| Reach:
Vallecitos 03
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Stream:
Vallecitos Creek
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Watershed:
Jemez
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State: NM
Survey Date:
Fri, 11/18/2011 - 2:02pm
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| Observers:
J. Stone, R. Woodrow, E. Masin, Team E.U.
E-mail: jenniferstone@fs.fed.us
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Address: 228 Commercial St., Nevada City, CA , 95959
Phone: 559-359-8366
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| (UTM) Zone: 13
Upstream (UTM): 353040E
Upstream (UTM): 3953080N
Elevation: 2048 meters
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| NAD: 83
Downstream (UTM): 352673E
Downstream (UTM): 3952349N
Elevation: 2044 meters
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(UTM) Start: 352776E
(UTM) Start: 3952584N
Upstream or down? Downstream
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Scores:
WQ 4
HG 2.8
F/AH 3
RV 4
TWH 3.5
Overall 3.5
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| Water Quality |
|
3 |
1 |
Algal Growth |
%=17 |
| 5 |
2 |
Channel Shading |
%=63 |
|
| 4 |
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Mean Score |
| Notes: None |
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| Hydrogeomorphology |
| 1 |
3 |
Floodplain Connection |
| 4 |
4 |
Vertical Bank Stability |
%=16 |
| 5 |
5 |
Hydraulic Habitat Diversity |
| 3 |
6 |
Riparian Area Soil Integrity |
%=6 |
| 1 |
7 |
Beaver Activity |
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| 2.8 |
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Mean Score |
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Notes: Indicator number 5 is rate high due to manual alteration of the stream channel.
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| Fish/Aquatic Habitat |
| 2 |
8 |
Riffle-Pool Distribution |
| 2 |
9 |
Underbank Cover |
%=3 |
| 1 |
10 |
Cobble Embeddedness |
%=51 |
| 5 |
11 |
Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Diversity |
| 4 |
12 |
Large Woody Debris |
| 4 |
13 |
Overbank Cover |
|
| 3 |
|
Mean Score |
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Notes: Rifle beetles found at site #03
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| Riparian Vegetation |
| 3 |
14 |
Riparian Zone Plant Community Structure |
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G=51%
S=59%
MC=24%
UC=35%
avg=42.3%
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| 4 |
15 |
Shrub Demography and Recruitment |
| 3 |
16 |
Tree Demography and Recruitment |
| 3 |
17 |
Non-native Herbaceous Plant Species |
| 5 |
18 |
Non-native Woody Plant Species |
| 5 |
19 |
Grazing Impacts on Ground Cover |
%=1 |
| 5 |
20 |
Browsing Impacts on Shrubs and Small Trees |
|
| 4 |
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Mean Score |
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Notes: None
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| Terrestrial Wildlife Habitat |
| 5 |
21 |
Shrub Patch Density |
| 3 |
22 |
Mid-canopy Patch Density |
| 4 |
23 |
Upper Canopy Patch Density |
| 2 |
24 |
Fluvial Habitat Density |
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| 3.5 |
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Mean Score |
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Notes: Conifers are dominant in the upper canopy
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| Scores |
| WQ |
HG |
F/AH |
RV |
TWH |
OVERALL |
| 4 |
2.8 |
3 |
4 |
3.5 |
3.5 |
|
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| Overall Comments |
| Most of this reach extends through a wide, shallow floodplain with campgrounds bordering on one side (Paliza campground downstream, Christian Life Camp upstream. Occasional dispersed camp sites on opposite side of drainage. The channel has a moderate gradient, and has been significantly down cut. At the upstream extreme of the reach, a (probably unapproved) 3ft log structure has been constructed across the channel which can be blocked manually to create a swimming area behind it. The stream channel for +/- 100m downstream has deep clay sedimentation. Several culverts also add to the deposition.
Entire reach has been managed with many short dams spaced regularly to increase fish habitat. Some of these have blown out.
The reach in general tends to alternate between riffles and sand bottom runs, with occasional pools. Many fish seen throughout, often large.
There is mostly continuous shrub layer with high species diversity and large diameter Ponderosa Pines give a significant amount of upper-canopy coverage. Foot traffic from campgrounds have resulted in occasional bare soil areas along banks.
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