The Wild Utah Project (WUP) recently published a users guide that documents how to use a newly developed assessment tool for health of stream and riparian areas in the Southwest.  The "Users Guide for the Rapid Assessment of the Functional Condition of Stream-Riparian Ecosystems in the American Southwest"  (Stacey et al. 2006) is available in a glossy-bound booklet by request (contact Allison Jones at wup1@xmission.com), 801-328-3550., or download at http://biology.unm.edu/stacey/RUG-cover.pdf .

The assessment uses a series of simple but scientifically-based indicators to measure how much the stream system differs from what would be expected under an unaltered reference condition. It incorporates an easy to understand scoring system that can be repeated in different locations and at various times by different people. This method therefore provides the opportunity to develop a regional database that will not only allow us to determine and rank which systems are in the worst condition, but it also will allow us to measure over time the success of any projects to restore those systems. 

WUP is just beginning region-wide stream-riparian surveys across the Southwest, using trained citizen volunteers.  For example, during the 2006 field season they are focusing on the Mancos watershed in southwestern Colorado, where the Mancos Watershed Conservancy (an agency comprised of public and private interests ranging from school teachers to the San Juan Basin BLM to the Navajo Tribe) is using the protocol to assess most of the perennial streams in the Mancos River watershed. Ultimately, WUP is planning to develop a web-based depository of the results of surveys using this standardized protocol, which would be available to all government agency and private groups. Surveys at this scale would allow for effective regional monitoring and for the identification of areas that might be high priority for either more detailed agency riparian surveys and/or future restoration projects.

Please contact Wild Utah Project for more information: 801-328-3550.