Condition assessment of the Rock Creek and Guy Sandy Creek riparian areas within Chickasaw National Recreation Area
Martin M, Wagner J, Folts-Zettner T. 2015. Condition assessment of the Rock Creek and Guy Sandy Creek riparian areas within Chickasaw National Recreation Area. National Park Service - Water Resources Division. Fort Collins, CO
The National Park Service is preparing a Natural Resource Condition Assessment for Chickasaw National Recreation Area. To inform this assessment, the NPS Water Resources Division was asked to evaluate the functional condition of the Rock Creek and Guy Sandy Creek riparian areas within the park boundary. We performed our assessments on September 24 and 25, 2014 using methods described in “A User Guide to Assessing the Proper Functioning Condition and the Supporting Science for Lotic Areas” (U.S. Department of the Interior, 1998). Results indicated that both the Rock Creek and Guy Sandy Creek riparian systems are in “Proper Functioning Condition,” the highest of three possible ratings. The “Proper Functioning Condition” (PFC) rating is given to riparian areas that have adequate vegetation and landforms to dissipate flood energy and pass high flows without significant erosion, loss of riparian vegetation or fundamental changes in channel/floodplain form. This stability and resiliency allows riparian areas to sustain desired functions and values such as flood water retention, ground water recharge, water quality improvement and maintenance of fish and wildlife habitat, even after relatively large flood events. This report documents the geology, hydrology, geomorphology, soil, and vegetation factors that led to our “Proper Functioning Condition” ratings for Rock Creek and Guy Sandy Creek.
- Type
- Technical Assistance Report
- Authors
- Martin, Mike; Wagner, Joel; Folts-Zettner, Tomyeanne
- Date of Issue
- 2015-02-02
- Publisher
- National Park Service - Water Resources Division
- Units
- CHIC , WRD
- Keywords
- assessment, Chickasaw National Recreation Area, condition, Guy Sandy Creek, impact, proper functioning condition, riparian, Rock Creek, wetland
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Geology and Soils | Geomorphology | Stream/River Channel Characteristics , Ecological Framework: Water | Hydrology | Groundwater Dynamics , Ecological Framework: Water | Hydrology | Surface Water Dynamics , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Wetland Communities , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Riparian Communities , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Grassland/Herbaceous Communities , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Forest/Woodland Communities , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Vegetation Complex , Ecological Framework: Landscapes | Landscape Dynamics | Land Cover and Use