Classifications
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Ecological classifications are hierarchical and integrate climate, geology, geomorphology, hydrology, and soils to identify successively more homogenous assemblages of habitats with distinctive form, function and ecological potential.    At finer scales, assemblages of homogenous habitats with distinctive potential are further stratified into states (i.e. condition classes), landforms (e.g. channel, floodplain, terrace, and fan)  and vegetation types that denote existing condition.  Stream and riparian habitats are typically the focus of ecological classifications.  GIS is used to assemble and integrate map layers.  

Ecological Classifications have been used to assess livestock impacts, to select control and treatment areas for Natural Resource Damage Assessments (NRDAs), to evaluate total maximum daily loads (TMDLs)  and water quality,  to evaluate and/or predict mining impacts, and to assess forestry practices and wildlife parameters.  Recent applications in Owens Valley serve as a baseline for monitoring effects of rewatering the Owens River.  These robust, high-resolution inventories have also been used to delineate jurisdictional wetlands, to predict future conditions for alternative management, and for hydrogeomorphic (HGM) assessments of past, present, and future conditions.  

We have conducted several dozen ecological classifications covering over 100 million acres in the western United States.   A list of completed ecological classifications and links to abstracts follow.  Full reports may be made available upon request.

  • Delta Habitat Area Vegetation Inventory, 2000 Conditions.  2004.  Conducted very detailed (order 1), integrated mapping of landtypes (soil), water regime, and vegetation type (series and association) for 3,578 acres for the Owens River Delta at Owens Lake in Inyo County California.  A historical perspective of vegetation (1944-present) was presented and the causative factors of change were identified.  The document serves as the bases for an EIR for the Lower Owens River Project entailing rewatering 53 miles of the Owens River .  Conducted for Los Angeles Department of Water and Power in Bishop, CA.  See abstract.
  • Lower Owens River Project Riparian Vegetation Inventory, 2000 Conditions.  2004. Conducted very detailed (order 1), integrated mapping of landtypes (soil), water regime, and vegetation type (series and association) for 6,437 acres along 53 miles of the Owens River in Inyo County California.  The inventory was integrated by reaches, defined based on stream channel morphology and valley-bottom type.  The document serves as the baseline for the Lower Owens River Project entailing rewatering the Owens River .  Conducted for Los Angeles Department of Water and Power in Bishop, CA.  See abstract.
  • Middle Owens River Project Riparian Vegetation Inventory, 2000 conditions.  2004.   Conducted very detailed (order 1), integrated mapping of landtypes (soil), water regime, and vegetation type (series and association) for 14,735 acres along 73 miles of the Owens River in Inyo County California. The inventory was integrated by reaches, defined based on stream channel morphology and valley-bottom type.   Conducted for Los Angeles Department of Water and Power in Bishop, CA.  See abstract.
  • Blackrock Waterfowl Management Area Vegetation Inventory, 2000 Conditions.  2004.  Conducted very detailed (order 1), integrated mapping of landtypes (soil), water regime, and vegetation type (series and association) for 20,461 acres in Inyo County California.  The inventory was integrated by management units defined by topographic drainage divides.  The inventory will serve as a basis for enhancing the waterfowl management area.   Conducted for Los Angeles Department of Water and Power in Bishop, CA.  See abstract.
  • Baker Creek Area Vegetation Inventory, 2000 Conditions.  2004.  Conducted very detailed (order 1), integrated mapping of landtypes (soil), water regime, and vegetation type (series and association) for 447 acres in Inyo County California.  The inventory assesses the extent and condition of existing yellow-billed cuckoo habitat and suggests alternatives for enhancing the habitat.  Conducted for Los Angeles Department of Water and Power in Bishop, CA.  See abstract.
  • Hogback Creek Area Vegetation Inventory, 2000 Conditions.  2004.  Conducted very detailed (order 1), integrated mapping of landtypes (soil), water regime, and vegetation type (series and association) for 2,183 acres in Inyo County California.  The inventory assesses the extent and condition of existing yellow-billed cuckoo habitat and suggests alternatives for enhancing the habitat.  Conducted for Los Angeles Department of Water and Power in Bishop, CA.  See abstract.
  • Ecological classification, Bruneau River Basin, Idaho. 2001.  Mapped and described ecoregions, geologic districts and subsections for about 1.6 million acres.  Also mapped valley-bottom types, state (i.e. condition class), valley-bottom landforms and riparian vegetation types for selected subbasins.  Results will be used as the basis for assessing water quality parameters and  TMDL relative to ecological potential.  Conducted for Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, Twin Falls, ID.  See abstract.
  • Ecological classification, Coeur d’Alene, St. Joe and St. Regis River basins, Idaho and Montana.  2000. Mapped and described ecoregions, geologic districts and subsections for about 2.5 million acres and including about 4,681 linear miles of stream.  Also mapped valley-bottom landtype, valley-bottom type, state, valley-bottom landform and riparian vegetation type for impacted and selected control streams.  Results were used for Natural Resource Damage Assessment litigation.  Conducted for ASARC0 Inc., et al.  See abstract.
