1. LENTIC CHECKLIST

2. NATURAL RIPARIAN RESOURCES
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NATURAL RIPARIAN RESOURCES
VEGETATION
Lentic systems are based on the same three components of PFC as lotic areas. Water transports in the sediment to make the riparian soil sponge and it supports the vegetation that slows the water and allows the sediment deposition and soil building outside the aquatic system. The vegetation also provides the structural stability that knits the soil together and in many areas maintains the landforms to dissipate energy and sustain aquatic habitats.
WATER
SOIL/LANDFORM

3. LENTIC ASSESSMENT FORM HYDROLOGIC
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LENTIC ASSESSMENT FORM HYDROLOGIC
The green arrows indicate questions that are not on the lotic checklist or are worded differently for lentic systems.

4. LENTIC CHECKLIST HYDROLOGY
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LENTIC CHECKLIST HYDROLOGY
An example of assessing potential of a riparian area onsite might be an examination of the surface soil. This soil is examined for soil features characteristic of anaerobic soil conditions caused by soil saturation. This field examination is often necessary to evaluate question number 1 of the checklist. Given the evidence provided in the picture this question would be answered with a “Yes”.

5. 2. Fluctuation of water table is not excessive.
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Many reservoirs have rapidly eroding shorelines because the fluctuation of water levels prohibits vegetation from getting established and persisting to become a stabilizing force. NO

6. 3. Riparian-wetland area is enlarging or has reached potential extent
Purpose
If degradation has occurred, determine if riparian area is
Recovering, or is
Recovered, to its potential extent
Purpose
The purpose of item 3 is to determine if a riparian-wetland area is recovering or has recovered.
Potential extent can be largely determined by the adjacent topography (e.g., valley bottom width.
Item 3 addresses two situations, enlarging or achieving potential extent, in order that a “yes” answer is always applied for a positive attribute or process.
Accelerated sedimentation or lowering of the water table usually would be seen as a shrinking riparian-wetland area, and would be given a “no” answer.
Look to see which way the vegetation is developing - upland encroaching into wetland or wetland into upland?
Determine where hydric soils are and what type of vegetation is growing there (wetland/upland). 6

7. 3. Riparian-wetland area is enlarging or has reached potential extentNo
Question 3 - Riparian-wetland area is enlarging or has achieved potential extent
Sonoma Lake, Nevada
In this example the answer to this item is “no” - Pumping activities have reduced the extent of the riparian-wetland area.
This lake, located in a mountain range in Nevada, is classified as a palustrine wetland. The water rights for this lake are privately owned. A pumping station has been located on this lake to pump water into an irrigation system for agriculture lands in the valley. The pumping activity has limited this lake’s ability to maintain riparian-wetland plants along parts of its shoreline. The presence of the pumping station is a limiting factor that makes it necessary to understand the capability of this riparian-wetland area. This constraint to the area’s potential cannot be changed by the Federal land manager. The checklist items are answered based on the minimum conditions required for the area to function properly.
This example can also be used later to demonstrate a capability issue and how to fill out the Summary Determination and the question “Are factors contributing to unacceptable conditions outside the control of the manager?” The answer to that in this example is “Yes,” the pumping because of a legal water right is a capability factor beyond the ability of the land manager to change (TR Example 2 pages 70-72).
No –Excavation and erosion have reduced this riparian area

8. 3. Riparian-wetland area is enlarging or has reached potential extent
Kissler Spring, NV
Yes
Question 3 - Riparian-wetland area is enlarging or has achieved potential extent
Kissler Spring, NV
Yes - Dead juniper on edge (drowned?), at potential extent based on landform
Evidence that a riparian-wetland area is widening/enlarging may include an increase in the amount of appropriate vegetation (i.e., sedges, rushes, willows) that is replacing upland species, a rising water table, and the establishment of riparian-wetland vegetation in soils deposited along a shoreline/soil surface. Any of this evidence would result in a “yes” answer for item 3.
At potential extent 8

