Rapid assessment protocol offers insights into managing riparian ecosystems

COLORADO-Great Basin watersheds are home to many unique riparian and meadow ecosystems. The vegetation and processes of these ecosystems vary wildly, challenging managers to determine appropriate management strategies after disturbances. A recently developed rapid assessment protocol offers a guide, which will be discussed in the upcoming two-part webinar series, "Using an understanding of Stream and Riparian Geomorphic Sensitivity and Ecological Resilience to Guide Management."

Registration is required for both webinars. Register here.

The first webinar will be on Tuesday, April 25, at 10 a.m. MST. It will provide a framework to characterize the ecological processes of upland watersheds and determine their sensitivity and resilience to disturbance and their potential for restoration.

The second webinar is Thursday, April 27, at 10 a.m. MST. It will cover the ecological characteristics of and key threats to riparian wet meadows and illustrate how to prioritize management based on meadow status and sensitivity.

The protocols discussed in these webinars were developed by Dr. Jerry Miller and Dr. Mark Lord of Western Carolina University in collaboration with Rocky Mountain Research Station senior scientist emeritus Dr. Jeanne Chambers. Each has extensive experience studying natural and human-caused disturbances.

The protocols document watershed, stream channel and vegetation characteristics; geomorphic and hydrologic processes; and the types and magnitudes of disturbances that affect riparian and meadow ecosystems.

This information will help scientists and land managers evaluate the integrity of riparian and meadow ecosystems, revealing potential avenues for management and restoration before, during and after disturbance. Learn more about the rapid assessment protocol for Geomorphic Sensitivity and Ecological Resilience of Great Basin Streams and Riparian Ecosystems through this interactive story map.