The Riparian Area Management Plan
Authors:
Gene Surber, MSU Extension
Natural Resources Specialist
Bob Ehrhart, Research Specialist,
RWRP, Univ. of Montana
Introduction
Ranchers – “do-ers”
Planning – systematic
way of thinking
Work smarter, not harder
Questions / Steps
Where do we want to be
Set goals
Where are we now?
Inventory resources
How are we going to get there?
Identify & implement strategies
How will we know we’re moving?
Monitor the resources for desired change
Step 1: set goals
Provide purpose and focus
Specific goals
Long-term & Short-term
Goals should be SMART
S – specific
M – measurable
A – attainable
R – related
T – tractable
Step 2: Inventory resources
Where are you now?
Inventory
Conditions of riparian area
Resources you have / don’t
have
Step 2: Inventory resources
Inventory (assessment) methods
One method = “Stream channel &
riparian monitoring guide”
Basic method
Can be used with little
training
Step 2: Inventory resources
Labor
Money
Expertise
Equipment
Time
Step 3: Decide & Implement
What – actions to take
Where – the actions will occur
When – the actions will happen
How – the actions will be done
What – the actions
will achieve
Step 4: Monitor the impacts
Use the assessment
guides for monitoring,
as well
Photo-monitoring
Many assessments taken over time
Step 4: Monitor the impacts
Why?
Why are you monitoring?
What?
What are you monitoring?
Step 4: Monitor the impacts
Where?
How many sites?
3 sites
Depends upon size of pasture
Depends upon different types of riparian areas
Accessibility
Time
Step 4: Monitor the impacts
When?
Time of year
Regular basis – trends
over time
Same sites, same time
each year
Photo-monitoring
Compares past with
present
Record physical & biological changes
What am I trying to show?
How can I best “capture” it?
Is location appropriate now & in time?
Determining photo locations
Shrubs block your view in 5 to 10 years
Anticipate floods
Same site from different directions
Permanent locations
Use markers
GPS readings (or
compass bearings)
Landscape view
Use “photo placard”
Date
Location
Time of day
Direction of shot
Vertical point
(notch in hill, rock outcropping)
Close-up view
3 ft. x 3 ft. square
Stand on north side
Metal fence post or steel pole (100 ft
away)
Recording information
Location on map
Compass bearing
Allotment and/or pasture name
Date, type of film, camera lens size
Information explaining each photograph
Storing the information
Notebook
Slides: non-pvc, non-acidic sheets
CD or DVD of digital photos
Limitations – photo monitoring
Quantifiable data may be missed
Small notebook
PDA or Palm Pilot
Micro-cassette