Site Name/No
Contents
1. Photograph numbers ABIOTIC PATCH RICHNESS DATA SHEET p1 of 1 E v N D E 2 Abiotic Patch Type 2 s 5 amp 2 elz elzZ 2 3 2 7 amp fax A a Mudflats and or Sandflats Beaches xX X X X TR on floodplain or exposed lake lagoon x x x In channel Bars X CX A Islands larger than Slump Blocks xX X xX X X X Open Water ponds lakes stream slough xlxtixix surfaces Interfluves on floodplain X X Tributary Channels and or Ditches X X xX X X X Scour Pits or pools on floodplain xX X X Debris Jams or Wrackline in channel or on xX X floodplain Hummocks and or Sediment Mounds xX X C xX X X Benches in channels or along shorelines xX X X X X Natural Levees X X X X Persistent Slump Blocks in channels or along x amp amp l w xX x shorelines Pools in channels on exposed shorelines xX X X X Swales in secondary channels on floodplains or xi xix xix x along shorelines Riffles and Runs in channels X X Micro topographic Relief rills sediment ribbons on bars variegated shorelines and xX xX X xX xX x banks burrows etc Other xX X X X X J x Total Number of Possible Patch Types 18 i a 10 6 14 Abiotic Patch Richness those present expressed as a percent of all possible patch types for that wetland class Note X s in parentheses X indi2. If yes please elaborate Briefly describe the features that were used to delineate the Assessment Area Is the mouth of the lagoon open at the time of the assessment circle one yes no Complete the following only if the lagoon mouth is open What time was the closest high or low tide coinciding with the field visit Tide circle one high low Time Based on the above information what best describes the tidal stage over the course of the time spent in the field circle one high tide low tide Note Where feasible it is recommended that the assessment be conducted when the lagoon mouth is open and furthermore suggested that the assessment occur during low tide CRAM METRICS DATA SHEET p1 of 1 Site Name No Wetland Class Date m d y Investigators Office Score Field Score Comment Landscape Context of AA w Buffer Ave Buffer Width Buffer Condition Hydrology Source of Water Hydroperiod Upland connection Abiotic Structure Abiotic Patch Richness Topographic Complexity Sediment Integrity Biotic Structure Organic Matter Accum Biotic Patch Richness Vertical Structure Interspersion Zonation Plant Comm Integrity Stressor Index Hydrology Abiotic Structure Biotic Structure Adjacent Land Use Subtotal
3. are Invasive What is the total number of co dominant species for the tall herb layer PLANT COMMUNITY INTEGRITY DATA SHEETS p3 of 4 Worksheet 3 of 5 to determine dominant plant species for the four vegetation layers Shrub Layer multiple stems lt 3 m in height Plant species Percent Cover Rank Dominant check one if appl Based on Based on 20 Rule 50 Rule Invasive Total Percent Coverage 50 of Total Coverage 20 of Total Coverage of Co dominant Species that are Invasive What is the total number of co dominant species for the shrub layer PLANT COMMUNITY INTEGRITY DATA SHEETS p4 of 4 Worksheet 4 of 5 to determine dominant plant species for the four vegetation layers Tree Layer single trunk gt 3 m in height Plant species Percent Cover Rank Dominant check one if appl Based on Based on 50 Rule 20 Rule Invasive Total Percent Coverage 50 of Total Coverage 20 of Total Coverage of Co dominants Species that are Invasive What is the total number of co dominant species for the tree layer kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk Worksheet 5 of 5 to assess Plant Community Integrity based on Worksheets
4. assessment If yes please elaborate Which best describes the gradient of the reach you are assessing circle one high low What is the apparent hydrologic flow regime of the reach you are assessing circle one perennial intermittent ephemeral If applicable which best describes the current seasonal flow condition of the stream circle one low flow base flow high flow Briefly describe the up and downstream features used to delineate the Assessment Area Upstream Downstream Briefly describe the streamside features used to delineate the Assessment Area High gradient streams are defined as those that flow down an incline of gt 2 Low gradient streams are on gentle slopes of lt 2 The hydrologic flow regime of a stream describes the frequency with which the channel conducts water Perennial streams conduct water all year long whereas ephemeral streams conduct water only during and immediately following precipitation events Intermittent streams are dry for part of the year but conduct water for periods longer than ephemeral streams as a function of watershed size and water source DEPRESSIONAL Wetland Information Data Sheet Site Name No Date m d y Investigators Watershed County Wetland Size ha GPS Coordinates of center of AA as NAD 83 lat lon Assessment Area Size ha Restoration Mitigation Status Total Office Time hrs CRAM Field Times _ Start Sto
