Northern Colorado Plateau Network Riparian Monitoring of Wadeable Streams

Livensperger C and Witwicki D. Northern Colorado Plateau Network Riparian Monitoring of Wadeable Streams. 2008. National Park Service

Integrated riparian monitoring involves the collection of both biological and physical measures. The NCPN monitors vegetation, hydrology, and geomorphology in wadeable streams at Arches, Capitol Reef, and Zion NPs, and Natural Bridges NM, and big rivers at Black Canyon of the Gunnison and Canyonlands NPs, Curecanti NRA, and Dinosaur NM. Big rivers monitoring is now a separate protocol with its own project record (see reference code 2197221). For wadeable streams, repeat sampling of permanent transects tracks changes in the cover and species richness of riparian vegetation, including the relative abundance of native and nonnative species. Measures of physical drivers, including streamflow, alluvial groundwater dynamics, and changes in channel form, are used to assess whether observed changes are primarily the result of natural variability or anthropogenic stressors. Information gathered from this protocol will provide park managers with (1) a baseline against which to gauge the long-term status and trends of riparian resources relative to natural processes and anthropogenic stressors; and (2) information for evaluating the effectiveness of management interventions aimed at protecting or restoring these ecosystems.

Type
Project
Authors
Livensperger, Carolyn; Witwicki, Dana
Publisher
National Park Service
Units
ARCH , CARE , NABR , NCPN , ZION
Keywords
Geomorphology, Hydrology, Monitoring, Plant Studies, Riparian, Vegetation

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