species.
11. Maintain maximum age-class diversity of riparian plant communities.
.
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5.2 - STANDARDS FOR RIPARIAN-DEPENDENT RESOURCES.
Forests should consider each of the 11 general goals for riparian dependent resources when
setting local standards for described riparian units. Be sure that each standard addresses factors
over which management has control and represents a realistic percentage of what the unit can
produce under natural (undisturbed) conditions. Forests will have to establish natural levels
based on local conditions. Minimum satisfactory standards must meet management standards
expressed in the Regional Guide. The Forest can thus rate a given unit against its own ability to
achieve certain goals, rather than with other units having more or less potential. A theoretical
example of standards for satisfactory and optimum conditions in a cold temperate biome appear
in exhibit 1. Numbers in parentheses indicate the goals addressed by each standard as outlined in
section 5.1.
Exhibit 1
Example Standards for a Cold Temperate Biome
Standard
Satisfactory Condition
Optimum Condition
Ground Cover Maintain average ground cover of
plants and litter at___percent
(i.e about 80 Percent of natural
levels). (l,9)
Maintain average ground cover of
Plants and litter at _ _percent
(i.e., about 90 Percent of natural
levels). (l,9)
Shade
Maintain___percent shade over
perennial water surfaces (i.e
about 80 percent of natural levels).
(2,5)
Maintain___percent shade over
Perennial-water sufaces (i.e
about 90 percent of natural levels).
(2,5)
Bank Cover
Maintain_ _percent of bank length
in tree shrub cover (i.e., about
80 percent of natural levels). (3,5)
Maintain_ _percent of bank length
in tree or shrub cover (i.e. about
90 Percent of natural levels). (3.5)
Bed Sediments
Maintain the composition of sand,
silt, and clay within 20 Percent of
natural levels. (4,6,7)
Maintain the Composition of sand,
Plant composition
Maintain 80 percent each of tree,
shrub, grass, and forb composition
in riparian species. (10)
Maintain 60 percent each of tree,
Plant structure Maintain at least three age classes
of riparian trees and shrubs, with 10
Maintain at least four age classes
of riparian trees and shrubs, with 20
silt, and clay within 10 percent
of natural levels. (4,6,7)
shrub, grass, and forb composition
in riparian species. (10)
.
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percent of the cover in the seedling/
sapling stages and 10 percent in
the mature/overmature stages. (8,11)
percent of the cover in the seedling/
sapling stages and 20 percent in
the mature/overmature stages. (8.11)
Crown Cover Maintain___percent crown cover for
both trees and shrubs (i.e., about
80 percent of natural levels). (8,11)
Maintain___percent crown cover for
both trees-and shrubs (i.e., about
90 percent of natural levels). (8,11)
.
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5.3 - RATING RIPARIAN CONDITION.
Once local standards have been set for riparian areas, riparian condition can be determined.
Until more specific ratings are developed, use the following guidelines to rate overall riparian
conditions:
1. Unsatisfactory: the area in question meets less than 75 percent of the satisfactory
standards.
2. Satisfactory: the area in question meets at least 75 percent of the satisfactory
standards.
3. Optimum: the area in question meets all satisfactory standards and at least 75 percent
of the optimum standards.