5. very large areas SPRING AND SEEP Wetland Information Data Sheet Site Name No Date m d y Investigators Watershed County Wetland Size ha GPS Coordinates of center of AA as NAD 83 lat lon Assessment Area Size ha Restoration Mitigation Status Total Office Time hrs CRAM Field Times Start Stop Do you have previous experience with this site excluding work done during the office assessment If yes please elaborate Does the spring seep occur on a discernible slope circle one yes no Are there any distinct channels associated with the wetland e g a visible outflow circle one yes no If yes briefly describe the channel s Briefly describe the features that were used to delineate the Assessment Area LACUSTRINE Wetland Information Data Sheet Site Name No Date m d y Investigators Watershed County Wetland Size ha GPS Coordinates of center of AA as NAD 83 lat lon Assessment Area Size ha Restoration Mitigation Status Total Office Time hrs CRAM Field Times _ Start Stop Do you have previous experience with this site excluding work done during the office assessment If yes please elaborate Is the lake natural or man made circle one Is the lake impounded by a dam circle one yes no Which situation best describes the hydrologic connectivity of the lake The lake is circ
6. 1 4 of Co dominants that are Invasive Average across the 4 Trees Shrubs Tall Herbs Short Herbs Layers Draft Rating of Plant Community Integrity based on result of Worksheet 5 above Percent of Co Dominants that are Code Invasive A 0 25 B gt 25 50 C gt 50 75 D gt 75 100 CRAM STRESSOR INDEX DATA SHEET p1 OF 2 Where to Stressor Index Raw Scores Assess to 10 0 not present 10 highest stress Set oint Source PS Discharges POTW other non stormwater discharge on point Source Non PS Discharges urban runoff farm drainage Site Name No Wetland Class Date m d y ow diversions Investigators Office Final Score Score ams reservoirs detention basins recharge basins ee ee ee Ooo o To ow obstructions culverts paved stream crossings a a ee ee Oooo To a a a ee ZelS ZlZlce Qa z S ea S eir drop structure tide gates redged inlet channel ngineered channel riprap armored channel bank bed ike levees fills e g from construction E e Sid CS BEE A S E subtora T o iiaea Same ae Abiotic Structure Score Score e Eling or dumping of sediment or soils N A for restoration areas e _ Grading compaction N A for restoration area l T e Plowing Discing N A for restoration areas Z O Z o Jo T Resource extraction Sediment grave
7. CRAM Verification Primer for Conducting the Verification of CRAM January 2004 The following summarizes the steps involved in conducting CRAM during the Verification Phase of CRAM development In the office prior to visiting the Site 1 check here when completed _ Delineate a draft Assessment Area AA 2 Conduct the Office Assessment portion of CRAM scoring for all applicable metrics and stressors 3 Document the rationale for your preliminary decisions and highlight any areas of uncertainty for more focused review in the field Once in the field 4 Walk the entire AA and buffer and verify your draft AA revising as necessary 5 Fill out the first part of the Supplemental Information Data Sheet 6 Conduct the formal field assessment of CRAM Metrics The following data sheets will be used for this phase of data collection a The Wetland Information Data Sheet specific to the wetland class you are assessing that day b The CRAM Metrics Data Sheets which incorporate information for the following Please document your rationale in selecting the ratings you record I The Abiotic Patch Richness Data Sheet I The Biotic Patch Richness Data Sheet IIL The Plant Community Integrity set of data sheets 7 Conduct the field assessment of CRAM Stressors using the CRAM Stressor Index Data Sheet 8 Fill out the second part remainder of the Supplemental
