Step 4: Complete PFC assessment

1. Step 4: Complete PFC assessment • 17 questions about attributes and processes • Reminder – PFC based on: • Water (hydrology), • Vegetation, and • Soil & landform (erosion/deposition) • Checklist answers: Yes, No, or N/A (sometimes) • Not “Liner” • Notes for “No’s”, Many (all?) “Yes’s”, e g. species list

2. STANDARD CHECKLIST -- Hydrology

3. Floodplain • Level area near a stream channel • Constructed by the stream • In the present climate • Flooded during moderate & high flow events • Should not be confused with terraces (abandoned floodplains)(adapted from Leopold 1994) Valley flat Abandoned floodplain or terrace Hill slope Floodplain Channel Item #1: Floodplain inundation

4. Floodplain – Geologic feature being formed by the river in its present condition and climate

5. Bankfull Concept Information Forest Service Stream Systems Technology Center (Stream Team) website for on-line training videos, can order CDs and DVDs: www.stream.fs.fed.us • Western U.S. • Northeastern U.S. (4 CDs) • Forested Streams Eastern U.S. http://www.stream.fs.fed.us/publications/bankfull_west.html

6. Field Observations • Build a case based on physical evidence • Series of depositional features at consistent elevations with similar substrate and veg components • Point bars at inside of meander bends, • Point bars often not well developed with low sinuosity, • Discontinuous alternating longitudinal bars parallel to the channel often most dependable indicator • Broad valley floors are almost always above bankfull Bankfull Indicators (Moody et al. 2003, Odem and Moody 1999)

10. Floods Terrace Bankfull

11. One year flow

12. 1.) Floodplain above bankfull is inundated in “relatively frequent” events Yes BANKFULL NO

13. 2.) Where beaver dams are present they are active and stable YES BEAVER DAM

14. 2) Where beaver dams are present, they are active and stable • Examples of visual indicators • Dam construction material • Dams keyed into streambanks • Breaches

15. 3.) Sinuosity, width/depth ratio, and gradient are in balance with the landscape setting (i.e., landform, geology, and bioclimatic region) NO NEW CHANNEL OLD CHANNEL

16. 3) Sinuosity, width/depth ratio, and gradient are in balance with the landscape setting (i.e., landform, geology, and bioclimatic region) • Examples of visual indicators • Aerial photos help with sinuosity

17. 3.) Sinuosity, width/depth ratio, and gradient are in balance with the landscape setting (i.e., landform, geology, and bioclimatic region) YES

18. 4.) Riparian zone is widening or has achieved potential extent. NO YES

19. 4) Riparian-wetland area is widening or has achieved potential extent • Examples of visual indicators • Riparian-wetland community types expanded to valley edge • Stream narrowed • Upland plants dying or dead • Depositions being captured

20. 5.) Upland watershed is not contributing to riparian-wetland degradation NO? YES

21. 5) Upland watershed is not contributing to riparian degradation Belgo Cr BC 1996 Trapping Cr BC 1996