California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM)

Assessing stream and wetland condition

The California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM) is a cost-effective and scientifically defensible method for assessing the condition of streams and wetlands across California. It provides a high-level overall snapshot of habitat condition, as well as detailed data that can inform project design, adaptive management, or trigger additional, more detailed monitoring if needed.

SFEI is a CRAM Leader

SFEI develops, hosts and manages the California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM) website and its associated database containing over 10,000 landscape assessments from across the state. The comprehensive site features statewide support for CRAM data management, training, documentation, and reporting tools to monitor and assess over seven kinds of wetlands using standardized rapid assessment protocols developed by the CRAM Steering Committee (Level-2 Committee).

Teaching the Statewide Training Program

CRAM assessments are conducted by trained practitioners; training is foundational to the program and is the most essential component of maintaining statewide quality control. Our staff administer and lead the statewide training program, offering multiple practitioner and manager level training sessions across the state each year.

Developing Additional CRAM Tools

Our staff regularly works with the California Wetlands Monitoring Workgroup (CWMW), the EPA, and other state and local agencies to develop additional CRAM tools that enhance the power of CRAM assessment data within the WRAMP framework. These tools include development of watershed, ecoregional, and statewide cumulative distribution function (CDF) estimates, and wetland-specific habitat development curves (HDC). CDFs and HDCs support the evaluation of individual restoration/mitigation project performance and development over time.

Participating on Statewide Committees

The statewide CWMW Level 2 Committee oversees the development and implementation of rapid assessment methods in the state. Our staff are active participants and leaders on the committees, contributing to the continual development and improvement of rapid assessment methods, including CRAM.

Supporting CRAM Implementation

SFEI supports (1) local, state and federal agencies that use CRAM as a program-level monitoring tool, and (2) agencies and practitioners using CRAM within restoration or mitigation projects. The level of support is tailored to user needs, and varies from responding to simple inquiries to preparing formal written guidance and serving on advisory committees. In addition to providing support, our staff also conducts CRAM assessments as experienced practitioners, for individual projects and large-scale regional monitoring programs.

CRAM Background & Resources

The CRAM website is the official portal for the statewide rapid assessment method. SFEI developed the site and the content is managed by the Level 2 Committee of the CWMW. The website provides:

Information about the CRAM method, training opportunities, and the steering committee
Access to downloadable field books and data sheets needed to conduct assessments
Access to CRAM data
A CRAM data entry portal, known as eCRAM, that serves as a statewide online database for managing CRAM data. Users can upload CRAM assessment data, edit existing assessments, download data, and link to EcoAtlas to summarize and visualize CRAM data alongside other datasets.

Interested in becoming CRAM certified?

Becoming a trained CRAM practitioner is the first step towards conducting condition assessments. CRAM training sessions are offered annually during the spring and summer at locations across the state. Training sessions include a 5-day Practitioner Level training, a 2-day Manager Level training, a 3-day Vernal Pool specific Practitioner Level training, and a 1-day Refresher training. More information is available under the Training tab on the CRAM website.

Latest News

Wed, Jan 14 2026

A Milestone! 10,000 Wetland Condition Assessments Publicly Shared on EcoAtlas

Featured Projects

Monitoring Streams in Five Watersheds in Santa Clara County

Since 2010, SFEI has supported Valley Water in implementing ambient monitoring employing the WRAMP framework in Santa Clara County. The data are used by local planners for evaluating and prioritizing riverine restoration and mitigation, and has been used to develop… Read More

140_Vernal-swale_bloom_2010-0423 (1).JPG

Vernal Pool Habitat Restoration and Protection CRAM Tools for the Central Valley, CA

The California Wetland Program Plan (WPP) seeks to strengthen protection for wetlands in many ways, including building capacity to track the net benefits of wetland policies and programs by employing aspects of the State’s Wetlands and Riparian Area Monitoring Plan… Read More

Recent Publications

Lake Silveira CRAM Mitigation Monitoring Report Year 5 cover page

Lake Silveira CRAM Assessments: Mitigation Monitoring Report Post-Construction - Year 5 (2025)

The Santa Clara Valley Water District’s (Valley Water) Upper Llagas Creek Flood Protection Project (Project) aims to increase flood protection within the City of Morgan Hill and surrounding unincorporated areas. Project…

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Guadalupe River Watershed Reassessment 2022 cover page

Guadalupe River Watershed Reassessment 2022: 10-Year Reassessment of the Ecological Condition of Streams Based on the California Rapid Assessment Method

The baseline survey of ecological condition of streams within the Guadalupe River watershed was completed in 2012, and this reassessment survey was completed ten years later in 2022. The survey focuses upon stream…

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Cover of West Valley Watershed Assessment 2018 report

West Valley Watershed Assessment 2018: Study Area Extent, Stream Survey Design, Sample Frame, and Sample Draw

This memorandum describes the steps taken by the D5 Project and SFEI project team to identify the
extent of the West Valley watershed study area, define the CRAM stream survey design parameters,
and complete the…

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