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D. Conduet the RS'RA field assessment <br />1. Required Field Gear <br />Copies of RSRA Score Sheet (Appendix 2) and Field Worksheets (Appendix 3), <br />clipboards, pencils, or waterproof pens. <br />50 or 100 meter tape to measure transects. <br />Topographic maps of the area, including the watershed upstream from the study <br />reach (both 1:24,000 and 1:100,000 scales are useful). Aerial photos also can be <br />helpful to gain an overall picture of the reach; these are often available at no cost <br />from various Internet websites. <br />Camera (digital cameras that automatically record the time and date are best) for <br />talang reference photos. <br />Flagging to mark the end of transects. <br />Ocular tube (a "layperson's version" can easily be constructed with an old toilet <br />tissue cardboard roll with "crosshairs" made of thread across one end). <br />Global Positioning System (GPS) uiut to obtain accurate locations for return visits <br />to the study reach. <br />An inexpensive laser level, tripod as small as 6 inches high to hold the level, <br />and tape measure for measuring banlcfull ratios. A straight stick such as adjustable <br />hiking stick (also called treldang pole) is needed. <br />be used if necessary. <br />An adjustable marker such as a velcro strap to mark the location of the laser <br />light on the vertical stick used in bankfull measurements. <br />Field guides for plants of the region, including exotic species (optional). <br />Calculator for determining scores. <br />2. Timing <br />The best time to visit both the reference and study reaches is between late spring and early fall, <br />when the riparian vegetation is frilly developed and when continuous surface water flows are <br />most critical to wildlife. The best times of day for conducting the survey are from 10:00am to <br />2:OOpm, when the sun is well overhead. Shadows cast over the stream at mid-day are used for <br />one of the indicators. <br />3. Establishment of Transects <br />Data will be collected both from the entire 1 Milometer (six tenths of a mile) study reach and <br />along 200 meter sample transects located in the stream channel and on the adjacent bai~lcs. The <br />team should first walk the entire reach together. In addition to getting a general sense of the <br />area, the users also will be scoring some of the indicators during the iiutial walkthrough. Loots <br />for a good location to establish the 200m transects for detailed measurements of certain vari- <br />ables. You will collect data from three different but adjacent transects along the same 200m sec- <br />tion of the reach: an in-stream transect, a Lower Riparian Zone transect, and an Upper Riparian <br />11 <br />