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Fact Sheet
No. 18:
Stream Channel and Riparian Area Monitoring for Ranchers1

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Introduction

It is important for landowners to monitor the stream channel and adjacent riparian area to assess whether their streamside land uses are affecting water quality. The two monitoring forms in this fact sheet were acquired from Montana and Wyoming and may be useful on your ranch. In addition you should always take photos of the stream channel and riparian area at the same time and location each year.

After collecting several years of data, you should be able to determine if the stream channel and riparian area are on an upward, stable, or downward trend. If you observe a widening channel, channel downcutting, more than 10% eroding banks, increasing frequency of new streambars, noxious weeds or unvegetated streambanks, encroaching upland shrub species, lack of shrub and tree regeneration, and/or hedged shrubs, you may need to review grazing and other ranch management practices.

Consistency is the key to obtaining useful information; it is extremely important that the same person collects the information at the same location and at the same time each year. Monitoring should be done immediately after livestock grazing in the streamside area. If you rest the pasture, collect the information at about the same time of year as you did the previous year. If the pasture is very large or if stream characteristics vary considerably, try to sample two or more stream lengths, If possible, compare your finding with an ungrazed part of the same stream.

These forms are not intended to replace monitoring forms used by state and federal agencies on grazing allotments. It is suggested that you coordinate your monitoring efforts on grazing allotment with the permitting agency.

Reference

1Montana Riparian Association Education Committee (8/18/92)

Stream Channel and Riparian Area Monitoring

Short Form

Observer ___________________

Date ______________________

Stream name  ____________________________________

Sampling site location (select a 1000' length of stream to monitor)

_______________________________________________

Permanent photo points (describe locations)

    (1) Channel cross-section ______________________

    (2) Channel and riparian area overview (take from high point)
          _______________________________________

Current year weather conditions:

    text box  dry      text box  normal      text box  wet  

    I. Stream Channel Characteristics (complete every 3 years)

      1. Type of stream on a normal year (circle)

        a. perennial
        b. intermittent/ephemeral (doesn't flow all year)
        c. wet area
        d. pond

      2. Stream meander pattern (circle)

        a. straight or slightly sinuous
        b. meandering
        c. braided (many channels)

      3. Estimate channel width. Measure between high     water marks on straight sections of stream.

        a. narrowest width: __________ ft.
        b. widest width:      __________ ft.

      4. Estimate bank height. Measure on the outside     of each meander, from current water level to     the top of the bank. _________ ft.

      (Steep, raw banks may indicate that channel is deepening or downcutting due to increased streamflows and/or increased sediment)

      5. Determine streambank characteristics after     walking the entire lenght of streams: 0-25%,     26-50%, 51-75%, 76-100%                       (be more specific if you can)

         _____% of banks breaking off or eroding
         _____% of banks with overhanging shrubs
                       (willows, alders, etc.)
         _____% of banks withherbaceous vegetation                  (grasses and sedges)
         (Banks that are breaking off or eroding indicate instability.       Overhanging vegetation is the most stable.)

      6. Estimate number of new, unvegetated stream     bars per 1000' length of stream.

      text box   none   text box   occasional   text box   frequent

      (If frequency of streambars is increasing, streamflows and/or sediment   may be increasing)

    II. Riparian Vegetation Information

      7. Estimate canopy cover along the streambank     (per 1000' stream length): 0-25%,     26-50%, 51-75%, 76-100%

          _____% conifer or deciduous trees
          _____% shrubs
          _____% herbaceous (grasses, sedges, forbs)
          _____% noxious weeds

      8. Estimate the amount of bare ground or rock     (nonvegetated surface) exposed along the     streambank.

      check box 0-25% check box 26-50%
      check box 51-75% check box 76-100%

      9. Estimate the distance from the streambank to     the beginning of the upland shrub community     indicated by sagebrush,rabbitbrush, or other     dry land species. ______ ft.
           (Encroachment of upland species indicate a dropping water table)

      10. Are small shrub and tree seedlings present?

      check box none check box occasional check box frequent

             (If no regeneration is occurring the area is either being         overgrazed or site conditions have changed for some reason)

      11. Note shape of shrubs. Is there evidence of       hedging, high-lining, or umbrella shaped       shrubs?

      check box none check box occasional check box frequent

               (If occasional or frequent, some overgrazing is occurring.)

    III. Utilization Information

      12. Time of grazing this year (dates)

             _____ to _____

      13. Number of AUMs harvested this year. ___

      14. Class of livestock using area.

      check box yearling check box cow/calf
      check box sheep check box other (specify)        ____________________

      15. Estimate amount of wildlife use.

      check box none check box occasional check box frequent

              (It is important to distinguish between livestock and wildlife          effects to design a proper grazing management system)

      16. Type of wildlife using area.

      check box elk check box deer check box moose
      check box antelope check box other _________________

      Developed by the Montana Riparian association Education Committee
      (8/18/92)

Riparian Checklist2

A. Gradient/Slope
  1. Steep
  2. Moderate
  3. Flat

B. Predominant Bank Condition

  1. Large rocks
  2. Small rocks and sand
  3. Primarily vegetation
  4. Bare or eroding soil

C. Streambed Material

  1. Large rocks (3-12" or more)
  2. Small rocks and sand
  3. Sand/silt

D. Bank Vegetation Amount

  1. Heavy
  2. Moderate
  3. Light

E. Degree of Eroding Banks

  1. Rare
  2. Common along bends
  3. Common on bends and straight sections

Does the stream run year-round?

  1. Yes
  2. No
 F. Primary Floodplain Plants
  1. Trees
  2. Shrubs/grasses
  3. Grasses

G. Channel

  1. Straight
  2. Winding
  3. Multiple channels

H. Width of Floodplain

  1. Narrower than channel
  2. Same width as channel
  3. Wider than channel

I. Water Width in September

  1. Less than 3 feet
  2. 3-10 feet
  3. Wider than 10 feet

J. Source of Water

  1. Springs
  2. Other streams
  3. Irrigation return
  4. Reservoir release

Fish Presence

  1. Abundant
  2. Some fish
  3. Few or none
Diagram below may help in assessing stream in question.

channel cross-section

2Robert Rudd, Wyoming Stockgrowers Association, Casper, Wy

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prepared and edited by John Harper, Ken Tate and Mel George