Prioritizing Mesic and Riparian Restoration across Large Rangeland Landscapes

Photo: Spring fed stream in the Trout Creek Mountains of Oregon.

Overview

Riparian areas are important everywhere, but are especially vital in rangelands as a rare source of water in an arid environment, providing critical and limiting habitat for many species. This workflow highlights a step-by-step process using a combination of remotely sensed data layers and field-based assessment for prioritizing mesic and riparian areas in rangelands. This workflow prioritizes areas for mesic protection and restoration based primarily on ecological importance and climate resilience.

A workflow for prioritizing mesic resources

Use our step-by-step workflow combining remotely sensed data layers and field-based assessment for prioritizing mesic and riparian areas in rangelands!

If I’m a beginner, where do I start?

Riparian systems are complex. For a basic understanding of working in flowing water (lotic) systems, the Threat-Based Land Management for Creeks, Streams and Rivers website has basic information to help you get started.

VIEW THE FULL WORK FLOW

Work Flow Summary

Step 1:

Initial prioritization based on broad landscape values

If you’re starting in a very large landscape, narrow it down based on ecological integrity, species of wildlife concern, or other important values. At the end of this step you will have a focal polygon that focuses your efforts based on ecological integrity and other landscape values.

Step 2:

Mesic area prioritization based on remote sensing

This workflow prioritizes areas with higher expected climate resilience based on areas with reliable and persistent water into the late summer. Three new datasets are now available within the SageCon Landscape Planning Tool to help identify the areas that are most likely to remain climate resilient into the future. An accompanying decision tree helps prioritize spring and/or stream sites where you may want to conduct field-based assessments to gather further information. Check out these datasets available in the Water folder:

  • Oregon Springs (Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems) is the most comprehensive statewide dataset of springs in Oregon

  • Oregon Streams (Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems) depicts the degree of confidence that a stream reach may be groundwater-dependent for all streams in Oregon

  • Late Season Mesic Productivity (NDVI) provides a fine-scale look at areas with consistent late summer production

Access the data layers in the Landscape Planning Tool

See the data layers in the Water folder

Step 3:

Field-based assessment in selected areas

Field assessment is a key component to start prioritizing areas for potential management actions. We present multiple methods for field assessment at selected sites. Field assessment notes will provide critical information on current conditions, verify or correct the resiliency categorization based on remotely sensed maps in step 2, and help determine potential management actions and degree of investment that may be needed to restore a site.

Step 4:

Prioritization of areas for management

Putting it all together, we provide a simple table to combine information from steps 1-3 to prioritize areas that combine high importance (step 1), high resiliency (step 2) and good condition (step 3) where efforts are most likely to succeed. Priority designation for all spring and/or stream sites based on expected climate resilience, condition, and degree of investment needed.

VIEW THE FULL WORK FLOW

For more information, questions about the datasets, or technical support contact the Rangeland Sustainability Program at the Institute for Natural Resources

Dylan O’Leary: dylan.oleary@oregonstate.edu

Photo Credit: Jessie Griffen

This workflow is based on a process conducted by graduate student Hayley Kolding of the University of Vermont, The Nature Conservancy, and Oregon Desert Land Trust at Trout Creek Ranch in Harney County, Oregon, highlighted in an April 2024 webinar.