  • Ecological classification, Cub River basin in Idaho. 2000. Mapped and described ecoregions, geologic districts and subsections, valley-bottom landtype, valley-bottom type, state, valley-bottom landforms and riparian vegetation type for about 143,000 acres in southeastern Idaho. Conducted for Cub River Watershed Management Group. See abstract.
  • Ecological classification, Bear River basin in Idaho.  1999. Identified (mapped) areas with distinctive water quality potential and identified the state (condition) of major tributaries for about 1.8 million acres, inclusive of about 673 linear miles of stream, in southeast Idaho.  Information will be used to develop water quality and TMDL assessments for water quality limited subbasins. Conducted for Idaho Division of Environmental Quality, Boise, ID.  See abstract.
  • Ecological Classification, Winnemucca District, Nevada.  1999. Mapped and described ecoregions, geologic districts and subsections for about 6 million acres in northern Nevada from small-scale information sources.  Also mapped valley-bottom landtype, valley-bottom type, state, valley-bottom landform and riparian vegetation type from large-scale aerial photos for 31 watersheds comprising about 626,691 acres within the project area.  Results were applied to livestock management.  Conducted for Winnemucca District BLM, Winnemucca, NV. See abstract.
  • Geologic districts and subsections in western Montana and northern Idaho.  1999. Conducted a broad-scale inventory for about 19.5 million acres to identify areas of distinctive ecological potential, based on similarities in climate, geology and geomorphology.  Results were applied to forestry management and research.  Conducted for Plum Creek Timber Company, Columbia Falls, MT.  
  • Ecological classification, upper Snake River basin, Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming.  1999.  The upper Snake River basin  is about 4.7 million acres and contains 85,157 linear miles of stream, of which 30,400 miles is perennial. We classified and mapped geologic districts and subsections for the upper Snake River basin. We further classified and mapped valley-bottom type, state, landform and riparian vegetation types for several 6th code watersheds where water quality studies were conducted.  Correlated results of water quality studies to the ecological classification.  Upon review, the EPA accepted ecological classification as an approach for assessing TMDLs.  Conducted for Idaho Division of Environmental Quality, Twin Falls, ID.  See abstract.
  • Ecological Classification, Rock Creek Basin, Montana.  1998. Detailed mapping of ecoregion, geologic districts, geomorphic classes, valley-bottom types and states (i.e. condition classes) was conducted for 569,386 acres of mountainous terrain including about 1,885 linear miles of stream.  Results were used to assess stream segments favorable for bull trout spawning.  Conducted for US Forest Service Research Branch, Forest and Range Experiment Station, Missoula, Montana.  See abstract.
  • Ecological classification, Eight Mile Creek basin, Humboldt County, Nevada.  1998.  Mapped and described ecoregions, geologic districts, subsections, valley-bottom landtype, valley-bottom type, state, valley-bottom landform and riparian vegetation type for about 13,044 acres in northern Nevada.  Conducted for US Forest Service, Santa Rosa Ranger District. See abstract.
  • Ecological classification, Marys River, Nevada.  1997. Applied a hierarchical classification to identify RRH with distinctive ecological potential and existing condition.  The project area was 324,689 acres and included 1,341 linear miles of stream, all of which was classified to the level of valley-bottom type.  Existing condition (i.e. state), riparian landform and riparian vegetation types were identified for perennial streams.  Results were used to assess range management in the basin.  Conducted for Elko District BLM, Elko, NV. See abstract.
  • Ecological classification, Thompson River basin, Montana.  1997.  A hierarchical classification was applied to 410,276 acres that included about 1,326 miles of stream.  Levels of classification were ecoregion, geologic district, landtype association, general landtype class, landtype, valley-bottom type and riparian habitat. A statistical similarity analysis for watersheds within the Thompson River basin was also conducted using cluster and discriminate analysis. Results served to evaluate forestry practices and as a basis for subsequent forest studies.  Conducted for Plum Creek Timber Company, Columbia Falls, MT.  See abstract.
  • Ecological stream classification, upper Blackfoot River basin, McDonald Gold project, Montana.  1996.  Nested a stream classification into a hierarchical structure (Ecoregion, geologic district, landtype association, landtype, valley-bottom type, reach and state).  The project area was 308,804 acres and included about 995 miles of stream.  Results served as a baseline for predicting effects of proposed mining.  Conducted for Phelps Dodge Mining Company, Seven-Up/Pete Joint Venture, Helena, MT.  See abstract.
  • Ecological classification, LeClerc/Harvey project area, Washington.  1996.  Conducted a hierarchical classification for about 98,242 acres and 237 linear miles of stream in northeast Washington.  Map levels included ecoregion, geologic district, landtype association, landtype, valley-bottom type and valley-bottom landform. Results served to evaluate forestry practices.  Conducted for Plum Creek Timber, Columbia Falls, MT. See abstract.
  • Ecological classification, Swan River basin, Montana.  1995.  Conducted a hierarchical classification and inventory for about 408,630 acres and 1,257 linear miles of stream in western Montana.  Information served as both an assessment of existing conditions relative to potential conditions and to evaluate effects of forestry practices. Conducted for Plum Creek Timber, Columbia Falls, MT.  See abstract.