8. Information Data Sheet Remember to take photographs and or make sketches of your site and any noteworthy features you encountered during the assessment CRAM Primer p 2 of 3 Back in the office 9 Enter your data into the Access Database provided by SCCWRP 10 After completing the above steps for all of your sites forward the following deliverables to SCCWRP a A copy of the following for each of your sites I Supplemental Information Data Sheet Il Wetland Information Data Sheet Il CRAM Metrics Data Sheet IV Abiotic Patch Richness Data Sheet V Biotic Patch Richness Data Sheet VI Plant Community Integrity set of data sheets VII CRAM Stressor Index Data Sheet VII an aerial of the site indicating the AA that you used b The most recent CRAM Version 2 0 dated 27 January 2004 with your comments inserted using Track Changes Please accept all previously tracked changes before incorporating your own c A technical memo from each team summarizing feedback and recommended changes relating to o Metrics and attributes o Stressors o Possible future calibration measures d Digital photographs taken during your site visits along with clear descriptions of location and features items of interest that the photograph depicts e Any suggestions input on data analysis CRAM Primer p 3 of 3 For CRAM Verification please keep the following points in mind e If w
9. cate features that do not apply in tidal wetlands during high tide or in lagoons with a closed mouth at the time of assessment regardless of tidal stage The reduced total number of features possible in such situations is provided in parentheses at the bottom of the table BIOTIC PATCH RICHNESS DATA SHEET p1 of 1 ed z 2 Biotic Patch Type Sig a S check for presence 3 S 5 aie 5 2 z ares 2 S 8 8 Maja Aa al Fully submerged aquatic bed e g Vallisneria Hydrilla AqBed XXIX x x Zostera Submergent bed e g Potamogeton Myriophyllum SubBed X X X X X Rooted floating bed e g Ruppia Hydrocotyle Nymphaea RootBed X X X X X Free floating bed e g Lemna Azolla FreeFloat XXIX Q X Emergent dicot beds e g Polygonum Plantago EmDicots x x x x xlx Plagiobothrys Short emergent monocot beds e g Distichlis Eleocharis ShrtMonocot short Juncus lt 35 cm tall sels eee Medium emergent monocot beds e g Sparganium Phalaris MedMonocot medium size Scirpus xX xX X X X X 35 cm to 1 5 m tall Tall emergent monocot beds e g Typha Arundo tall Scirpus TallMonocot x x x x xix gt 1 5 m tall Groundcover herbs and forbs e g Ranunculus Potentilla GCHerbs Trifolium Sagittaria XIXIX XXX lt 10 cm tall Tall herbs and forbs and ferns e g Lythrum Conium Berula TallHerbs Delphiniu
10. hen scoring your wetland for a given metric you feel that the table of options e g A D does not adequately describe the situation at hand and an intermediate value is needed rather than scoring the wetland as such e g B 5 please assign whichever established category best describes the situation e g B and provide a comment explaining why what you chose was not an ideal descriptor and how you would modify it e Please take photographs liberally during your site visits Your photographs should focus on examples of different states for each metric and areas of potential confusion Label each photo with the date site and subject of the photo Keep good records of what your pictures depict as we may use some of them to demonstrate prototype conditions for the various metrics e For Estuarine and Coastal Lagoon wetlands with an open mouth at the time of assessment it is preferable that you conduct CRAM at low tide in order to be able to assess as many of the Abiotic Structure features as possible e If you are conducting CRAM on a tidal wetland and it is not clear whether the wetland is best classified as a coastal lagoon or an estuary then conduct the assessment for BOTH classes The only metric that differs between these two wetland classes is Hydroperiod so rate the wetland according to both versions of this metric Make a clear note on the data sheet that this is what you did e For Riverine wetlands p
