Natural Riparian Resources

VegetationLandscape/Soil

Water

King Hill Creek

Clover Creek

Mill Creek

Boulder Creek

Harney Lake

Wetted Soil

Russell BarSalmon River

Aerobic vs. Anaeobic

Boulder Creek

Standard Checklist (lotic)

Yes No N/A Erosion/Deposition 13) Flood plain and channel characteristics (i.e., rocks,

overflow channels, coarse and/or large woody material) are adequate to dissipate energy

Rationale:

14) Point bars are revegetating with riparian-wetland vegetation

Rationale: 15) Lateral stream movement is associated with natural

sinuosity Rationale: 16) System is vertically stable

Rationale: 17) Stream is in balance with the water and sediment being

supplied by the watershed (i.e., no excessive erosion or deposition)

Rationale

Purpose: To determine if the floodplain is adequate to dissipate energy on systems that should have a floodplain… …or if the channel characteristics are adequate on systems that dissipate energy within the channel and/or overflow channels (do not and won’t have a floodplain). Appropriate channel size and shape Fully developed floodplain Adequate roughness in the channel Relates to items 1 and 3

13) Floodplain and channel characteristics (i.e. rocks, overflow channels, coarse and/or

large woody material are adequate to dissipate energy

Is the floodplain fully developed (see question 1)? Is there sufficient overflow channels, vegetation, rock, and woody debris to handle high flows without degrading? Is the sinuosity and width/depth ratio appropriate for the site (see Question 3)?

Yes, channel characteristics are adequately dissipating energy (B2 channel)

Yes, channel is dissipating energy both in the channel and with a floodplain

No, stream needs a floodplain but has incised and abandoned it

No, stream needs a floodplain but has incised and abandoned it

Yes, floodplain is necessary, fully developed, and is currently being used!

14) Point bars are revegetating with riparian-wetland vegetation

Purpose: To determine if a common depositional feature of a stream (point bar) is being colonized with riparian-wetland vegetation. It is important that vegetation capture point bars to maintain width/depth ratios and allow the channel to evolve and become more efficient. Applies only to stream types with point bars (some B

and most C channels) – NA for others Vegetation must be stabilizing species

Is there a distinct and relatively continuous line of stabilizing riparian vegetation on the point bar? Is there sprout and/or young woody species on the point bar? Is herbaceous stabilizing riparian species expanding?

Is there a distinct and relatively continuous line of stabilizing riparian vegetation on the point bar? YESIs there sprout and/or young woody species on the point bar? YESIs herbaceous stabilizing riparian species expanding? YESDo not expect that portion of the bar within the bankfull channel to revegetate!

Scour line or bankfull level

Yes, spikerush and coyote willow are colonizing the point bar

No, most of the point bar is unvegetated

15) Lateral stream movement is associated with natural sinuosity

Purpose: To determine if lateral movement of the channel is normal or if it has been accelerated. Excessive lateral movement of the channel is indicative of an unstable channel. For yes answers, look for indicators of normal

movement such as a single thread channel, appropriate w/d ratios, stable streambanks (esp. on straight sub- reaches), no change in streambed elevation

For no answers, look for multiple thread channels, very high w/d ratios, unstable streambanks, aggrading streambed

Do the streambanks have an adequate amount of stabilizing vegetation (see Questions 9 & 11)? NoIs the channel widening? Yes, W/d ratio? Too High, Is the channel aggrading? YesIs the channel multi-thread (“D” channel type)? Yes Is sinuosity appropriate for the valley type (see Question 3)? No

No, lateral stream movement is not associated with natural sinuosity

Lateral Stream Movement Natural?

No Yes, (Reference Reach)

No, lateral movement is excessive

No, excessive lateral movement Yes, lateral movement associated with natural sinuosity

Yes, natural lateral movement

16) System is vertically stable

Purpose: To determine if channel lowering adjustments are occurring at a “natural” or accelerated rate. Look for presence of a headcut(s)

Potential to move up through a wetland Does not refer to aggradation Many channels downcut in the past are

generally vertically stable (some aren’t)

Is there a head cut capable of moving upstream within or below the reach? Are there hydrologic modifiers such as abandon beaver dams, logs, or structures that have water moving under them? Is sediment or debris accumulation causing the water to flow out of the channel?

Is there a head cut capable of moving upstream within or below the reach? Are there hydrologic modifiers such as abandon beaver dams, logs, or structures that have water moving under them? Is sediment or debris accumulation causing the water to flow out of the channel?

Stream has incised in the past and can go deeper!

Yes, channel is now vertically stable at a new base elevation

Yes, system is vertically stable – channel is now stable at a new base elevation although there is very little floodplain development

17) Stream is in balance with the water and sediment being supplied by the watershed (i.e., no excessive erosion or deposition)

Purpose: To determine if the stream is out of balance and degrading the riparian-wetland area.Increases or decreases in water Channel degradation Sediment transport Channel erosion

Rosgen, 1996

Water/Sediment Balance

Is there evidence of increased water flow such as channel degradation or channel erosion (see Question 5)? Are there mid-channel bars, sediment filled pools, sand/silt/clay channel bottoms (see question 3)? Is there channel braiding? Are streambanks stable (see Question 11)?

James Creek

Is there evidence of increased water flow such as channel degradation or channel erosion (see Question 5)? Are there mid-channel bars, sediment filled pools, sand/silt/clay channel bottoms (see question 3)? Is there channel braiding? Are streambanks stable (see Question 11)?

Sand CreekSand Creek

Is there evidence of increased water flow such as channel degradation or channel erosion (see Question 5)? Are there mid-channel bars, sediment filled pools, sand/silt/clay channel bottoms (see question 3)? Is there channel braiding? Are streambanks stable (see Question 11)?