Condition Assessments for the Walnut Creek and Lower Cherry Creek Riparian Systems at Walnut Canyon National Monument
Wagner J, Taliga C, Martin M. 2017. Condition Assessments for the Walnut Creek and Lower Cherry Creek Riparian Systems at Walnut Canyon National Monument. Water Resources Division. Fort Collins, CO
In 2016, Walnut Canyon National Monument staff asked the NPS Water Resources Division (WRD) to assess the functional condition of the Walnut Creek and lower Cherry Creek riparian systems. Using the method described in “A User Guide to Assessing the Proper Functioning Condition (PFC) and the Supporting Science for Lotic Areas” (U.S. Department of the Interior, 1998), our team assessed the condition of lower Cherry Creek and three Walnut Creek segments. The Lower Cherry Creek riparian system was in “Proper Functioning Condition” as defined by the PFC Method. However, we found that the vegetation, hydrology and erosion/deposition characteristics in the three Walnut Creek reaches are so adversely impacted by dams that all are in “Non-Functional Condition.” The NPS will use our results to inform the Natural Resources Condition Assessment being prepared for the Monument.
- Type
- Technical Assistance Report
- Authors
- Wagner, Joel; Taliga, Christine; Martin, Mike
- Date of Issue
- 2017-02-06
- Publisher
- Water Resources Division
- Units
- WACA
- Keywords
- condition, dam, erosion, fluvial geomorphology, hydrology, impact assessment, proper functioning condition, riparian, stream, vegetation, Walnut Canyon National Monument, wetland
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Geology and Soils | Geomorphology | Stream/River Channel Characteristics , 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 | Freshwater Communities , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Grassland/Herbaceous Communities , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Vegetation Complex , Ecological Framework: Human Use | Point-Source Human Effects | Point-Source Human Effects , Ecological Framework: Human Use | Non-point Source Human Effects | Non-point Source Human Effects , Ecological Framework: Landscapes | Landscape Dynamics | Land Cover and Use