Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Using WRAMP

The WRAMP three-tiered monitoring and assessment framework is used for three types of environmental monitoring: ambient, compliance, and effectiveness monitoring. 

It is unlikely that anyone will use all three assessment levels all the time. Project planners should apply the parts that fit best their project, using the guidance provided by the CWMW on their Elements of WRAMP. SFEI works closely with the CWMW to develop and implement monitoring methods, online data management services, and summary tools to support all three types of monitoring.

Ambient Monitoring

Evaluates the status and trends in the amount, diversity, distribution, and conditions wetlands and streams, as affected by large-scale, pervasive forces of environmental change, such as the economy, human demography, and climate.

SFEI works with local, state, and federal entities to (1) demonstrate the WRAMP approach to regional monitoring, (2) develop online tools, and (3) develop and implement ongoing, long-term watershed and regional monitoring programs that implement the three-level monitoring framework.

Compliance Monitoring

Evaluates if permittees, grantees, and contractors who are required to protect/restore wetlands and streams are complying with their permits and meeting their objectives.

Project Tracker provides a public data entry tool for uploading standardized project information and evaluating if permittees, grantees, and contractors are complying with their permits and meeting their objectives. We also provide CRAM and other ecological monitoring methods to support project monitoring by tracking change in the overall condition related to restoration/mitigation efforts. The data are made available through EcoAtlas’ Project Tracker and the Landscape Profile tools.

Effectiveness Monitoring 

Evaluates if policies, programs, and projects are achieving their long-range goals.

SFEI develops condition assessments and performance metrics of the overall distributions and conditions of aquatic resources within a watershed, region, or statewide. For local we have developed specific, metric driven, performance targets for individual projects, as well as for regional watershed-based management. SFEI shares this information via EcoAtlas’ data summary tools that report on the amount and condition of streams and wetlands, track changes in project CRAM condition scores over time, and summarize regional spending on restoration projects entered into Project Tracker. 

Statewide WRAMP Tool Training and Outreach

There is a wide range of levels of familiarity with the WRAMP tools, from people that use them on a regular basis, to people that know about the tools but have never used them. SFEI, with support from the USEPA and CWMW partners, is leading the development of a statewide WRAMP Training Program designed to train restoration project managers, resource planners, and decision makers on how to access and use WRAMP tools and datasets online. This training includes both desktop-based workshops and one-on-one trainings (on how to enter project information into Project Tracker and access environmental datasets and summaries online), as well as 5-day CRAM field practitioner trainings.

Current WRAMP Tools and Datasets

The segments below includes the general use for each tool/dataset, e.g., natural resource mapping, standardized habitat assessment, and/or lands and waters characterization and planning.

California Aquatic Resource Inventory (CARI)

Online Surface waters mapping to intensify NHD and NWI with local detail at any spatial scale.

https://www.sfei.org/cari

General Use: Natural Resource Mapping

California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM)

Rapid field assessment of wetland and stream condition. A cost-effective and scientifically defensible method for monitoring wetland condition. The assessment focuses on the stream or wetland itself, and includes a portion of the feature’s riparian area.

https://www.cramwetlands.org

General Use: Standardized Habitat Assessment

California Riparian Rapid Assessment Method (RipRAM)

Rapid field assessment of riparian areas. A cost-effective and scientifically defensible method for monitoring and assessing stream riparian condition. The assessment focuses on the stream’s full riparian area, rather than on the active stream channel (as in CRAM).

https://mlml.sjsu.edu/ccwg/ripram/

General Use: Standardized Habitat Assessment

CRAM Cumulative Distribution Function (CDF) Plots

Cumulative distribution function estimates (CDFs) are developed from probabilistic ambient field surveys that employ both CARI (as the sample frame) and CRAM (as the monitoring method). CDFs estimate the relative abundance of stream miles (or wetland areas) within a surveyed geographic extent that is likely to have conditions below (or above) any particular CRAM score. CDFs can be developed for any geographic extent, from large wetland project areas to watersheds, eco-regions, or statewide. CRAM project scores or other targeted assessments can be compared to CDF curves of wetlands of the same type in the same geographic area. This information helps inform management actions.

https://www.ecoatlas.org/about/#cram-cdf

General Use: Standardized Habitat Assessment

CRAM Project Habitat Development Curves (HDC)

Wetland Habitat Development Curves (HDCs) are used to evaluate project performance through time based on CRAM condition scores. HDCs have been developed for three wetland types: estuarine, depressional, and vernal pool systems. Projects that are well designed for their location and setting, and well managed tend to be on or above the curve. In general, as projects age, their overall ecological condition should mature and their CRAM scores should increase at a similar rate as the HDC. Comparing project Index and/or Attribute scores to the expected level on HDCs can help identify general ecological functions that are performing well, or that may warrant additional Level 3 monitoring and/or the need for corrective action.

https://www.ecoatlas.org/about/#hdc

General Use: Standardized Habitat Assessment

EcoAtlas

Visualization tool with an interactive map that displays the standardized California Aquatic Resources Inventory dataset along with options to overlay, view, and summarize many other environmental datasets including: SSURGO Hydric Soils, CALVEG Habitats, Basin Plan Beneficial Uses, CRAM, CSCI, Protected Areas (CPAD, and CCED), and restoration and mitigation projects (from Project Tracker, CIWQS, and other sources).

Developed in 1999, EcoAtlas has been continually improving and gaining additional functionality through individual projects with many entities. 

https://ecoatlas.org/

General Uses: Natural Resource Mapping; Lands and waters characterization and planning

EcoAtlas Dashboards

Summarized information about restoration, mitigation, conservation, and acquisition projects at both the regional and programmatic level. 

https://ecoatlas.org/dashboards

General Use: Lands and waters characterization and planning

EcoAtlas Landscape Profile Tool (LPT)

Automated online tables and graphs that summarize land use and natural resource abundance and diversity, habitat conditions, and wetland connectivity for user-defined watersheds or other landscape extents. Develop a Watershed Profile by running the Landscape, Condition, and Connectivity Profiles to assess impacts and mitigation in the watershed context, pursuant to Dredge and Fill Procedures.

https://www.ecoatlas.org/about/#landscape-profile

General Use: Lands and waters characterization and planning

Landscape Scenario Planning Tool

Desktop ArcGIS Pro toolbox for evaluating proposed land use scenarios to compare alternative conservation plans and designs for user-defined watersheds or other landscapes in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

https://www.sfei.org/projects/delta-landscapes-scenario-planning-tool

General Use: Lands and waters characterization and planning

EcoAtlas Project Tracker

Online mapping and documentation of permitted, on-the-ground environmental impacts and projects.

https://ptrack.ecoatlas.org/

General Use: Natural Resource Mapping

Riparian Prioritization Data Layers

Recommended actions for prioritizing California’s watersheds. GIS layers based on model outputs which identify riparian management needs (protect, restore, manage, monitor) down to the individual reach level for the entire state.

Summary map of statewide recommended actions and recommended Actions 2021 (Raw Data)

General Use: Lands and waters characterization and planning

Riparian Zone Estimator Tool (RipZET)

Modeled estimates of riparian zone width and length for user-defined watersheds or other landscapes.

https://www.sfei.org/projects/ripzet

General Use: Natural Resource Mapping