9. 4. Upland watershed is not contributing to riparian-wetland degradation
Purpose:
Determine if there has been a change in water or sediment being delivered to the riparian-wetland area
Is the change causing degradation?
Purpose
The purpose of item 4 is to determine if there has been a change in the water or sediment being supplied to a riparian-wetland area, and whether it is resulting in degradation.
The condition of the surrounding uplands can greatly affect the condition of a riparian-wetland area. Changes in upland condition can influence the magnitude, timing, or duration of overland flow events, which in turn can affect a riparian-wetland area. Although a correlation can exist, the focus here is on whether uplands are or are not contributing to degradation, and not on the condition of the uplands.
Changes need to be degrading the wetland for a “no.”
Are roads either cutting off surface and subsurface flow or adding excessive sediment?
Many wetlands will fill overtime but geologic time.
If answered “yes,” an analysis of aerial photographs can help pinpoint upland sources of excessive sediment. 9

10. No? 1923 1966 Changing Water Supply Burnt Mill Creek Snake Range, NV
This sequence shows changes in pinyon-juniper woodlands on Burnt Mill Creek below Wheeler Peak in the Snake Range.
By 1966, dense trees dominated the sagebrush-grass openings in distance. A repeat was impossible.
Burnt Mill Creek
Snake Range, NV
1966

11. 5. Water quality is sufficient to support riparian-wetland plants
Purpose:
Determine if water quality is being maintained
Allowing the site to produce the kind of vegetation necessary to function properly
Purpose
The purpose of item 5 is to determine if water quality is being maintained, thus allowing these sites to produce the kind of vegetation necessary for proper functioning.
Look at site potential - natural alkali or salt vs. saline seep from cropping or irrigation return flows.
The potential of some wetlands are to have poor water quality due to geology . 11

12. Montana Saline Seep No
Question 5 - Water quality is sufficient to support riparian-wetland plants
Montana Saline Seep
“No” – There is no riparian-wetland vegetation or only one species present where there should be multiple species/vigor is low, which is tied to water quality sample results.
In north central and eastern Montana, the soils consist of shale parent material with glacial materials on top. This area is dry farm cropped every other year. Native vegetation cover used to use up all or most of the precipitation. Once removed, more precipitation percolates and comes in contact with the shale which is salty. Seeps that were not saline or only naturally slightly saline have become more saline, changing the vegetation community – some are only salt now, no vegetation. Some areas even the uplands have become too saline to grow crops over a year period.

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6.) NATURAL SURFACE OR SUBSURFACE FLOW PATTERNS ARE NOT ALTERED BY DISTURBANCE (IE. HOOF ACTION, DAMS, DIKES, TRAILS, ROADS, RILLS, GULLIES, DRILLLING ACTIVITY) NO
Springs are often areas of concentrated livestock, human, and wildlife use. Loss of such areas when aquifers dry up from over drainage after gully erosion is a loss to all. Altered flow patters can be an early signal of the need for a management change.

14. 6.) NATURAL SURFACE OR SUBSURFACE FLOW PATTERNS ARE NOT ALTERED BY DISTURBANCE (IE. HOOF ACTION, DAMS, DIKES, TRAILS, ROADS, RILLS, GULLIES, DRILLLING ACTIVITY) No

15. 7. Structure accommodates safe passage of flows (e. g
7. Structure accommodates safe passage of flows (e.g., no headcut affecting the dam or spillway
Purpose:
If a structure has been constructed to capture more runoff and create a more permanent or larger wetland, determine if the outlet structure provides safe passage of flows
Purpose
The purpose of item 7 is to determine if these structures are accommodating safe passage of flows.
Some lentic riparian-wetland areas have been altered through the addition of structures designed to capture more runoff, thus creating a more permanent or larger wetland. When structures are placed to alter a riparian-wetland area, it is very important that the structure is designed and maintained to accommodate safe passage of flows.
If no structure then N/A
When assessing item 7, the presence or absence of any headcuts below a structure should be noted. 15