Watershed/Riparian Committee

Sherm Swanson
Chair/President

Chair/President: Sherm Swanson

Chair-Elect: Melissa Dickard

Overview and Introduction

The SRM Watershed/Riparian Committee (WRC) began as a Board designated Task Group initiated in 1988 by a group of dedicated members committed to addressing emerging issues relative to this critical resource area. It remained a Task Group until 1992 when it was converted to full committee status as the need to give long-term attention to the condition of rangeland watersheds and riparian-wetland areas was recognized as increasingly important. Through periodic reviews, changing membership and flexible governance, this committee remains active and relevant, serving the Society and others in support of the strategic plan, in a manner that is congruent with existing policy and position statements, resolutions and in accordance with the bylaws. More specifically, the WRC focuses attention, knowledge and staff work on watershed and riparian issues as related to rangelands. The committee functions to:

Provide opportunities to share information and ideas, develop networks of people, and foster institutional relationships.
Serve as a forum for discussing and addressing current events, issues and initiatives.
Organize symposia bringing pertinent issues before SRM and other affiliates.
Review and provide comments on legislative or policy proposals, research and other publications. Serve on task groups when requested.
Provide recommendations to the Board concerning SRM policy and position statements and resolutions relative to watershed and riparian resource issues.
Coordinate with other SRM committees and other professional societies.

Session: Assessment and Monitoring of Lentic Riparian Areas

SRM Annual Meeting in Oklahoma City, OK

Meadow hydrogeomorphic types for the Sierra Nevada and Southern Cascade Ranges in California – Dave A Weixelman
Forest Service Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems Protocol – Joseph Gurrieri, Christopher Carlson, Linda Ann Spencer
Lentic Riparian Monitoring Focused on Objectives – Sherman Swanson
Assessing Proper Functioning Condition (PFC) of Lentic Areas – Sandy Wyman

Fact sheets of common eastern Oregon riparian plants

Idaho Plant Materials Center publications

Plant Materials Center riparian publications

Forest Service Fire Effects Information System

Field guide to Intermountain sedges

Field guide to Intermountain rushes

Activities — Overview

Together, in the field, people with diverse backgrounds and interests learn about riparian areas, and explore grazing management strategies that can result in achieving desired outcomes for multiple objectives.

Photograph taken at East Fork Salmon River, Idaho

Ongoing

WRC members are coordinating with the Range Science Education Council and the Accreditation Committee providing specific recommendations on fundamental watershed and riparian core competencies that need to be addressed in university coursework for adequately preparing range professionals. We increased the number of riparian-wetland plant species in the SRM plant contest and the inclusion of watershed/riparian related questions in the URME. The WRC participates with other committees to update the SRM Glossary of Terms. We have a core that regularly participates and collaborates with other Committees to present information that improves understanding of riparian ecosystems. The WRC assists the Board Representative in efforts to foster better communication and integration between committees within the Science & Technology Division.

2013 Symposium

The WRC was a co-sponsor of the Targeted Grazing Committee’s symposium on grazing distribution highlighting the latest research and findings in both the art and science; papers will be published in Rangelands.

The WRC recognizes lentic (standing water) resources as an emerging area of interest on rangelands. There is high demand for additional education and training relative to understanding and managing these important areas of the landscape. In support of this need, the WRC conducted a one-day symposium at the 2011 Billings meeting followed by a half-day session at the 2013 Oklahoma City meeting. These sessions provided a progression of learning, beginning with the term lentic and all the diverse types of lentic systems, all aspects of function (hydrology, vegetation, soils/landform), function/values linkage, setting objectives for lentic systems, lentic classifications and management issues, etc. Inventory, assessment and monitoring are other important categories to cover factoring in both temporal and spatial scales.

SRM High School Youth Forum Support

Members of the WRC will contribute as requested. Past activities include an emphasis on Riparian Function and Values and Riparian Monitoring as well as assistance with field site visits. WRC members regularly serve as judges for the High School Youth Forum paper presentations.

Workshops/Symposia

A number of topics have been discussed and are being considered for future WRC activities. Some of these include:

Applied Management: What have we learned?

This session would illustrate some of the management efforts of the past 10 years where new and various concepts and practices have been applied. The idea is to examine what has been tried in science application, what has been learned, and are there new things to consider; some work and some don’t and perhaps other’s have been abandoned too soon? Topics could include aspects of grazing management, livestock behavior, plug and pond, other restoration, roads/maintenance, fire, energy development including wind and solar, etc.

Monitoring Riparian Resources

The WRC feels that riparian monitoring is another important focus area. Initial planning is focused on creating some kind of forum(s) that would emphasize a multi-step approach linking assessment, management and monitoring by objective (not formula or specific numerical standards). This would include an introduction of basic concepts with follow-up of methods and the corresponding interpretation and use of results and could also feature lessons learned (what’s worked well and what hasn’t) and illustrate adaptive management scenarios.

Management, Restoration, Monitoring of Riparian Resources

A session that would combine multiple aspects of riparian resource management highlighting what is currently being done (successes and lessons learned), possibly more on lentic areas, some focus on areas of concern such as streambank alteration, etc.

Inventory, Assessment and Monitoring of Springs

Springs and seeps are quickly becoming a focus for many land managers and interest groups. A session would feature an overview of management issues such as biodiversity and prioritization of activities as well as highlight a number of ongoing inventory, assessment and monitoring efforts.

Ephemeral Systems

People from many parts of the country are eager to learn more about the ephemeral systems they work with. Session topics could include an explanation of why these areas are generating so much interest, and overview of the variety of ephemeral sites that exist, the most recent efforts at developing guidance on assessment, and others.

Groundwater Ecosystems

A number of topics could be covered such as an introduction to groundwater ecosystems, an explanation and update of Forest Service protocols, groundwater issues and efforts from different geographic areas, and others.

Riparian Ecological Site Description Development

The WRC supports the work led by NRCS in the development of ecological site descriptions for riparian areas; the committee sees the evolution of this effort as a valuable learning opportunity for SRM members. To this end, the WRC will include updates on the Riparian ESD development process where and when appropriate and will also support/endorse the NRCS sponsored educational activities at SRM annual meetings.