1. PFC Assessment

2. Integrated Riparian Management Process
1a. Identify Assessment Area & Assemble ID Team
Steps 1a through 1d
(7-step process)
1b. Review Existing Information & Delineate & Stratify Reaches
Process sequence modified from TR page 21 and several other documents.
There is no perfect, mutually exclusive/stand alone step-by-step process. Process can overlap and different areas are in different phases of the process
There is no silver bullet (not PFC for assessment only, not MIM for monitoring by itself; better to integrate the process and use multiple steps and tools).
In general we advocate for a 7-step Integrated Riparian Management Process. Step 1 is the focus of this course and looks at the details of conducting a PFC assessment. In this module, we look in detail at a part of step 1: Determination of Reach Potential.
1c. Determine Reach Potential
1d. Complete PFC Assessment

3. Step 1: Assess Riparian Resource Function Using PFC
Identify Assessment Area and assemble an ID team with:
Strong observation and interpretation skills
Knowledge of quantitative sampling that supports PFC
Knowledge of hydrology, vegetation, and geomorphology attributes and processes.
Knowledge of reference conditions
Ability to communicate findings.

4. ID Team Skills Needed
Knowledge of quantitative sampling methods to support PFC assessment.
Ability to gather pertinent geographic information
(GIS) layers, remote sensing products, maps, monitoring data, etc.
Knowledge of a watershed’s geology, size, landforms, climate and weather patterns, hydrologic and fluvial processes, sediment dynamics, and how each affects streams in the region.
Knowledge of reference conditions for assessment reaches, whether based on data or professional judgment.

5. ID Team Skills Needed
Ability to identify riparian plant species/communities of the region,
Knowledge of riparian vegetation
reproductive strategies,
rooting characteristics,
disturbance response and recovery,
ecological amplitude,
soil water tolerance and dependence
expected distribution, structure, & abundance in different stream types, fluvial surfaces, and flooding regimes.

6. ID Team Skills Needed
Ability to determine soil texture, interpret soil features, particularly redoximorphic features, and relate soil texture and soil-water states to expected potential vegetation.
Knowledge of geomorphic processes including sediment sources and storage/transport dynamics, influence of roughness elements, etc.

7. ID Team Skills Needed
Knowledge of stream attributes and bankfull indicators of a region
Ability to use streamgage data and publications to determine timing, frequency, and duration of flooding
Knowledge of surface-water/ground-water interactions within river corridors including water tables and hyporheic zones.

8. ID Team Skills Needed
Ability to document assessment results in a report, make recommendations, and use PFC assessment results to inform collaborative adaptive management and monitoring.

9. 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.

10. Step 1: 1b. Review existing information: Riparian concepts
The importance of uplands and tributaries
Recovery process
TR (1998) page 9: “To start this process, existing documents that provide a basis for assessing PFC should be reviewed.”
Everyone should be given a copy of the latest Riparian TR Order Form so they can obtain copies of the Riparian Area Management technical references.
TR (1998) page 9: “In addition to reviewing these references, existing files should be reviewed for pertinent information [historic & current aerial photographs, topographic maps, inventories, ecological site descriptions, etc.,].”
The information will be useful in establishing potential, capability, attributes/processes, and/or trend.

11. Step 1: 1b. Review Existing Documents
Information specific to the drainage basin.
Previous assessments, inventories, monitoring data.
Resource information
GIS data, etc.
TR (1998) page 9: “To start this process, existing documents that provide a basis for assessing PFC should be reviewed.”
Everyone should be given a copy of the latest Riparian TR Order Form so they can obtain copies of the Riparian Area Management technical references.
TR (1998) page 9: “In addition to reviewing these references, existing files should be reviewed for pertinent information [historic & current aerial photographs, topographic maps, inventories, ecological site descriptions, etc.,].”
The information will be useful in establishing potential, capability, attributes/processes, and/or trend.

12. Step 1: 1b. Delineate and stratify reaches:
Delineate the riparian areas into reaches/riparian complexes of similar character based on observable differences and/or similarities
May stratify reaches into groups with similar resource values, uses, geology etc.