11. l oil andiorgasy O T e Vegetation management OOS e pe i Pe a gmg Outside AA Vegeta a Excessive sediment or organic debris from watershed J Rutrient impaired PS or Non PS pollution i Heavy metal impaired PS or Non PS pollution pa imi Pesticide or trace organics impaired PS or Non PS pollution EE aa e Bacteria and pathogen impaired PS or Non PS pollution _ ef fishorrefse SSCS i De pe oer OOS A Subtotal by Attribute S e CRAM STRESSOR INDEX DATA SHEET p2 OF 2 Site Name No Wetland Class Date m d y Investigators Where to Assess Stressor Index Raw Scores continued ml lt Office Final lt Biotic Structure Score Score tel e Excessive human visitation 6 Predation and habitat destruction by feral animals e Tree cutting sapling removal e Removal of woody debris E e Pesticide application or vector control e Evidence of fire e Evidence of flood SEa Biological resource extraction fisheries aquaculture Subtotal by Attribute Office Final Landscape Context Adjacent Land Use Score Score Urban residential rs Industrial commercial e Military training Air traffic gt Subtotalby Attribute S
12. le one in channel within a floodplain disconnected isolated Briefly describe the features that were used to delineate the Assessment Area ESTUARINE Wetland Information Data Sheet Site Name No Date m d y Investigators Watershed County Wetland Size ha GPS Coordinates of center of AA as NAD 83 lat lon Assessment Area Size ha Restoration Mitigation Status Total Office Time hrs CRAM Field Times _ Start Stop Do you have previous experience with this site excluding work done during the office assessment If yes please elaborate Briefly describe the features that were used to delineate the Assessment Area What time was the closest high or low tide coinciding with the field visit Tide circle one high low Time Based on the above information what best describes the tidal stage over the course of the time spent in the field circle one high tide low tide Note It is recommended that the assessment be conducted during low tide COASTAL LAGOON Wetland Information Data Sheet Site Name No Date m d y Investigators Watershed County Wetland Size ha GPS Coordinates of center of AA as NAD 83 lat lon Assessment Area Size ha Restoration Mitigation Status Total Office Time hrs CRAM Field Times _ Start Stop Do you have previous experience with this site excluding work done during the office assessment
13. lease take good notes on the plants and other features you used to determine the lateral extents of the AA and think of any comments you may have that can assist in drafting clearer guidance on the issue SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION DATA SHEET p1 of 2 The first portion of this data sheet is to be filled out before beginning the formal CRAM assessment assignment of CRAM Metric and Stressor values The second portion is to be completed following the CRAM Metric Stressor assessment Site Name No Date Wetland Class Investigator s In the following table provide a first impression Gestalt assignment of condition level for the wetland based on each of 4 wetland attributes on a scale of 10 with 1 equivalent to the lowest possible quality and 10 the highest Also provide an overall rating for the wetland as a whole In the last column explain your reasoning in assigning the ratings you chose Be as broad big picture as possible in your interpretation of the attributes rather than limiting yourself to what you know of CRAM scoring criteria Attribute Landscape Context General Condition 1 to 10 Explanation of Condition Rating Assignment Hydrology Biological Structure Physical Structure Overall SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION DATA SHEET p2 of 2 Water Condition Dry Saturated Ponded Flowing circle all that apply Clear Cloudy Mudd
14. m Woodwardia gt 10 cm tall a lal ial ess Shrubs e g Baccharis Grindelia Ribes Rubus Shrubs X Xj X X X X Short deciduous trees e g Sambucus Salix Cornus young ShortDecTree XXIX x xlx Alnus young Plantanus young Acer lt 6 m tall Tall deciduous trees e g old Acer old Plantanus old Alnus gt TallDecTree x xX x xlx 6 m tall Short non deciduous trees e g Tamarix young Picea young ShortTree x x x xlx Pinus lt 6 m tall Tall non deciduous trees e g old Picea old Pinus gt 6 m tall TallTree X X X XIX Moss bed Moss x X X X X Macroalgal mat Periphyton Macroalgal X X X X Shellfish bed Shellfish XIX Diatom felt or mat DiatomMat XIX X Standing tree snags Snags X X X X X X Total Number of Possible Patch Types alalalsa e Biotic Patch Richness those present expressed as a percent of all possible patch types for that wetland class Note X in parentheses X indicates a feature that does not apply in depressional wetlands when the wetland is not ponded The reduced total number of features possible in such a situation is provided in parentheses at the bottom of the table PLANT COMMUNITY INTEGRITY DATA SHEETS p1 of 4 Worksheet 1 of 5 to determine dominant plant species for the four vegetation layers Short Herbs Layer herbaceous plants that have a height of lt 1 5 m Dominant check one if Percent appl Plant species Cover Rank Based on Based on 20 R
