1. Natural Riparian Resources Water Landscape & SoilVegetation

2. Stream Channels Must: Be able to access a floodplain Maintain the water table Transport the natural sediment load

3. The stream does this by maintaining the appropriate: Channel Dimensions (width/depth ratio) Meander Pattern (sinuosity) Profile (gradient or slope) THEY ARE ALL INTERRELATED!! THEY ARE ALL INTERRELATED!!

4. Rosgen Stream Classification Width/Depth Ratio

5. Sinuosity = Stream Length/ Valley Length 1.9 370’ 195’ Rosgen Stream Classification Sinuosity

6. Rosgen Stream Classification Sinuosity Sinuosity = Stream Length / Valley Bottom Length 1 =100’ / 100’

7. Rosgen Stream Classification Slope or Gradient Elevation at upper end - lower end % Mean Slope = * 100 Stream channel length

8. Rosgen Stream Classification Entrenchment Ratio

9. Change channel shape = change functionality Dixie Creek, Nevada W/D ratio = 9.3 W/D ratio = 40 30 cfs

10. Change channel shape = change functionality Box Elder Creek – Black Hills W/D ratio = 1.5 W/D ratio = 8.0 8 cfs

11. Stream Classification Ordering of streams into sets based on their similarities or relationships Objectives Predict river’s behavior Provides hydraulic and sediment relationships Extrapolate site specific data to similar streams Consistent framework for communication

12. Rosgen Stream Classification Stream Characterization Channel Characteristics Width to Depth Ratio Entrenchment Ratio Channel Material

13. Rosgen Stream Types Rosgen, 1996

14. Type Aa+

15. Type A

16. Type B

17. Type C

18. Type DA

19. Type D

20. Type E

21. Type F

22. Type G

23. Rosgen Stream Classification Channel Material (substrate) 1 – Bedrock 2 – Boulder (10+ inches) 3 – Cobble (2.5 to 10 inches) 4 – Gravel (.08 to 2.5 inches) 5 – Sand (.062 to 2 millimeters) 6 – Silt/Clay (<.062 millimeters)

25. Standard Checklist (lotic)

26. 1) Floodplain above bankfull is inundated in “relatively frequent” events Purpose: To determine if frequent floodflows are capable of spreading out on a low-lying area adjacent to the stream. Item is NA if floodplains are not a feature of the stream type Look for indicators such as oversized channel, incised channel, upstream reservoir Many spring fed streams in small watersheds lack well defined floodplains

27. Bankfull Floodplain Terrace

28. Floodplain Level area near a stream channel Constructed by the stream In the present climate Flooded during moderate events Should not be confused with “terraces” (abandoned floodplains) 1994 Leopold Floodplain Terrace

29. Discharge at bankfull stage creates & maintains channels Moves sediment Forms or removes bars Forms or changes bends and meanders Results in the average geomorphologic channel characteristics Recurs every 1 to 2 years

30. Bankfull Indicators Deposition Features Top of point bars Change in Vegetation Especially lower limit of continual line of perennial species, at least 1 ft.

31. Bankfull Indicator Top of Point Bars

32. Bankfull Indicators Change in particle size of bank material Boundary between cobble/boulder and fine grained sand or silt Undercut banks Usually slightly below bankfull stage Stain lines or lower extent of lichens on boulders (Usually in large rivers)

33. Should this stream type have a floodplain? How wide should it be? How wide is it? Is the stream channel incised or over sized? Has widening begun? Are most terrace walls sloped indicating widening has stopped? Is there an up stream reservoir?

34. Should this stream type have a floodplain? How wide should it be? How wide is it? Is the stream channel incised or over sized? Has widening begun? Are most terrace walls sloped indicating widening has stopped? Is there an up stream reservoir?

35. Purpose: To document whether beaver are present, and if so, whether the dams are being maintained. Beaver must be present or the dam is causing hydrologic effects If dams are present then stability must be addressed Usually a single dam is subject to high storm events 2) Where beaver dams are present, they are active and stable

36. Are beaver dams currently acting as hydrologic modifiers? Are beaver present? Are beaver actively maintaining the dam? Is there sufficient food to support the beaver? Is the dam self-sustaining, e.g., significant vegetation is rooted in the dam? Is the beaver dam a single large dam? Are the beaver dams in a complex?

37. No – not active and unstable

38. Yes, both active and stable

39. 1992 1995

41. 3) Sinuosity, width/depth ratio, and gradient are in balance with the landscape setting (i.e., landform, geology, and bioclimatic region) Purpose: To determine if the stream has the appropriate dimension, pattern, and profile for the setting. Item has three parts: Sinuosity Width/Depth ratio Gradient All three must be “yes” for the answer to be “yes” Undercut/overhanging banks indicator of a “yes”

42. Sinuosity Is the stream actively eroding and building point bars? Are there indications of channel straightening? Does the sinuosity appear to be appropriate for the valley bottom type?

43. Sinuosity Is the stream actively eroding and building point bars? Are there indications of channel straightening? Does the sinuosity appear to be appropriate for the valley bottom type?

44. Width/Depth Ratio

45. “most streams cross-section are not parabolic or semicircular (dish-shaped) in shape along the straighter reaches” Leopold 1994 “Rather, they are usually trapezoidal in shape with distinctly developed streambanks” Leopold 1994

47. Width/Depth Ratio – Over-widened channel indicators Bank slumping and shearing Woody species growing within the channel Dish-shaped banks

48. Width/Depth Ratio Is the stream channel dish-shaped? Are streambanks slumping? Is the floodplain the appropriate size (see question 1)?

49. Gradient (closely related to sinuosity) Is the channel incised or overwidened? Does the channel appear to be straightened? Decreased sinuosity = Increase gradient Does the sinuosity appear to be appropriate for the valley bottom type?

50. Is the channel incised or overwidened? Does the channel appear to be straightened? Does the sinuosity appear to be appropriate for the valley bottom type?

51. 4) Riparian-wetland area is widening or has achieved potential extent Purpose: To document that a riparian-wetland area is recovering or has recovered. Question has two parts Is riparian/wetland area widening? As the water table raises, riparian/wetland area can expand outward As a stream channel narrows, the riparian/wetland area expands toward the center of the channel Or, Has it reached potential extent? Stream in a stable condition – can’t go any further

52. Indicators of change, upland species (sagebrush) dying Widening outwardly

53. Shoshone Creek, Idaho – riparian area widening inwardly (channel narrowing)

54. Does the stream have the potential or capability to make a riparian area? Is the stream narrowing or are riparian species replacing upland species adjacent to the stream?

55. Does the stream have the potential or capability to make a riparian area? Is the stream narrowing or are riparian species replacing upland species adjacent to the stream?

56. Riparian area widening inwardly (channel narrowing)

57. Swains Creek – has achieved potential extent

58. 5) Upland watershed is not contributing to riparian degradation Purpose: To address whether there has been a change in the water or sediment being supplied to the riparian area and whether it is resulting in degradation. Must be degradation & must be from the upland watershed Watch wording carefully Not contributing “Yes “(its not) Contributing “No”(it is)

59. Look for indicators such as channel braiding, mid and side channel bars, overloading of point bars, fan deposits No – Upland is contributing

61. Sediment fan

63. Channel avulsion point

64. Natural Riparian Resources Landscape & Soil Water Vegetation