Rapid Riverscape Health Survey Protocol
Warning: Experimental Protocol
This protocol is experimental and has not been finalized by the protocol owner. It can be changed at anytime which can break existing data or cause data loss. Please backup data if using this protocol.
Overview
The Rapid Riverscape Health Survey Protocol (RRHS) is a streamlined adaptation of the LTPBR V2 framework. It is designed to assess geomorphic and ecological health through rapid field estimates and site-specific observations. By prioritizing reach-scale insights, the RRHS offers practitioners the flexibility needed for broad scale assessments by prioritizing speed and efficiency.
The primary advantage of the RRHS is its shift from detailed data inventories to representative estimation. For example, when assessing beaver activity in a dense meadow complex, a surveyor can estimate the total dam count through a survey point rather than individually mapping hundreds of individual structures. This allows for broader spatial coverage without sacrificing the data quality needed to make informed management decisions.
The RRHS can be used for many low-tech applications such as restoration planning, long-term monitoring, and adaptive management. It utilizes a multi-layered approach to describe riverscape health such as:
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Valley Bottom Condition: Defines the boundaries and health of the channel, floodplain, and riparian vegetation zones
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Stream Complexity: Describes the diverity of flow paths via channel junctions (e.g., confluences, diffluences, etc.) and inundation type.
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Geomorphic Activity: Characterizes the diversity and distribution of Tier 2 geomorphic units, such as riffles, pools, and bars.
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Structural Elements: Evaluates wood recruitment through the distribution and density of natural or man-made structures (wood jams, beaver dams, etc).
Protocol Summary
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Rapid Riverscape Heath Survey Protocol |
| Status | Experimental Grade |
| Version | 1.0 |
| XML URL | https://github.com/Riverscapes/RiverscapesXML/blob/master/QRiS/protocols/rrhs_protocol.xml |
| Citation | Weber N., Wheaton J.M., Shalcross A., Al-Chokhachy R, Bailey P., Bartelt K., Bennett S., Bouwes B., Bouwes N., Gilbert J., Dickard M., Heitke J., Jordan C., Glassic H., MacFarlane W.W., Miller S., Saunders C., Whitehead K. 2024. Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration Design and Monitoring Protocol: Standard Methods for Developing Project Designs and Assessing Riverscape Health. Version 2.0. Prepared by Anabranch Solutions and Utah State University Riverscapes Assessment and Monitoring Lab. Prepared for the Bureau of Land Management. Logan, UT. 81 pp. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.13769899 |
| Author | Nick Weber |
Layers & Metrics
- Active Valley Bottom
- Channel Junctions
- Structural Elements
- Inundation
- Channel Units
- Riparian Vegetation
- Recovery Space
| Layers | Metrics | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Active Channel % | Percent Inundated | Percent of Valley Bottom Classified as Active Channel |
| Active Floodplain % | Percent Active Floodplain | Percent of Valley Bottom Classified as Active Floodplain |
| Inactive Floodplain % | Percent Inactive Floodplain | Percent of Valley Bottom Classified as Inactive Floodplain |
| Layers | Metrics | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Confluence Count | Confluence Count, Confluence Density | Count of Confluences in Valley Bottom |
| Diffluence Count | Diffluence Count, Diffluence Density | Count of Diffluences in Valley Bottom |
| Channel Head Count | Channel Head Count, Channel Head Density | Count of Channel Heads in Valley Bottom |
| Layers | Metrics | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Dam Count | Dam Count, Dam Density | Count of Dams in Valley Bottom |
| Jam Count | Jam Count, Jam Density | Count of Wood Jams in Valley Bottom |
| Vegetative Mass Count | Vegetative Mass Count, Vegetative Mass Density | Count of Vegetative Mass (e.g., rootwad) in Valley Bottom |
| Layers | Metrics | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ponded % | Percent Ponded | Percent of Active Channel classified as Ponded |
| Free Flowing % | Percent Free Flowing | Percent of Active Channel classified as Free Flowing |
| Overflow % | Percent Overflow | Percent of Active Channel classified as Overflow |
| Layers | Metrics | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pool Count | Pool Count, Pool Density | Count of Pools in Valley Bottom |
| Riffle Count | Riffle Count, Riffle Density | Count of Riffles in Valley Bottom |
| Pond Count | Pond Count, Pond Density | Count of Ponds in Valley Bottom |
| Chute Count | Chute Count, Chute Density | Count of Chutes in Valley Bottom |
| Mid Channel Bar Count | Mid Channel Bar Count, Mid Channel Bar Density | Count of Mid Channel Bars in Valley Bottom |
| Bank Attached Bar Count | Bank Attached Bar Count, Bank Attached Bar Density | Count of Bank Attached Bars in Valley Bottom |
| Layers | Metrics | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Riparian Vegetation % | % Riparian Vegetation | Percent of Valley Bottom Classified as Riparian Vegetation |
| Layers | Metrics | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Recovery Space | % Recovery Space, Recovery Space Area | Percent of Valley Bottom Classified as Recovery Space |
Video Demonstration
Layer Attributes
- Valley Bottom Layers
- Channel Junction Layers
- Structural Elements Layers
- Inundation Extent Layers
- Geomorphic Unit Layers
- Riparian Vegetation Layers
- Recovery Space Layers
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Active Channel | The portion of the valley bottom classified as part of the active channel under the current geomorphic and hydrologic conditions. |
| Active Floodplain | The portion of the valley bottom classified as part of the active floodplain under the current geomorphic and hydrologic conditions. |