13. Purpose of Delineation/Stratification:
Prediction – e.g. potential; response to management actions
Efficiency/Extrapolation – sampling a subset; applying throughout study unit
Prioritization – doing the right work in the right place with limited dollars and people

14. Delineation of Reaches – A 2-step process
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Delineation of Reaches – A 2-step process
1. Identify tentative reach breaks using office reference materials
2. Use field observations to validate or modify starting and ending points.
Reminder – PFC is based on a 3-legged stool

15. Delineate Reaches Geologic filters Volcanic Limestone terrain
Granitic terrain
Basin fill
Delineate Reaches
Consider a hypothetical situation portrayed here.
First delineate reaches on the tributary streams.
Second stratify tributary reaches. Which classes of reaches would you create? Write a short description of each tributary reach stratum. 10 20
Miles
Axial stream (perennial)
Tributary stream (intermittent)
Mountainous terrain

16. Delineation: Hydrologic Processes and attributes
Drainage area / Contributing area
Major confluences
Streamflow duration
Perennial, intermittent
Interrupted
Groundwater/surface-water interactions
Hydrologic regime
Snow-melt, storm runoff (monsoon), spring-fed brook

17. Delineation: Physiographic Processes and Attributes
Geology and Geomorphology
Topography – elevation, relief, aspect
Sediment source, transport, storage capacity
Generally, the first filter or screen commonly used to delineate or stratify a stream, watershed, field office, project area, or study unit is:
Physiographic Processes and Attributes, including:
Geology
Geomorphology
Topography
Elevation and aspect

18. 1c. Determining Potential of Stream Reaches
Step 1:
1c. Determining Potential of Stream Reaches
Compare:
1) Hydrology,
2) Vegetation, and
3) Geomorphology
These streams represent two polar opposite sites.
They differ by:
Hydro period (intermittent vs. perennial)
Gradient (steep vs. low gradient)
Transport capacity (high vs. low)
Potential natural community (tree-shrub dominated vs herbaceous dominated)
Given these differences, we need to determine the potential natural condition for each reach before we can conduct a PFC assessment.

19. Potential Defined
Potential – The highest ecological status a riparian area (stream reach) can attain in the present climate.
Potential is defined as the highest ecological status a riparian area (stream reach or complex) can attain and is often referred to as the potential natural condition (PNC).
Ecological status is the degree of similarity between existing conditions (hydrology, vegetation, and geomorphology) and the potential of a reach; the higher the ecological status, the closer the reach is to potential.
PFC assessment is a qualitative measure of functional similarity.

20. Applying Potential to PFC
A site does not have to be at potential for a “yes;” it only has to be evaluated against its potential.
Decision Space
PNC NF
FAR
PFC DC
Ecological Threshold
Fisheries Values
Livestock Values
Recreation Values
Wildlife Values
Watershed Values
Time
A site does not have to be at potential for a “yes;” it only has to be evaluated against its potential.
Unproductive
Vulnerable
Sustainable

21. Why is potential important?
Accuracy - for the PFC assessment to be accurate.
Realistic - to gauge the system against what it can actually be.
Why is potential important?
Each stream reach or riparian complex has to be evaluated against its potential for the PFC assessment to be accurate.
Having a reasonable idea of the attributes & processes that are possible within the reach or complex ensures that the system will be gauged against what it can actually be.

22. Management Reach Reference Reach
Reference reaches are invaluable, but assurance that a site is a true reference for a given site is needed.
Primary considerations include similar climate, gradient, substrate, valley-bottom width, depth to water table, and hydroperiod.

23. Process/tools for determining potential
Consider (as an ID team):
Climate, landform, soil, hydrology, & vegetation relationships for clues
Regional and local riparian classifications & other literature
Historic information and photos
Species lists and habitat needs
Past inventory and monitoring data
Reference areas
Once stream potential is established, it should be documented!
Consider:
Climate, landform, valley bottom, soil, hydrologic regime, & vegetation relationships for clues
Regional and local riparian classifications & other literature
Historic photos
Past inventory and monitoring data (qualitative & quantitative)
Reference areas or differences: Right of ways, alleys, geologic barriers creating undisturbed “nooks,” land ownership patterns that show differences, exclosures, preserves, etc. (Careful!)
Historical memories (also carefully!)
Once stream potential is established, it should be documented!

