ghost river watershed riparian health inventory 2011 highlights
DESCRIPTION
Ghost River Watershed Riparian Health Inventory 2011 Highlights. March 10, 2012 Benchlands , AB. Ghost River Watershed 2011. Ri·par·i·an those “green zones” of water-loving vegetation along rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands. River vs. Stream vs . Wetland. Influences on Riparian Health. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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Ghost River WatershedRiparian Health Inventory 2011 Highlights
March 10, 2012Benchlands, AB
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Ghost River Watershed 2011
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Ri·par·i·an those “green zones” of water-loving vegetation
along rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands
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River vs. Stream vs. Wetland
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Influences on Riparian
Health
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Recreational Activities
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Natural Resource Extraction
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Addition/Removal of Water
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Grazing Animals
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Beavers
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Riparian Health
Inventories
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Stratified Site Selection
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Ghost River
South Ghost River
Baymar Creek
Jamieson Creek
Tributary to Jamieson Creek
Lesueur Creek
Tributaries to Lesueur Creek
Wetlands near Lesueur Creek
Wetland near Ghost River
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Determining Riparian Width & Length
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Ghost River Watershed:Overall Health (29 sites)
86%
10%3%
Percent
Healthy (25 sites)
Healthy but with Problems (3 sites)
Unhealthy (1 site)
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Ghost RiverEvaluation of River Health Parameters (12 Sites)
Floodplain AccessibilityHuman Alterations to the Site
Human Alterations to the RiverbanksControl of Flood Peak by Dam(s)
Addition/Removal of WaterHuman-Cased Bare Ground
Root Mass ProtectionDisturbance-Caused Species
Invasive Species Density/DistributionInvasive Species Cover
Total Cover by Woody SpeciesWoody Removal Other than Browse
Preferred Woody UtilisationDead & Decadent Material
Preferred Shrub RegenerationOther Tree Regeneration
Cottonwood Regeneration
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Not CollectedNot Collected
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88% Proper Functioning Condition (Healthy)
• 226 plant species identified, including 5 invasive weeds and 20
disturbance-caused plants
• 66% covered by trees and shrubs
• 7% of the riverbank physical altered, 88% due to construction
• 2% exposed soil, 16% due to human-causes such as recreation
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Alec McCay, Alberta Invasive Plants Council factsheet
Yellow clematisCanada thistle
Perennial sow-thistleOx-eye daisy
Yellow toadflax
A Few Patches Plus Several Sporadically Occurring Plants
66-88% of the Riverbank with Deep Binding Roots
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Plant community differs immediately downstream of the
diversion
<5% tree cover immediately downstream of the diversion
Typical white spruce and willow community is missing
Increased sedimentation bare ground upstream of the Ghost
River Dam
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South Ghost RiverEvaluation of River Health Parameters (2 Sites)
Floodplain AccessibilityHuman Alterations to the Site
Human Alterations to the RiverbanksControl of Flood Peak by Dam(s)
Addition/Removal of WaterHuman-Cased Bare Ground
Root Mass ProtectionDisturbance-Caused Species
Invasive Species Density/DistributionInvasive Species Cover
Total Cover by Woody SpeciesWoody Removal Other than Browse
Preferred Woody UtilisationDead & Decadent Material
Preferred Shrub RegenerationOther Tree Regeneration
Cottonwood Regeneration
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
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99.5% Proper Functioning Condition (Healthy)
• 86 plant species identified, including only 4 disturbance-
caused plants
• 80% covered by trees and shrubs
• One site with >5% of the woody community dead and/or decadent
• No human-caused alterations were observed
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Baymar CreekEvaluation of Stream Health Parameters (3 Sites)
Channel Incisement
Human Alterations to the Site
Human Alterations to the Streambanks
Human-Cased Bare Ground
Root Mass Protection
Dead & Decadent Material
Woody Removal Other than Browse
Preferred Tree & Shrub Utilisation
Preferred Tree & Shrub Regeneration
Disturbance-Caused Species
Invasive Species Density/Distribution
Invasvie Species Cover
Vegetative Cover
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
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86% Proper Functioning Condition (Healthy)
• 116 plant species identified, including 2 invasive species and
11 disturbance-caused plants
• 52% covered by trees and shrubs
• 2% of the streambank physically altered due to livestock trampling
• Only a trace amount (<1%) of bare ground observed on one site
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3% covered by invasive speices: Canada thistle &
Perennial sow-thistle
