1. The document summarizes mapping riparian areas using both constant and variable buffer widths. It describes using 30m and 15m buffers for main streams and tributaries for the constant buffer approach. 2. For the variable buffer approach, the document outlines using data on streams, lakes, wetlands, elevation, land cover, and flood heights. It also describes calculating a variable buffer width for each watershed cell. 3. The document presents some results of mapping riparian area change from 2010 to 2016 in the US, finding a 2030 acre decrease in forests but increases of 1322 acres in shrublands and 1087 acres in wetlands.

1. Ukraine Polyana Workshop July 2018
Raha Hakimdavar, Presidential Management Fellow in Hydrology, USDA Forest Service
Indicator 5: Riparian/Wetland
Vegetation Condition

2. Objectives
1. Mapping riparian areas using a constant buffer
2. Mapping riparian areas using a variable (more detailed)
buffer

3. Mapping riparian areas using a
constant buffer

4. Adapted from: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Where the
Land and Water Meet: A Guide for Protection and Restoration of Riparian
Areas First Edition. USDA NRCS, September 2003.
The minimum and maximum limit of Riparian buffer width
to ensure the sustainability of the river functions
Mapping riparian areas for ecosystem services

5. Selection of two (arbitrary) buffer values:
• Main stream channel - 30 m (100 ft) riparian buffer
• Tributary streams - 15 m (50 ft) buffer
Close-up view of riparian buffers
Main Stream channel
Tributary streams
Mapping riparian areas in Polyana watershed

6. Close-up view of southwestern “big Pinya”
Forest loss – Landsat data 2001-2014
Riparian area condition – overlay with forest loss
data

7. Forest gain – Landsat data 2001-2014
Riparian area condition – overlay with forest gain
data

8. Mapping riparian areas using a variable
buffer

9. National inventory of riparian areas and their condition within national
forests and rangelands
www.riparian.solutions
Riparian Areas Inventory & Assessment Project
Sinan Abood, ORISE Research Fellow, USDA Forest Service

10. Input Data Sources Type
Streams
USGS National Hydrology Dataset (NHD)
http://nhd.usgs.gov/
Required
Lakes
USGS National Hydrology Dataset (NHD)
http://nhd.usgs.gov/
Optional
National Wetlands Inventory
National Wetlands Inventory (NWI)
http://www.fws.gov/wetlands/Data/Data-Download.html
Optional
gSSURGO
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov/ or
http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/HomePage.htm
Optional
Elevation (10-30 m DEM)
The National Map https://viewer.nationalmap.gov/basic/#startUp Required
Land Cover
National Land Cover Database http://www.mrlc.gov/
Cropland Data Layer http://www.nass.usda.gov/research/Cropland/SARS1a.htm
Optional
50-Year Flood Height
50-year flood height value is calculated using Mason (2007) approach utilizing
available USGS water gauges at:
https://maps.waterdata.usgs.gov/mapper/index.html
Required
Data requirements

11. Input Data Sources Type
Streams
FORZA Required
Lakes
Optional
National Wetlands Inventory
Optional
gSSURGO
FORZA / soil surveys Optional
Elevation (10-30 m DEM)
FORZA / USGS 30 m DEM Required
Land Cover
FORZA / Landsat satellite land cover data Optional
50-Year Flood Height
Can be calculated using data from available streamflow gauges and rainfall Required
Data requirements – Pinya watershed

12. 1st Watershed
Output Folder
Process
loop
Modeling process

13. Variable width of riparian area
Resulting outputs

14. Mapping riparian area change, 2013 to 2014

15. Mapping riparian area complex changes, 2010 to
2014

16. 0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000ACRES
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
• 97% of riparian land cover is natural or semi natural
• Between 2010 to 2016 there were:
• 2030 acres decrease in forests
• 1322 acres increase in shrublands
• 1087 increase in wetlands
National riparian area assessment (US)