FHM Riparian Indicator

1
FHM Riparian Indicator

• History of focus group
• Objective and scope of monitoring
• Key scale(s) of collection, analysis, and
  reporting (1. detection, 2. condition/status, 3.
  processes (ISM))
• Federal-State liaison and cooperation/communicatio
  n
• Past tasks (which were completed)
• DRB pilot
• Post-pilot tasks
• Review unfinished tasks
• Technical workshop
• Other pilots (in arid west?)

2
History

• At the 2000 National Workshop, a riparian focus
  group was chartered to move the riparian
  monitoring issue forward
• A resolution was passed
• Be it resolved that the FHM program manager
  authorize the establishment of a team of people,
  with experts from around the country to
• 1.     Review the P2 and P3 plots in the database
  that are associated with riparian zones and to
  quantify how much data we already have in
  riparian areas

3
Riparian Resolution (cont)

• 2.     Review how many additional plots we would
  have if we ignore the minimum 120' definition for
  determining what is forest
• 3.     Review how well or poorly the current plot
  design works in riparian zones
• 4.     Review the current indicators and identify
  others that might be measured on a "riparian
  plot". Consider the adequacy of sample if the P2
  plots in riparian zones had soil, vegetation,
  lichens and other indicators collected on them.

4
White Paper excerpts

• The development of this national strategic
  riparian monitoring system has the following
  components
• 1.    Definition of riparian systems
• 2.    Delineation of the size and location of
  riparian units through remote sensing and surveys

5
White Paper (cont)

• 3.    Linking to existing internal terrestrial
  monitoring systems of FIA, FHM, NRIS, and others
  (e.g., USGS NAWQA, USFWS NWI, EPA EMAP) to the
  extent possible
• 4.    Implementing the monitoring system through
  stages of regional and national pilots.

6
Focus GroupTasks

• Review the P2 and P3 plots in the database that
  are associated with riparian zones to quantify
  how much data we already have in riparian areas
  (not done)
• Compile listing of locations for P2 and P3 plots
  (not done)
• Locate states that have full photography coverage
  so that assessment of total possible riparian
  area can be made (not done)

7
Tasks (cont)

• Review how well or poorly the current plot design
  works in riparian zones (done-pilot)
• Identify alternative sampling approaches to the
  grid including relaxing definition of forest
  (done-first part)
• Evaluate alternative approaches against a test
  dataset and describe trade-offs, benefits,
  shortcomings, and implications for implementation
  (not done)

8
Delaware River Basin Pilot

• Collaborate with EPA EMAP (sample frame design)
• Collaborate with USGS NAWQA (data
  collection-water quality, chemistry, aquatic
  biota)

9
DRB Pilot Sample Design

• Test 3 plot designs
• Standard P3 (North orientation)
• Standard P3 (aligned perpendicular to stream)
• Modified4, 30x60 rectangular plots

10
Additional Variables

• Valley cross section
• Stream cross section
• Longitudinal stream profile
• Wolman pebble count (substrate)
• Greenline (streambank cover)

11
Technical Workshop

• Selected riparian ecologists, hydrologists,
  aquatic ecologists invited to participate in
  workshop
• Workshop options conventional or computer
  discussion format
• Date to be determined (spring, summer?)

12
Whats Next?

• Hold technical workshop compile the information?
• Query existing P3 database for plots that are in
  riparian areas?
• Analyze data from 4 DRB sites?
• Another pilot (in arid west?)
• Closing out action items (task)
• Build upon AREMP and PIBO approachesand is this
  appropriate for a national monitoring program?
  Get experts from State and National

13
Information Needs

• Riparian Definition
• FHM P3 plot design
• PIBO
• EMAP
• NW Forest Plan AREMP

14
Riparian Definition

• "Riparian areas are three dimensional ecotones of
  interactions that include terrestrial and aquatic
  ecosystems, that extend into the groundwater, up
  above the canopy, outward across the floodplain,
  up the near-slopes that drain to the water,
  laterally into the terrestrial ecosystem, and
  along the water course at a variable width"
  (Ilhardt, Verry, and Palik 2000).