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Overlay biological features and critical areas

Overlay the following to 1) further verify reach breaks, and
2) begin assessing shoreline ecological functions.

Fish and wildlife conservation areas

• Priority species habitat, forage fish spawn/holding areas

Wetlands

• National Wetland Inventory, hydric soils

Frequently flooded areas

• FEMA 100-year floodplain and floodway

Geologically hazardous areas

• include erosion hot spots, unstable slopes, channel migration areas

Vegetation

• riparian vegetation, emergent vegetation, submerged aquatic vegetation

Here are some key questions you can ask of the inventory data to evaluate the status of shoreline conditions. View Rule citation

Within the context of the identified shoreline type, consider:

• Is there an intact riparian vegetation corridor that provides critical habitat for aquatic and terrestrial species? View Rule citation

• Are there sustainable sources of woody debris that provide habitat and channel complexity?

• In urban areas, is there sufficient riparian and aquatic vegetation to provide habitat, sediment trapping, wind/wave breaks, and bank stabilization functions? View Rule citation

• Is off channel habitat provided by connected wetlands? View Rule citation

• Are there naturally unconfined streams with channel migration potential? View Rule citation

• Are eroding bluffs or unstable slopes providing sediment for downdrift beaches?

 

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