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Herons Hideout
FISH 430
Timothy Barth
Ecological
Indicators/Field
methods:
to
showcase
the
sinuosity
of
the
stream
and
health
of
the
surrounding
floodplains.
These
are
indicators
of
the
riparian
areas
ability
to
adapt
to
peak
flows
and
other
disturbances.
Specific indicators we evaluated were recruitment of riparian vegetation
populations, diversity in age-class distribution of species and diversity in species
composition.
Field Methods:
To determine if the site is in Proper Functioning Condition we will use the riparian area
management plan from the Bureau of Land Management as an assessment guide (Figure
3). The site was classified using the Rosgen Classification System. Stream characteristics
were assessed and then compared against an ideal stream of a similar Rosgen
classification. To better illustrate the sinuosity of the stream as well as locating PFC
vegetation plot analysis a map (Figure 2) was created using GPS and ArcGIS.
Analysis methods:
Our
analysis
of
each
data
set
will
differ
in
regards
to
reaching
group
goals
and
objectives.
As
for
our
vegetation
group,
we
pooled
our
data
together
in
regards
to
our
broad
survey
of
species
on
the
study
site
and
our
vegetation
plots
in
order
to
complete
the
PFC
assessment
tool.
Weather
conditions
were
a
good
indicator
of
the
vegetations
ability
to
withstand
disturbance
due
to
the
fact
that
peak
flows
were
taking
place
on
the
site
as
we
gathered
our
data.
This
matched
with
species
diversity,
which
can
be
found
on
a
list
in
the
appendix,
helped
solidify
our
findings.
The
Hydrology
group
similarly
compiled
data
and
made
calculations
determining
the
streams
placement
on
the
Rosgen
Classification
Chart.
The
AMR
group
provided
both
the
Hydrology
and
Vegetation
group
a
visual,
highlighting
where
data
was
taken
and
illustrated
the
proper
placement
of
the
stream
on
the
Rosgen
Classification
Chart.
Our
analysis
method
is
in
short
a
three-fold
approach
in
assessing
the
streams
current
ability
to
withstand
disturbance
and
effectiveness
in
slowing
down
flows
from
surrounding
urban
and
agricultural
stressors.
Results
Our group found that the site is in Proper Functioning Condition in all categories
excluding the 12th section of the PFC checklist, pertaining toplant communities are an
adequate source of coarse and/or large woody material (for maintenance/recovery)
(Harman & Jennings). Shown in figure 3. The map in figure 1 illustrates only five
large/mature willows in our site area. The rest of the vegetation was comprised of shrubs
and sage/grassy vegetation leading up to the aquatic zone. Figures 4 through 7 consist of
the four plots that we used to randomly assess different areas of the riparian area in large
detail. The tables (A through D) featured next to the pictures contain the percentage of
cover within the plots and list the species present along with detritus, bare ground and
total vegetation. For the exception of one unknown species in plot four, 100% of the
species within our plots consisted of native vegetation. Herons Hideout is classified as
an E6b stream according to Rosgens Classification System (Harman & Jennings).
Hydrology data sets and the map back up this claim and are found on the title page and in
the appendix. An ideal E6b stream on the Rosgen Chart is slightly entrenched with a
width/depth ratio (<12). The sinuosity of the stream is very high and greater than 1.5 with
channel material consisting of silt/clay and a slope range in between .02 and .039
(Harman & Jennings).
Discussion
Herons Hideout is in a Proper Functioning Condition given past altercations,
reengineering of the channel, and reintroduction of native vegetation. The map shown in
figure 2 does not properly show the abundance of younger willows and dogwoods in the
area. Figure 1 illustrates this point. It also does not show the beaver dam located on the
site that is transforming ecological processes inside and outside of the stream through the
use of LWD. The hydrology data was incomplete and does not include slope, channel
length, and valley length. The lack of slope and channel length is not problematic because
of the indicatory Rosgen indicator method being used. The slope is however problematic
with the classification system. Due to the observable low grade of the area we
categorized the stream in the lowest slope range. An ideal system would include an exact
slope. The vegetation we were able to classify and observe during our assessment
consisted of 16 total with only 4 identified as nonnative species. Matched with our plot
data, the abundance of native shrubs, grasses, sedges and shrubs on the site act as further
indicators of riparian health. Our objective was met.
Table
A)
Plot
1-
Herons
Hideout
Bare
ground
cover
Detritus
38.9
Total vegetation
61.1
Phalaris
arundinaceae
Native
Carex
lanuginosa
Native
Vicia
americana
Native
60
1
0.1
Detritus
Total vegetation
95.5
Phalaris
arundinaceae
Native
Biotic
crust
(moss)
90
0.5
Percent
Cover
within
plot
30
20
50
25
Percent
cover
within
plot
30
Detritus
10
Total vegetation
60
Phalaris
arundinaceae
Native
Unknown
sp.
30
25
Top
5.3
0.14
0.4
0.62
0.29
0.2
Middle
5.1
0.6
0.8
0.8
0.4
0.1
Bottom
5
0.2
0.6
0.9
0.75
0.2
1.06
2.3
2.13
Bankfull
Width
Depth
1
Depth
2
Depth
3
Depth
4
Depth
5
Average
Depth
(m)
Average
Width
(m)
Top
Bottom
5.6
0.4
0.75
1.1
0.96
0.3
1.518
6.8
0.2
0.3
0.55
0.96
0.45
1.543
6.2
Velocity
Length
Time
Velocity
(m/s)
2
7
40.44
0.173
3
7
30.63
0.229
12
7
35.05
0.200
23
7
38.67
0.181
34
7
31.35
0.223
7
35.4
0.198
Column1
Rosgen
Floodprone
Width
Channel
Length
Valley
Length
Grain
Size
Entrenchment
W/D
Ratio
Literature Cited:
Column2
Column3
51.3
Missing
Missing
Silt/Clay
7.544
0.822
Harman,
A.,
William
&
Jennings,
D.,
Gregory.
Application
of
the
Rosgen
Stream
Classification
System
to
North
Carolina.
North
Carolina
Cooper
Extension
Service.
<http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/programs/extension/wqg/srp/rv-crs2.pdf>.
Palouse
Clearwater
Environmental
Institute
(PCEI).
(2002).
Herons
Hideout
Remeander,
Floodplain,
Wetland
and
Riparian
Planting.
<http://www.pcei.
modwest.com/water/project.htm?pid=7>.