| Inactive Floodplain | The portion of the valley bottom that is not part of the active channel or floodplain under current geomorphic and hydrologic conditions. |
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Diffluence | Location where an active, non-primary channel splits away (diverges) from the primary channel or another non-primary channel. Difluences are the upstream end of any non-primary active channel |
| Confluence | Approximate location where an active non-primary channel reenters the primary channel, another non-primary channel, or a tributary enters an active channel. Confluences are the downstream end of any non-primary active channel |
| Channel Head | Channel heads are one mechanism in which new anabranches are created. Channel heads are distinguished as the most upstream point at which flow becomes concentrated between definable banks. The downstream point in which the anabranch channel meets the main channel should be marked as a channel head confluence |
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Dam | single structural element, created by beaver or as a restoration structure, that functions like a beaver dam |
| Jam | a single aggregate of multiple woody debris pieces, or a single large piece of woody debris |
| Vegetative Mass | the structural element is formed by a mass of rhizomatous roots or vegetation |
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Ponded | structurally-forced backwater ponding behind a channel-spanning structural element. Backwater may be contained within or be outside of the existing active channel |
| Overflow | structurally-forced flow out of the active channel floodplain and/or otherwise exposed in channel surfaces (e.g. bars) |
| Free Flowing | flow is contained within the contemporary active channel and is not obstructed by a channel spanning structural element (e.g., beaver dam or log jam) |
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Pool | Pools are bowl shaped channel concavities that are laterally and longitudinally concave. |
| Pond | Surface water impoundment caused by a flow obstruction such as a beaver dam or woody debris jam. |
| Chute | Laterally concave and elongate units that are typically steeper shortcuts or flow paths that dissect bar features or form on the inside of channel meanders. |
| Riffle | A bar that is margin attached on both sides (either to banks or other bars) with a crest that acts as a weir. They are longitudinally convex, but concave in cross section. Often formed because of deposition downstream of pool units (i.e., pool-tails). |
| Mid Channel Bar | Lateral and longitudinal convexities formed by deposition of bed material during high stream power events. Bar features are often only partially inundated or could be completely dry during baseflow. |
| Bank Attached Bar | Similar to mid-channel bars but attached to banks on the inside of channel meanders. Commonly referred to as ‘point bars’. |
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Riparian | species native to the riparian zone or wetlands. Typical riparian spp. include sedges, rushes, willow, cottonwood, alder, etc. |
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Recovery Space | portion of valley bottom avaiable for restoration. |
Metric Atributes
- Valley Bottom Metrics
- Channel Junction Metrics
- Structure Element Metrics
- Geomorphic Unit Metrics
- Inundation Metrics
- Riparian Vegetation Metrics
- Recovery Space Metrics
| Metric | Description |
|---|---|
| Percent Inundated | The percent of the riverscape that is inundated |
| Percent Active Floodplain | The proportion of the riverscape that is active floodplain |
| Percent Inactive Floodplain | The proportion of the riverscape that is inactive floodplain |
| Metric | Description |
|---|---|
| Confluence Count | Count of all confluences |
| Confluence Density | Number of confluences per unit length of riverscape |
| Diffluence Count | Count of all diffluencecs |
| Diffluence Density | Number of diffluences per unit length of riverscape |
| Channel Head Count | Count of all channel heads |
| Channel Head Density | Number of channel heads per unit length of riverscape |
| Metric | Description |
|---|---|
| Dam Count | Count of all dams |
| Dam Density | Number of dams per unit length of riverscape |
| Jam Count | Count of all jams |
| Jam Density | Number of jams per unit length of riverscape |
| Vegetative Mass Count | Count of all vegetative masses |
| Vegetative Mass Density | Number of vegetative masses per unit length of riverscape |
| Metric | Description |
|---|---|
| Mid Channel Bar Count | Count of all mid channel bars |
| Mid Channel Bar Density | Number of mid channel bars per unit length of riverscape |
| Pool Count | Count of all pools |
| Pool Density | Number of pools per unit length of riverscape |
| Riffle Count | Count of all riffles |
| Riffle Density | Number of riffles per unit length of riverscape |
| Bank Attached Bar Count | Count of all bank attached bars |
| Bank Attached Bar Density | Number of bank attached bars per unit length of riverscape |
| Pond Count | Count of all ponds |
| Pond Density | Number of ponds per unit length of riverscape |
| Metric | Description |
|---|---|
| Free Flowing Area | Summed area of active channel classified as free flowing |
| % Free Flowing | Percent of active channel classified as free-flowing |
| Overflow Area | Summed area of active channel classified as overflow |
| % Overflow | Percent of active channel classified as overflow |
| Ponded Area | Summed area of active channel classified as ponded |
| % Ponded | Percent of active channel classified as ponded |
| Metric | Description |
|---|---|
| % Riparian Vegetation | Percent of valley bottom covered by riparian vegetation |
| Metric | Description |
|---|---|
| Recovery Space Area | Area of valley bottom available for restoration or recovery of aquatic/riparian processes |
| Percent Recovery Space | Percent of valley bottom that is avaiable for restoration or recovery of aquatic/riparian processes |
Resources
Weber et al. 2024
Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration Design and Monitoring Protocol: Standard Methods for Developing Project Designs and Assessing Riverscape Health