Literature Synthesis and Recommendations for the Categorization and Monitoring of Special Aquatic Habitats in the Sierra Nevada, California Final Report Prepared for USDA Forest Service IBET Province Eldorado National Forest 100 Forni Road Placerville, California 95667 Pacific Analytics, L.L.C. P.O. Box 219 Albany, Oregon 97321 541-926-0117 www.statpros.com July 11, 2001 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Monitoring Special Aquatic Habitats Table of Contents xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx TABLE OF CONTENTS page I. Executive Summary ................................................................................... 1 II. Introduction ................................................................................................ 3 III. Methods ..................................................................................................... 6 IV. Results ....................................................................................................... 7 V. Discussion .................................................................................................. 9 V-1. Peatlands ....................................................................................... 9 V-1.1. Classification of Bogs versus Fens ..................................... 10 V-1.2. Peatland Attributes .............................................................. 11 V-1.3. Major Disturbance Factors .................................................. 15 V-2. Wetland Springs and Seeps .......................................................... 18 V-2.1. Wetland Spring and Seep Attributes ................................... 19 V-3. Aquatic Pond Habitats .................................................................... 23 V-3.1. Aquatic Pond Attributes ....................................................... 23 V-3.2. Major Disturbance Factors .................................................. 26 V-4. Vernal Pools ................................................................................... 26 V-4.1. Vernal Pool Attributes .......................................................... 26 V-4.2. Major Disturbance Factors .................................................. 30 V-5. Evaluation of Proposed Habitat Categories ................................... 33 VI. Recommendations ..................................................................................... 36 VI-1. Monitoring Goals ............................................................................ 36 VI-2. Integrity and Condition ................................................................... 37 VI-3. Key Questions of Interest ............................................................... 40 VI-3.1. Key Questions Defined ...................................................... 41 VI-3.2. Time and Space ................................................................. 42 VI-3.3. Models ................................................................................ 44 VI-3.4. Collaboration ...................................................................... 45 VI-3.5. The Systematic and Comprehensive Approach ................ 46 ________________________________________________________________________ Pacific Analytics, LLC xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Monitoring Special Aquatic Habitats Table of Contents xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx VI-4. Monitoring Attribute Recommendations ......................................... 52 V-4.1 Peatlands .............................................................................. 52 VI-4.1.1. Mapping and Inventory ......................................... 52 VI-4.1.2. Basic Explanatory Variables (Condition) .............. 53 VI-4.1.3. Biotic Attributes (Integrity) .................................... 58 V-4.2. Wetland Springs and Seeps ................................................ 76 VI-4.2.1. Mapping and Inventory ......................................... 76 VI-4.2.2. Basic Explanatory Variables (Condition) .............. 78 VI-4.2.3. Biotic Attributes (Integrity) .................................... 82 V-4.3 Aquatic Pond Habitats ........................................................... 91 VI-4.3.1. Mapping and Inventory ......................................... 91 VI-4.3.2. Basic Explanatory Variables (Condition) .............. 92 VI-4.3.3. Biotic Attributes (Integrity) .................................... 96 V-4 Vernal Pools ............................................................................107 VI-4.4.1. Mapping and Inventory .........................................107 VI-4.4.2. Basic Explanatory Variables (Condition) ..............108 VI-4.4.3. Biotic Attributes (Integrity) ....................................113 VI-5. List of Recommendations ...............................................................131 V-5.1 Peatlands ..............................................................................131 V-5.2 Springs and seeps ................................................................133 V-5.3 Ponds ....................................................................................135 V-5.4 Vernal Pools .........................................................................137 VI-6. Evaluation of Proposed Monitoring Attributes ................................139 VII. Acknowledgements ....................................................................................144 VIII. Bibliography .................................................................................................145 ________________________________________________________________________ Pacific Analytics, LLC xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Monitoring Special Aquatic Habitats I. Executive Summary xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report represents the deliverable product resulting from Task Order Number 1 of a Statistical and Ecological Services Agreement under Contract No. 53-91U9-1-1C15, made between the USDA Forest Service and Pacific Analytics, LLC. In the initial phase of this project, Pacific Analytics reviewed the relevant literature on categorization and monitoring of special habitats available in several electronic literature databases. Special attention was paid to the Sierra Nevada region, although pertinent literature from other regions of North American and abroad were considered as well. This report describes the process of literature selection and review. Discussion of the literature as it relates to the problem is provided. Literature regarding four special aquatic habitats was reviewed. In the discussion of the literature we present key attributes for each habitat, followed by a discussion of the important physical, floral, and faunal attributes of the habitats. Finally, where appropriate, a discussion of the major disturbance factors is included. Following the habitat literature reviews is a narrative regarding the criteria for selecting monitoring attributes and an evaluation of the proposed habitat categories. Based on our preliminary assessment of literature, it appears that the habitat classification scheme proposed by the Sierra Nevada Framework Project Monitoring Team is appropriate, although more monitoring variables should be included. Pacific Analytics, LLC 1 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Monitoring Special Aquatic Habitats I. Executive Summary xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Included in this report is an in-depth discussion of monitoring and monitoring recommendations, and a summary list of specific monitoring recommendations with brief justifications. Acknowledgements and a complete bibliography follow the recommendations chapter. Pacific Analytics, LLC 2 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Monitoring Special Aquatic Habitats II. Introduction xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx II. INTRODUCTION Water resources of the Sierra Nevada are vital to the economy and biological diversity of California. The water runoff from the Sierra Nevada Mountains supplies a major share of water and hydroelectric power to the California’s agriculture, urban centers and industry, supports vast areas of wetland habitats, and ultimately sustains the estuary ecosystem of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Erman 1996, Jennings 1996, Kattelmann 1996, Moyle 1996). The Sierra Nevada ranks as a “globally outstanding” ecoregion due to its unusually high organismal species richness and endemism (DellaSala 1999). As much as 25% of species of some of California’s aquatic invertebrates including stoneflies (Plecoptera), and mountain midges (Diptera), and 20% of mollusks are endemic to the Sierra Nevada (Erman 1996). Almost 50% of amphibians inhabiting the Sierra Nevada are endemic to this region (Jennings 1996). Diverse aquatic habitats of the Sierra Nevada also support a high number of sensitive species. The biota of special aquatic habitats such as bogs, fens, springs, seeps, mountain ponds, small first- and second-order streams, and vernal pools forms a significant component of the overall biological diversity of the Sierra Nevada and the State of California. These habitats provide unique microhabitat environments for assemblages of sensitive species. For example, the habitat distribution of the California pitcher plant (Darlingtonia californica) is restricted by the availability of cool running water conditions found in perennially wet fen seeps (Coleman and Kruckeberg 1999, Nyoka and Ferguson 1999). Senecio clevelandii grows on serpentine spring seeps in the Sierra Nevada (Jepson