  • Ecological classification, Rock Creek basin, Nevada.  1995. Conducted a hierarchical classification for 808,476 acres and 3,366 linear miles of stream of which 262 miles is perennial.  The focus was stream and riparian resources.  Order 1 mapping of stream riparian habitat was conducted for all perennial stream. Information served as both an assessment of existing conditions and a baseline for monitoring effects of groundwater pumping.  Conducted for Barrick Gold Mining Company, Elko, NV.  See abstract.
  • Ecological classification, Maggie Creek basin, Nevada.  1995.  Conducted a hierarchical classification for 253,736 acres and 847 linear miles of stream, of which 233 miles is perennial.  The focus was stream and riparian resources.  Order 1 mapping of stream riparian habitat was conducted for all perennial stream.  Information served as both an assessment of existing conditions and a baseline for monitoring effects of groundwater withdrawal.   Conducted for Barrick Gold Mining Company, Elko, NV.  See abstract.
  • Ecological classification, Habitat Conservation Plan project area, Washington.  1994.  Conducted a hierarchical classification for 418,859 acres and 738 linear miles of streams in the Cascades.  Results served as a basis for a Habitat Conservation Plan reviewed by President Clinton and Vice-President Gore.  Conducted for Plum Creek Timber, Seattle, WA. See abstract.
  • Ecological classification, Wenatchee, Methow and Okanogan Rivers, Washington.  1994.  Applied a hierarchical classification to identify distinctive reaches of streams draining the eastern Cascades.  The project area was about 9.5 million acres.  About 218 linear miles of stream were classified to the level of valley-bottom type and state. Results served as a basis for fisheries studies.   Conducted for Don Chapman Consultants, Boise, ID.
  • Inventory of stream/riparian habitat, Panther Creek basin.  1993.  Uti­lized a hierarchical classification to identify reaches of the Panther Creek valley-bottom with distinctive geologic and geomorphic character.  The inventory was also applied to other basins in the vicinity to identify potential controls for comparison with Panther Creek.  The project area was about a million acres and included 1,660 linear miles of stream.  Results served as the basis for a Natural Resource Damage Assessment of the Blackbird Mine.  Conducted for Don Chapman Consultants, Boise, ID.
  • Ecological classification, Bruneau basin, Nevada.  1992.  Applied a hierarchical classification to identify landtypes of distinctive ecological potential and vegetation types for 268,144 acres in the upper Bruneau River basin.  Also conducted very detailed mapping of stream and riparian habitats for 1,218 linear miles of stream.  Upland and stream/riparian inventories were fully integrated.  Conducted for Mountain City Ranger District, Mountain City, NV.  See abstract.
  • Inventory and Assessment of Riverine/Riparian Habitat, Five-Mile Creek basin, Oregon.   1991. Conducted very detailed mapping of stream and riparian habitats in a tributary of the North Fork Powder River, Oregon.  The project area was 32,256 acres with 89 linear miles of stream.  Conducted for John Day Ranger District, Ukiah, OR.  See abstract.
  • Classification, inventory and assessment of riverine/riparian habitat, Clark Fork River, Bison Creek, Big Hole River, Beaverhead River, Ruby River basins,  Montana.  1991.  Applied a hierarchical classification to identify stream and riparian habitat of distinctive ecological potential and to identify areas of similar state.  The project area was about 7,334,400 acres and about 652 linear miles were intensively studied.  Results were used to select reference streams for a Natural Resource Damage Assessment of the upper Clark Fork River.  Conducted for Chapman Consultants, Boise, ID.
  • Geologic districts of the Snake River Basin, Idaho.  1991.  Identified and mapped areas of similar geologic character that contain stream/riparian of more similar ecological potential.  Conducted for Chapman Consultants, Boise, ID. 
  • Pine Creek watershed assessment, Lassen County, California.  1990. Applied a hierarchical classification, mapped and evaluated conditions influencing stream and riparian habitat critical for reproduction of Eagle Lake trout.  Recommended structural and management alternatives to enhance restoration of Pine Creek.  Conducted for Lassen National Forest; Susanville, CA.
  • Classification and assessment of riverine/riparian habitats, Bull Run Mountains,  Nevada.  1990.  Applied a hierarchical classi­fication to identify similar achievable state and assessed  condition relative to a progression of states.  Results were used for assessing cumulative impacts of livestock and mining over a 1,000 square mile watershed.  Conducted for Freeport‑McMoran Gold; Elko, NV.
  • Classification of riverine/riparian habitats and assessment of nonpoint source impacts, North Fork Humboldt River basin, Nevada. 1989. Entailed preparation of a Technical Guidance Document for assessment of non-point source impacts and demonstration of the recommended approach in a Pilot Study that was conducted in the watershed of the North Fork Humboldt River.  A Geographical Information System (GIS) was used to facilitate a hierarchical inventory of stream and riparian habitats.  The project area was 382,080 acres and included 1,626 linear miles of stream.   Conducted for Intermountain Research Station, Boise, ID.                                                                                      [ Home ] [ Next ]