Abstract

Functional Riparian Habitat in California: An Evaluation of Methods
Track: Environmental Management
Author(s): Kristen Cayce, Josh Collins

California needs to map riparian areas for protection and management. Mapping methods using the NRC riparian definition were compared in terms of cost, comprehensiveness, and usability by various work centers. The first step was to map as much of the drainage networks as possible using automated line work based on the USGS 10-m DEM and heads-up digitizing based on 2005 1-m pixel NAIP imagery. Alternative riparian maps were prepared based on heads-up digitizing of riparian vegetation evident in the NAIP imagery; simple buffering using fixed width values; complex buffering that accounts for vegetation structure and topographic slope; and a combination of complex buffering and heads-up digitizing. The latter approach is optimal based on reviews by federal, state, regional, and local stakeholders. The chosen method is being piloted for 15k mi2 of southern and northern California with ongoing review of maps by stakeholder agencies.

Kristen Cayce
San Francisco Estuary Institute
7770 Pardee Lane
2nd floor
Oakland , California 94621
United States
Phone: 510.746.7342
E-mail: kristen@sfei.org

Josh Collins
SFEI
7770 Pardee Ln
Oakland , California 94621
United States
Phone: 510-746-7365
E-mail: josh@sfei.org