24. Factors that influence riparian plant species & communities:
Wetness: Height above the water surface
Substrate: Channel and bank particle size
Slope: Stream gradient in percent
Stream size: Channel width and depth
Valley morphology: Geomorphic valley type

25. 9/10/2018
For example, for most of a century, cottonwood trees were not able to establish along the lower Truckee River because of a combination of fluctuating water flows from water use. Those trees that did germinate close to the water in low summer flows were often swept away in high flows the following spring. The presence of these remnants and their location and distribution pattern tells about the kinds of flow regimes and gravel bar environments we once had because we have learned about where cottonwoods establish successfully in such arcuate bands.

26. Numana Hatchery on Truckee River 6/1994

27. Numana Hatchery on Truckee River 8/2013

28. Factors that influence riparian plant species & communities:
Wetness: Height above the water surface
Substrate: Channel and bank particle size
Slope: Stream gradient in percent
Stream size: Channel width and depth
Valley morphology: Geomorphic valley type

29. Vegetation = sedge dominated banks and active
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E Type channel
Vegetation = sedge dominated banks and active
floodplain with willows, cottonwood and aspen
occurring on less frequently flooded surfaces

30. Valley: broad/terraces
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9/10/2018
Slope: < 2 %
W/D: > 12
Sinuosity: > 1.4
Valley: broad/terraces
Rates of lateral adjustment are influenced by the presence and condition of riparian vegetation. Susceptible to both lateral and vertical instability caused by direct channel disturbance and changes in the flow and sediment regimes of the contributing watershed.
C4 type channel. Gravel-dominated substrate. 30

31. B type channel; gradient > 2%; bedrock / boulder controlled; large
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B type channel; gradient > 2%; bedrock / boulder controlled; large
wood important to channel complexity; vegetation = alder / fir

32. Example Riparian Complex
COMPLEX A
Narrow Valley Bottom
Steep gradient
Coarse Substrate
Alder/Dogwood
COMPLEX B
Wide Valley Bottom
Low gradient
Fine Substrate
Tufted Hairgrass

33. Riparian Complexes
Groupings of potential plant communities that form vegetation patterns along the stream.
From interaction of: hydrology, geomorphology and climate. Consider:
Valley bottom gradient and width (types);
Geology, deposition, and soil characteristics;
Elevation; and climate.

34. Delineation of Riparian Complexes
Valley bottom type (Rosgen 1996)
Dominant soil family (USDA, NRCS)
Entrenchment
Stream profile or gradient – Stream type (Rosgen 1996)
Vegetation patterns along the stream,
Land uses
Variables that can be used to help identify riparian complex breaks within a stream system. Each of these will be described in subsequent slides.

35. Valley Types Narrow, confined valley; Bedrock controlled
Broad, unconfined valley;
Alluvial fill

36. Rosgen Valley Types IV V Gentle Canyon Glacial Trough VIII X
Broad Lakebed
Wide Floodplain

37. 9/10/2018
9/10/2018
The Rosgen stream types that are most prevalent in pasture or range settings and whose morphology is maintained primarily by vegetation are C and E type channels.
From Rosgen 1996. 37

38. Land Uses -- Management/land-ownership boundaries

39. Applying Altered Potential to PFC
Change in TR revision is to “altered potential” instead of capability (for direct human alterations)
Capability simple to define but difficult to consistently apply
Capability precluded some altered streams from ever achieving PFC if gauged against historic potential or PNC
Applying Altered Potential to PFC
Proposed change in TR revision is to “altered potential” instead of capability (for direct human alterations)
Capability simple to define but difficult to apply consistently
Capability precluded some altered streams from ever achieving PFC, if gauged against historic potential or PNC

40. Altered Potential… New Approach
…Is the best possible ecological status and channel form that can be attained under permanent human alterations.
[New slide]:
In the Current TR, capability is addressed. Pages 6 and 7 and Appendix B page 65. But applying capability has proven to be a challenge. In its place, we are using altered potential.
Altered potential is the best possible ecological status and channel form that can be attained under permanent human alterations.
Permanent human alterations include railroads, dams, diversions, channelization, levees, roads, ground-water pumping, and related permanent alterations that change the potential of the reach.
Permanent human alterations include railroads, dams, diversions, channelization, levees, roads, ground-water pumping, and related permanent alterations that change the potential of the reach.