15. p Do you have previous experience with this site excluding work done during the office assessment If yes please elaborate Which best describes the type of depressional wetland other specify freshwater marsh alkaline marsh vernal pool alkali flat Which best describes the hydrologic state of the wetland at the time of assessment circle one saturated soil pouaceanundated but no surface water ay What is the apparent hydrologic regime of the wetland circle one long duration medium duration short duration Does your wetland connect with the floodplain of a nearby stream circle one yes no Is the topographic basin of the wetland distinct or indistinct circle one If indistinct please explain how you went about defining the Assessment Area Long duration depressional wetlands are defined as supporting surface water for gt 9 months of the year in gt 5 out of 10 years Medium duration depressional wetlands are defined as supporting surface water for between 4 and 9 months of the year Short duration wetlands possess surface water between 2 weeks and 4 months of the year 4 An indistinct topographic basin is one that lacks obvious boundaries between wetland and upland Examples of such features are seasonal depressional wetlands in very low gradient landscapes such as vernal pool complexes and large wet meadows which may be intricately interspersed with uplands or seemingly homogeneous over
16. ule 50 Rule Invasive Total Percent Coverage 50 of Total Coverage 20 of Total Coverage of Co dominant Species that are Invasive What is the total number of co dominant species for the short herb layer For each vegetation layer in the AA the co dominant species are those that rank highest based on their percent cover relative to other vegetation within the same layer Species are ranked in descending order of relative percent cover for the vegetation layer in question Then in order of their rank all species that cumulatively reach 50 of the total coverage for that layer plus any other species that individually comprise 20 or more of the total coverage of that layer are included as co dominants For more details see Appendix 5 of the CRAM User s Manual Results for all layers are entered in Worksheet 5 PLANT COMMUNITY INTEGRITY DATA SHEETS p2 of 4 Worksheet 2 of 5 to determine dominant plant species for the four vegetation layers Tall Herbs Layer herbaceous plants that have a height of gt 1 5 m Dominant check one if appl Percent Based Based 9 Plant species Cover Rank 705 an Invasive 20 50 Rule Rule Total Percent Coverage 50 of Total Coverage 20 of Total Coverage of Co dominant Species that
17. y Other Algae Trash Foam Oil Dominant Plant Communities List all plant communities observed using the Sawyer amp Keeler Wolf series provided in Appendix 4 of the CRAM User s Manual Include estimated cover of each Community Name cover Community Name cover kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk The following information is to be filled out after completing the CRAM Metrics and Stressors portion of the Verification for a given site Evidence of Wildlife Use list any species that were observed during the site assessment Reptile User Questionnaire Were all the metrics relevant Were there any missing metrics Were there specific metrics that didn t work well or that need some adjustment Was the stressor index relevant Were there any missing stressors Was the AA delineation appropriate Did the outcome of CRAM reflect your initial perception of the site Explain RIVERINE Wetland Information Data Sheet Site Name No Date m d y Investigators Watershed County GPS Coordinates Upstream limit Downstream limit as NAD 83 lat lon of AA of AA Assessment Area Size ha Restoration Mitigation Status Total Office Time hrs CRAM Field Times Start Stop Do you have previous experience with this site excluding work done during the office
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