Field Guide: New Mexico Rapid Assessment Method - Montane Riverine ...

Citation:

Muldavin, E.H., B. Bader, E.R. Milford, M. McGraw, D. Lightfoot, B. Nicholson, and G. Larson. 2011. New Mexico Rapid Assessment Method: Montane Riverine Wetlands. Field Guide Version 1.1. Final report to the New Mexico Environment Department, Surface Water Quality Bureau, Santa Fe New Mexico. 39 pp. and appendices.

Funding: Funding for the development of the New Mexico Rapid Assessment Method was provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6 through Wetlands Program Development Grants awarded to the New Mexico Environment Department Surface Water Quality Bureau Wetlands Program. Additional funding was provided by the Natural Heritage New Mexico Division of the Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the EPA, nor does the mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.

Cover:

J. Welch measuring a stream cross-section on the Rio Santa Barbara 2009. Photo C. Flynn. Layout G. King

New Mexico Rapid Assessment Method: Montane Riverine Wetlands

Field Guide

(Version 1.2)

July 2013

Esteban H. Muldavin, Natural Heritage New Mexico1 Brian J. Bader, SWCA Environmental Consultants2 Elizabeth R. Milford, Natural Heritage New Mexico1

Maryann M. McGraw, New Mexico Environment Department3 David Lightfoot, SWCA Environmental Consultants2 Brian Nicholson, SWCA Environmental Consultants2 Greg Larson, SWCA Environmental Consultants2

1Natural Heritage New Mexico Division Museum of Southwestern Biology

MSC03 2020 1 University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001

2SWCA Environmental Consultants 5647 Jefferson Street NE Albuquerque, NM 87109

3New Mexico Environment Department Surface Water Quality Bureau Harold Runnels Building

1190 St. Francis Drive, Room N2050 P.O. Box 5469

Santa Fe, NM 87502-5469

The NMRAM Field Guide is available at and .

NMRAM Field Guide (Version 1.2)

Table of Contents

Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................. i List of Figures ...................................................................................................................................ii List of Tables ...................................................................................................................................iii List of Acronyms..............................................................................................................................iv Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 1 NMRAM Assessment Package Overview ........................................................................................

Pre-field Procedures ................................................................................................................... 2 Determining and Mapping the Wetland of Interest ............................................................... 2 Defining and Delineating the Assessment Area or Areas ....................................................... 2 Land Ownership and Sampling Permissions ........................................................................... 5 Field Maps ............................................................................................................................... 5 Field Equipment, Guides, and Worksheets............................................................................. 5

Rapid Assessment Metric Measurements .................................................................................. 6 Assessing Level 1 Metrics........................................................................................................ 6 Assessing Level 2 Metrics........................................................................................................ 7

Post-field Procedures................................................................................................................ 10 Assessment Scoring and the Rank Calculator ....................................................................... 10 Reporting and the New Mexico Wetlands Database............................................................ 11

Metric Protocols............................................................................................................................ 12 Wetland of Interest Cover Worksheet...................................................................................... 12 Wetland of Interest General Information............................................................................. 12 Assessment Area List ............................................................................................................ 12 WOI Description .................................................................................................................... 12 WOI Assessment Summary ................................................................................................... 13 Landscape Context Metrics....................................................................................................... 13 Buffer Integrity Index ............................................................................................................ 13 Buffer Percent ....................................................................................................................... 13 Riparian Corridor Connectivity.............................................................................................. 16 Relative Wetland Size ........................................................................................................... 18 Surrounding Land Use ........................................................................................................... 18 Size Metric................................................................................................................................. 19

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