Prioritizing Alluvial Reaches for Riparian Corridor Expansion, Protection, and Restoration

Step One – Qualitative Assessment: Aerial Map

Aerial maps (see Map 1) can be used to gain a preliminary understanding of local land cover and restoration issues. For example, one can see at a glance the relative width of riparian vegetation, the degree of cover over the low flow channel, and adjacent lands uses. At this stage, a planner can qualitatively evaluate the alluvial corridor at the landscape scale. The photo also shows where there is continuous riparian coverage along at least one side of the river, which may provide a corridor for movement of land animals. One can determine whether one type of land use or land cover is dominant and whether there are any areas that cannot feasibly be considered for restoration to riparian forest, such as housing or other impervious development. A planner can also determine in this qualitative fashion whether there are large portions of intact riparian forest that should be considered for conservation.

Map 1 was used with permission from the Santa Cruz County Planning Department Web site. The public can use the Santa Cruz County GIS Interactive Map to view and print similar maps of other areas in Santa Cruz. In addition to these resources, Digital Ortho Quarter Quads (DOQQ) maps are available from the United States Geologic Survey (USGS) for a portion of Santa Cruz and San Mateo Counties for use with GIS. Aerial maps such as these provide a good general overview of a specific landscape under consideration for salmonid recovery and habitat restoration.

< Intro | Step 2 >