Riparian and Wetland Classification Review 



I. Introduction 



In recent years a large number of riparian and wetland classification and description proce- 

 dures have been developed and/or modified by many investigators. Riparian and wetland 

 managers have seen this myriad of procedures and basically have been confused about which 

 one to use and what they arc supposed to do. The following riparian and wetland classifica- 

 tion and description procedures were selected for review fiom a very lengthy list because 

 they have one or more of the foUowing characteristics: they are regional or national in scope; 

 they provide management information; and they integrate stream attributes and riparian 

 vegetation. 



1 . SCS-BLM Standard Ecological Site Description. 



2. Southwestern Wetlands — Their Qassification and Characterization. 



3. The Canadian Wetland Classification System. 



4. Riparian Zone Associations of the Deschutes, Ochoco, Fremont, and Winema National 

 Forests. 



5. Classification and Management of Riparian and Wetland Sites in Montana. 



6. Qassifying Rangeland Riparian Areas: The Nevada Task Force Approach. 



7. Gassification of Riverine Riparian Habitats for Management of Fisheries Resources. 



8. An Ecological Characterization of Rocky Mountain Montane aiKl Subalpine Wetlands. 



9. Ecosystem Qassification Handbook. 



10. Qassification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats of the United States. 



1 1 . Riparian Community Type Qassification of Eastern Idaho- Western Wyoming. 



II. Purpose 



It is the policy of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to apply the Standard Ecological 

 Site Description procedure patterned after the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) Range Site 

 procedure and expanded by the BLM (USDA-SCS 1976, USDI-BLM 1990) to grazable 

 woodland, native pasture, and riparian sites. However, other classification and description 

 procedures exist and often must be used to make use of all available information or to coordi- 

 nate between other agencies and institutions during riparian and wetland inventory. This 

 document introduces major concepts rclevant to the imderstanding of riparian systems and 

 reviews selected riparian and wetland classification and description procedurcs. This docu- 

 ment also provides a means of rclating the various procedurcs. Appendix A contains a 

 crosswalk of those rcviewed classification and description procedures that can be rcadily 

 applied to riparian site descriptions and concepts of vegetation succession and site progres- 

 sion discussed below. Appendixes B-E provide information and define terminology that 

 should help in understanding and applying classification and description procedurcs. 



in. Vegetation Succession and Site Progression 



Succession usually rcprcsents an orderly progrcssion (except in cases of fire, etc.) of plant 

 community change, towards a relatively stable state often termed the "potential natural 

 community" (PNC) or "potential plant community" (PPQ. These changes in plant communi- 

 ties may also accompany important rcfinements in certain environmental characteristics, such 



