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1. Introduction to the User's Guide for the Rapid Assessment of the <br />Functional Condition of Stream-Riparian Ecosytems in the American <br />Southwest. <br />Stream-riparian zones are some of the most productive and important natural resources found <br />on public and private lands. These ecosystems are highly valued as habitats for fish and <br />wildlife, as a water source for human commuiuties, for recreation, and for many different eco- <br />nomic uses. This is particularly true in arid and semi-arid regions like the American Southwest, <br />where riparian areas support a biotic community whose richness far exceeds the relative total <br />land area that these systems occupy. <br />Because of both the ecological importance of riparian areas and their heavy utilization by <br />humans, there is a need for assessment methods that can be used to objectively evaluate the <br />existing conditions of the stream-riparian ecosystem, detect at-risk components, prioritize man- <br />agement strategies and/or possible restoration activities if problems are discovered, and then be <br />used to objectively moiutor any future changes within the system. An effective assessment pro- <br />tocol must include consideration of the interactions among stream, fluvial wetland, and riparian <br />habitats (here referred to as the stream-riparian ecosystem), as well as the potential impacts of <br />upstream and adjacent upland areas. <br />The Rapid Stream-Riparian Assessment (RSRA) utilizes a primarily qualitative assessment <br />based on quantitative measurements. It focuses upon five functional components of the stream- <br />riparian ecosystem that provide important benefits to humans and wildlife, and which, on public <br />lands, are often the subject of goveriunent regulation and standards. These components are: 1) <br />water quality and pollution, 2) stream chaiulel and floodplain morphology and the ability of the <br />system to limit erosion and withstand flooding without damage, 3) the presence of habitat for <br />native fish and other aquatic species, 4) vegetation stn~cture and composition, including the <br />occurrence and relative dominance of exotic or non-native species, and 5) suitability as habitat <br />for terrestrial wildlife, including threatened or endangered species. <br />Within each of these areas, the RSRA evaluates between two and seven variables which reflect <br />the overall function and health of the stream-riparian ecosystem. The basis for the inclusion of <br />the individual indicators is briefly summarized in Table 1. A more complete discussion of the <br />variables, including selected references, can be found in Stevens et al. (2005)'. Defiiutions of <br />key terms used in Table 1 are provided at the end of the User's Guide; illustrations of selected <br />variables accompany the directions for scoring those indicator variables that are included in <br />Section 3. <br />I Stevens. L.E.. Stace~~. PB.. Jones. A. L.. Duff, D.. Uourle~~. C., and J.C. Catlin. 2Q0~. A protocol for rapid <br />assessment of southwestenl stream-riparian ecosystems. Proceedings of the Seventh Bieimial Conference of <br />Research on the Colorado Plateau titled The Colorado Plateazr II, Biophysical, b'ocioecononric, aid CzrTtz~ral <br />Research. Charles van Riper III and David J. Mattson. Ed.s pp 397-420. Tuscon. AZ: Universin~ of Arizona Press. <br />3 <br />