Riparian Proper Functioning Condition A process for assessment A defined condition A starting point A common language An interdisciplinary team approach

The PFC Assessment Tool §Requires an interdisciplinary (ID) team l Vegetation l Hydrology l Soils l Biology l Landowner or Permittee can add history and management Local, on-the-ground experience in interpreting quantitative sampling techniques that support the PFC assessment.

An ID Team needs to: §Review existing documents. §Determine attributes and processes key to area being assessed. §Determine potential or altered potential for the site. §Determine a “functional rating”. §Provide written comments on all items unless N/A.

NV Creeks and Communities Team – Most Active §Sherm Swanson, Range w/wildlife, hydro, soils §Kent McAdoo, Wildlife and Range §Chuck Petersen, Range §Carol Evans, Fisheries §John McCann, Hydrology §Doug Merkler, Soils §Bob Hall, Geomorphology Water Quality §Sarah Peterson, Hydrology §Robin Wignall, Hydrology §Mark Coca, Range §Jerry Annis, Ranch management §Pat Coffin, Fisheries §John Cobourn, Hydrology

NV Creeks and Communities Team §Sherm Swanson, UNR Coop. Extension, Coordinator §Kent McAdoo, UNR Coop. Extension §John McCann, US Forest Service §Carol Evans, BLM §Chuck Petersen, NRCS §Bob Hall, EPA §Connie Lee, NV Dept of Wildlife §Desi Zamudio, Private Citizen §Jerry Annis, Rancher §Jeff Jesch, Hillside Des. and Cons. Conservation District §Robin Wignall, US Forest Service §Sarah Petersen, BLM §Mark Coca, BLM §Beth Wood, BLM §Steve Foster, UNR Coop. Extension §John Cobourn, UNR Coop. Extension §Alan Genet, NV Dept of Wildlife

PFC has: Had more peer review than most assessment methods Used for over 20 years, Training by State Teams, and Tool for developing a common vocabulary.

Revision of TR – Version 2 §Expand on Pre-Work and Stratification §Include Observational Indicators/ Examples §Change & Clarification of assessment item wording §Updated quantitative procedures §Completion planned for Spring 2015.

PFC is designed to: §Be used to assess physical function of perennial & intermittent streams §Be used on most stream & river systems §Be used by an experienced interdisciplinary team §Provide consistent approach for assessing physical function of riparian areas

PFC is designed to: §Help establish & prioritize management, monitoring, & restoration activities §Provide a focused and effective foundation for determining resource values & developing management goals §Communicate fundamental riparian concepts

PFC is: §Used to describe both the assessment process & on-the-ground condition. §A minimum level or starting point for riparian area stability and sustained function. §A qualitative assessment based on quantitative science.

PFC is not designed to: §Assess the function of ephemeral systems §Be completed without an ID team §Assess specific resource values or be the sole method for assessing the health of the aquatic or terrestrial components of a riparian area

PFC is not designed to: §Assess functions where human alterations created artificial channel conditions. §Normally equate to desired condition. §Replace watershed analysis.

PFC is not: §A long-term monitoring tool. §A replacement for quantitative inventory or monitoring. PFC complements more detailed methods by providing a way to synthesize data and communicate results.

PFC cannot: §Provide more than strong clues as to actual habitat condition for plants & animals. §Eliminate the need for more intensive inventory & monitoring protocols.

Watersheds Capture, Store & Safely Release Water

RIPARIAN AREAS §LAND ADJACENT to PERENNIAL or INTERMITTENT l STREAMS, l SPRINGS, l SEEPS, l PONDS, l ETC. § A form of wetland transition between aquatic and adjacent upland areas § Exhibit vegetation or physical characteristics of permanent surface or subsurface water

STREAM TYPES § PERENNIAL - a stream that flows continuously § INTERMITTENT OR SEASONAL - a stream that flows only at certain times of the year § EPHEMERAL - a stream that flows only in direct response to precipitation § INTERUPTED – a stream that flows below the surface in certain areas

PFC?