Detailed Instructions for RSRA Database

 
This database allows you to upload data collected in the field and entered into an RSRA Scoresheet as part of the Rapid Stream Riparian Area Assessment (RSRA) process. This form on the "Submit Page" is from the May 2009 version of the Users Guide entitled "A Users Guide for the Rapid Assessment of the Functional Condition of Stream-Riparian Ecosystems in the American Southwest," which is available for download from this website. Please note that earlier versions of the field Scoresheet (appendix 2) have one less field indicator, as the older version includes 2 indicators (14 AND 15) for riparian zone plant community structure and cover. In this case just enter the score for Upland Riparian Vegetation (URZ) into the box for indicator 14.
 
Before you begin entering data from your field Scoresheet, its is helpful to know ahead of time the NAD and Zone for your UTM data, the Quad sheet the site is located on, and to have your fieldworksheet scanned and photos in .jpg format. We request that worksheets be named with the following convention: "Fieldworksheet_(name of site)_(date of survey)" and that photos be named with the following convention: "(watershed)_(stream)_(name of site/reach)_(date of survey)_(upstream or downstream location)."
 
Once you have entered all the fields and uploaded your field worksheet and photo(s), Click "Save" at the bottom of the scoreheet. This will send an email to the RSRA database moderator that a newly entered form requires moderation. We recommend you check back into the RSRA site about one week later, to see that the scoresheet has been added to the database. At this time the survey site will be added to the RSRA map, will be query-able on the RSRA Search map, and the final (and category) scores will be color coded depending on whether the site is non-functioning (overall score less than 2.5), functioning at-risk (scored between 2.5 and 3.5), or properly functioning (scores greater than 3.5).