PFC Standard Checklist

Location

Location Description:                  Reach
Downstream End Point
Township Range Section:  Meridian: Gila & Salt River Base Line
Township: 7N, Range: 30E, Section: 20, 1/4: SE, 1/4 1/4: NW

UTM:  Zone:12S
Northing:  meters, Easting:   meters

Lat / Long:
North Latitude: Degrees: , Decimal Minutes:
West Longitude: Degrees: , Decimal Minutes:

Upstream End Point
Township Range Section:  Meridian: Gila & Salt River Base Line
Township:7N,  Range:30E, Section: 20, 1/4: SE, 1/4 1/4: SW

UTM: Zone:12S
Northing:  meters, Easting:   meters

Lat / Long:
North Latitude: Degrees: , Decimal Minutes:
West Longitude: Degrees: , Decimal Minutes:

HYDROLOGIC

1) Floodplain inundated in "relatively frequent" events (1-3 years) YES
Remarks: Flood plain 100% vegetated with sedges and rushes, spongy and saturated soil, Chna dying out. Flood plain appears inundated frequently.
2) Active/stable beaver dams YES
Remarks: Mud dams, some larger ponds with bulrush.
3) Sinuosity, width/depth ration, and gradient are in balance with the landscape setting (i.e., landform, geology, and bioclimatic region) YES
Remarks: Sinuosity very good, channel width/depth ratio varies with beaver dams and how much water is present, this reach can dry up, gradient very low.
4) Riparian zone is widening or has achieved potiential extent YES
Remarks: Achieved potential, few raw banks left. There are subtle indications that flood plain building processes are still occurring, meaning the riparian zone is still widening.
5) Upland watershed not contributin to riparian degradation YES
Remarks: Upland watershed conditions do not contribute to riparian degradation, however not all of upper watershed is in desired condition. Some private lands not in as stable condition as desired, erosive and unstable geologic formation (Datil, volcanic ash), road density of old (now stable) logging roads.

VEGETATIVE

6) Diverse age-class distribution (recruitment for maintenance/recovery YES
Remarks: Herbaceous wet meadow vegetation type (Saex, tolerant of fine grained saturated soils). Community is considered diverse in age-class.
7) Diverse composition of vegetation (for maintenance/recovery YES
Remarks: High diversity of native species.  Efforts have been made to eliminate non-native species (Russian olive and sow thistles).
8) Species present indicate maintenance of riparian soil moisture characteristics YES
Remarks: Vegetation community consists of obligate and facultative wetland species.
9) Streambank vegetation is comprised of those plants or plant communities that have root masses capable of withstanding high streamflow events YES
Remarks: Yes: Carex and Juncus.
10) Riparian plants exhibit high vigor YES
Remarks: 3-4 ft growth of herbaceous species.
11) Adequate vegetative cover present to protect banks and dissipate energy during high flows YES
Remarks: No bare spots on flood plain soils, even in areas of recent deposition.
12) Plant communities in the riparian area are an adequate source of coarse and/or large woody debris YES
Remarks: Lentic system - few woodies needed, some are present.

SOILS

13) Floodplain and channel characteristics (i.e., rocks, overflow channels, coarse and/or large woody debris) adequate to dissipate energy YES
Remarks: Little stream flow energy left, wide meanders and spacious floodplains effective in dissipating energy.
14) Point bars are revegetating YES
Remarks: 100% veg cover on all depositional areas.
15) Lateral stream movement is associated with natural sinuosity YES
Remarks: Natural sinuosity forming processes still occurring .
16) System is vertically stable YES
Remarks: System is slowly aggrading, no headcutting present. Beaver dams are present which also trap sediment. Beaver ponds vegetated with bulrush.
17) Stream is in balance with the water and sediment being supplied by the watershed (i.e., no excessive erosion or deposition) YES
Remarks: Channel bottom and flood plain is building up, however is in balance with vegetation growth. No bare soil areas present.

Vegetation Community Types:

Upland: Pied/Jude2/Jumo
Wetland:

Summary Determination

Functional Rating:  PFC
Trend for Functional -- At Risk: Unanswered

Are factors contributing to unacceptable conditions outside agency's control or management?  Y
If yes, what are those factors? Flow Regulations, Other,

Problem(s):  FLow regulations pertaining to irrigation.
No particular problems.
NOTES: Bank swallows ? present and nesting in vertical bank cavities.
PHOTOS: TS 36 thru 45

Recommendations:  None. Present trends are adequate.
Riparian acres in Reach 4: approximately 27 acres. 

Time to fix:  0

 Desired Functional Condition:  At DFC: tending towards wet meadow system, more flow would help, but irrigation dams retain peak flows (Rogers Reservoir, Jarvis Reservoir, Nutrioso Reservoir - all upstream, Nelson Reservoir - downstream).
Photographs:     9

Reach 4: #36-45

36	37
38	39
40	41
42

#36 - 37: Panorama of views of Nutrioso Creek from observation tower near upper end of reach 4. Note width of floodplain and width of riparian area. 36 shows upstream view to south. 37 shows terrace and riparian area to southeast. 38 views towards the south-south-west with west terrace. 39 views to the southwest with Nutrioso Creek in foreground. 40 view towards northwest showing narrowing of riparian width. 41 view to the north with east terrace. 42 shows view to north-north-east with east terrace.

#43 - Downstream view of Reach 4 with dense coyote willow growth developing on the point bar, while channel is inundated with rushes. This type of channel condition is very efficient in trapping sediment and immobilizing it with vegetation. "A "Living Wall" erosion control structure was constructed by Mr. Crosswhite using haybales anchored in place with plastic fence material to shift the channel away from the incised bank and allow willows to be planted to help prevent over 100 tons of soil entering the stream each year."

#44 - Downstream channel view of Reach 4. Note rushes inundate the channel, and a small patch of cattails is visible in the distance. Vertical terrace banks are still need to stabilize and floodplain could also be wider.

#45 - View of a beaver pond at lower end of Reach 4. Note rushes are inhabiting the ponded area, further helping to stabilize sediment and narrowing the channel. Water is near stagnant, however is still cloudy from suspended sediment, which is too fine to settle out. This is a function of the area's geology composed of volcanic ash (Datil formation). Some of this turbidity can still be reduced after all vertical banks have stabilized and optimum floodplain width has been achieved, however a given level of natural background turbidity is expected to remain.