41. Proposed Guidelines for Altered Systems
Are direct alterations (i.e. limiting factors) present that have created predominantly artificial channel conditions for a large part of the reach? If so, Don’t do PFC.
Proposed Guidelines for Altered Systems
(1) Are direct alterations (i.e. limiting factors, such as railroads, dams, diversions, channelization, levees, roads, ground-water pumping, etc.) present and creating predominantly artificial channel conditions for a large part of the reach? Don’t do PFC.
Example: A channel is bordered on both sides by rip-rap or similar constructed artificial banks to protect infrastructure like roads, railways, or developed property.

42. Proposed Guidelines for Altered Systems
Are direct alterations present but the overall potential of the reach remains unchanged?
USE POTENTIAL
Example
Diversion of 10% of low flow and <1% of high flows – The same plant communities and channel type can still exist.
Proposed Guidelines for Altered Systems
(2) Are direct alterations present but the overall potential of the reach remains unchanged? Use potential.
Example: An irrigation ditch diverts about 10% of low flow and <1% of high flows. The remainder of the reach is unaltered by land use or additional diversions. The same plant communities and channel type expected for un-diverted channels can still exist with the current rate of diverted streamflow.

43. Proposed Guidelines for Altered Systems
Are direct alterations present but the overall potential of the reach has been changed (but is not predominantly artificial)? Describe new potential.
Example: Diversion of > 50% of low flows has caused a drop in water table and potential has shifted from hydric to more mesic plant types.
Proposed Guidelines for Altered Systems
(3) Are direct alterations present that have changed the overall potential (but not predominantly artificial)? Describe new potential.
Example: An irrigation ditch diverts about 50% of low flow and 25% of high flows. This results in loss of annual flooding and drop in the water table. As a result, the potential community types shift from hydric toward more mesic types.
For the last two, PFC is appropriate but the assessment needs to be reflective of the correct potential. What would be examples for each of these?

44. Understanding Attributes and Processes - Determine Potential or Altered Potential
If you do not spend the time to develop an understanding of the attributes and processes affecting an area, your judgment about PFC will be incomplete and may be incorrect.

45. Plan and Time the Assessment
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Plan and Time the Assessment
On-the-ground reconnaissance
Analyzed in the office (using digital photos, aerial photos, GIS data, very large scale aerial photos, light detection and ranging (LIDAR) data, etc.), with random field verification on 25 percent of the reaches (Clemmer et al. 1999)
OR both depending on need and ability
Start at the top and work downstream using knowledge of upstream – Adjust vertical stability if needed
Consider recent high-magnitude floods
Reminder – PFC is based on a 3-legged stool

46. Step 1: Assess Riparian Resource Function Using PFC
9/10/2018
Step 1: Assess Riparian Resource Function Using PFC
1d. Complete PFC assessment
17 questions about attributes and processes
Reminder – PFC based on:
Water (hydrology),
Vegetation, and
Geomorphology
Answer: Yes, No, or N/A (sometimes)
Not “Liner”
Notes for “No’s” and “Yes’s”, e g. species list
Reminder – PFC is based on a 3-legged stool

47. Step 1: Assess Riparian Resource Function Using PFC
9/10/2018
Step 1: Assess Riparian Resource Function Using PFC
1d. Complete PFC assessment
Items numbers do not relate to importance
The importance of an item varies relative to an area’s attributes & processes
Assessment of an individual item often affects future management, restoration, and monitoring actions —regardless of the functional rating.
If a “yes” is not within the system’s potential NA
A reach does not have to be at potential for an item to be “yes.” The answer depends on the condition needed to meet the definition of PFC and maintain stability within a natural range of variation.
Reminder – PFC is based on a 3-legged stool

48. Information Provided for each Assessment Item:
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Information Provided for each Assessment Item:
The purpose of the assessment item.
Observational indicators and examples useful for addressing the item.
The supporting science used to derive the response to the item.
Correlation with other items on the assessment form.
Reminder – PFC is based on a 3-legged stool