Scattered Individual Plants & Several Well Spaced Patches
Disturbance-caused plants cover 8% of the riparian area
Browsing of preferred woody species is light overall
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Jamieson Creek & Tributary to Jamieson CreekEvaluation of Stream Health Parameters (3 Sites)
Channel Incisement
Human Alterations to the Site
Human Alterations to the Streambanks
Human-Cased Bare Ground
Root Mass Protection
Dead & Decadent Material
Woody Removal Other than Browse
Preferred Tree & Shrub Utilisation
Preferred Tree & Shrub Regeneration
Disturbance-Caused Species
Invasive Species Density/Distribution
Invasvie Species Cover
Vegetative Cover
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
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87% Proper Functioning Condition (Healthy)
• 101 plant species identified, including 2 invasive species and
13 disturbance-caused plants
• 61% covered by trees and shrubs
• 12% of the riparian area is physically altered by human
activities
• Only a trace amount of bare ground was observed
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<1% covered by Canada thistle &Perennial sow-thistle
Invasive species found in a few patches as well as several
scattered individuals
Disturbance-caused plants cover 27% of the riparian area
Browsing of preferred woody species is light overall
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Lesueur Creek & Tributaries to Lesueur CreekEvaluation of Stream Health Parameters (6 Sites)
Channel Incisement
Human Alterations to the Site
Human Alterations to the Streambanks
Human-Cased Bare Ground
Root Mass Protection
Dead & Decadent Material
Woody Removal Other than Browse
Preferred Tree & Shrub Utilisation
Preferred Tree & Shrub Regeneration
Disturbance-Caused Species
Invasive Species Density/Distribution
Invasvie Species Cover
Vegetative Cover
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
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85% Proper Functioning Condition (Healthy)
• 169 plant species identified, including 2 invasive species and
14 disturbance-caused plants
• 53% covered by trees and shrubs
• 6% of the riparian area is physically altered due to
recreation
• 2% of the riparian area is bare ground
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Canada thistle was found in a few patches as well as several
scattered individuals
Browsing of preferred woody species is light overall
Recreational activities and human-caused bare ground are
apparent within the Lesueur Creek watershed
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Unnamed Wetlands near Lesueur CreekEvaluation of Wetland Health Parameters (2 Sites)
Artificial Change in Water Level
Human-Caused Bare Ground
Severity of Physical Alterations
Human Alteration to the Physical Site
Human Alteration to the Vegetation
Woody Removal Other than Browse
Preferred Tree & Shrub Utilisation
Preferred Tree & Shrub Regeneration
Disturbance-Caused Species
Invasive Species Density/Distribution
Invasvie Species Cover
Vegetative Cover
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
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95% Proper Functioning Condition (Healthy)
• 39 plant species identified on one wetland and 79 identified on
the other
• only 1 invasive and 6 disturbance-caused species
• 82% covered by trees and shrubs
• alteration to the vegetation was observed on only one site
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Canada thistle was found on one wetland in a single patch as well
as a few scattered individuals
Browsing of preferred woody species is light overall
Few physical alterations were observed on either site and
severity was only slight
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Unnamed Wetland near Ghost RiverEvaluation of Wetland Health Parameters (1 Site)
Artificial Change in Water Level
Human-Caused Bare Ground
Severity of Physical Alterations
Human Alteration to the Physical Site
Human Alteration to the Vegetation
Woody Removal Other than Browse
Preferred Tree & Shrub Utilisation
Preferred Tree & Shrub Regeneration
Disturbance-Caused Species
Invasive Species Density/Distribution
Invasvie Species Cover
Vegetative Cover
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
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63% Functional at Risk (Healthy, but with Problems)
• 79 plant species identified, including 3 invasive and 12 disturbance-caused species
• 40% covered by tree and shrubs
• 10% of the vegetative community altered by human
activities
• 10% of the site physical altered as well
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Garden bluebell, Canada thistle, and Perennial sow-thistle cover
>3% of the riparian area
A few patches and several sporadically occurring individuals
40% covered by disturbance-caused species
Physical alterations are moderately severe
Water level has increased due to the berm
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So How Do I Look?
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Healthy
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Healthy, but with Problems
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Unhealthy
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Alec McCay, Alberta Invasive Plants Council factsheet
Andy Fyon, www.ontariowildflowers.com
Flickr: manypetals
Michael Shephard, www.ab-conservation.ca Doug Waylett
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Your Cows & Fish friends that took part in this project…
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Thank You!