Event ID: 3165710
Event Started: 1/19/2017 12:54:02 PM ET
Please stand by for realtime captions
Hello and welcome to today's conservation webinar. I am your moderator senior ecologists at the central national technology support center. Coming to you from Fort Worth, Texas. Today's webinar entitled planning for floodplains and riparian areas is the third in the environmental evaluation series. This webinar will assist NRCS conservation planners, partners and technical service providers to understand the ecological importance of floodplains and riparian areas, properly analyze and document conditions and the effects of plan conservation actions. And to comply with trend one environmental requirements. The primary topics are going to include the legal foundations, information and data sources, tools, mitigation measures, and documentation requirements including multiple examples. Your presenters today are Craig Goodwin NRCS national aquatic ecologist in in HQ and Richard Weber hydraulic engineer with the national wetlands team at the Central national technology support center. Again, we encourage you to ask questions by typing your question in the notes box. Again, please ensure that you select all moderators so that we can ensure that your question is captured. We will take a limited number of questions after Craig's first segment and then we will take questions again after the final segment. I will now handed over to Craig Goodwin.
Okay . Thank you, Matthew. Thank you all for attending today during the middle of the busy summer season. Listed here are some of the topics that we will be covering today with respect to flood pain -- plane and riparian concerns. We've got a lot to cover in this next hour. Let's get going.
During the previous webinar in June, Matthew stepped through the CPA 52 including sections G and J on page 3. Today we will focus on two of the special environmental concerns on that page. Floodplain management and riparian areas. By the end of today's session we hope that you will have a better understanding of what these two concerns are, how they can be addressed, when undertaking an environmental evaluation.
Let's start by asking the question, what are floodplains and riparian areas? I will define these more formally later based on law, regulations, and in RCS policy. But first, the start which is looking at how we define these concerns. These are essentially the bottomland and vegetated ecosystem near a water body. If there is a blue feature on USGS topo map especially if it's surrounded by green, then you probably have a flood thing and riparian area. -- As shown on the map. Then you probably have a flood plane and riparian area. These areas are characteristically, they have a high water table. They are subject to periodic flooding, and/or influence by the adjacent water body. The reason we can readily analyze these two landscape elements at the same time is that they are usually not always coincident. Pertaining to essentially the same parts of the landscape.
A floodplain as you all know is the area next to a water body that is flooded at times. Usually after intense or long rainstorms or during snowmelt runoff.
Floodplains are the low and relatively flat areas adjoining inland and coastal waters. This includes flood prone areas of offshore islands. Note that there are many modifiers for the term floodplain. The topographic and hydrologic floodplains shown here. You may also hear these respectively called the hydraulic floodplain and the geo-market floodplain. By the way, the cartoon cross-section representation shown here is from the stream corridor restoration handbook. In EH-653 below the figure. In EH-653 is a good source of information for many of the topics that Rich and I are covering today. Consider adding it as a tool to your toolbox if you have not done so all ready. Like floodplains, riparian areas are the lands that occur along streams, rivers, lakes, estuaries and other water bodies. These areas are normally distinctly different from the surrounding lands because of unique soil and vegetation characteristics. And they may be identified by distinctive vegetation communities that reflect soil conditions normally wetter than adjacent soils. Although riparian areas constitute only a fraction of the total land area, usually less than about 5%, they are generally more productive in terms of plant and animal species, diversity, and biomass. Riparian areas are used by over 70% of all terrestrial wildlife species during some part of their lifecycle. Riparian areas also provide benefits of water quality improvement, stream shading, flood continuation, shoreline stabilization, and groundwater exchange.
Witty and herbaceous vegetation occurring along the edges of rivers and streams and lakes are dominant in many landscapes as seen here in this photo. If they are undisturbed riparian areas normally include the entire floodplain. They include some higher terrace levels. For those of you out in the area -- arid or semi arid West riparian areas are seen as ribbons of green and otherwise yellow brownish landscape. One of the things to note is that riparian areas may exist within all land covers and uses. Riparian areas are not a separate land-use type.
Here is a cartoon cross-section of a riparian area. Similar to the one from floodplains several flights ago. We see the relationship between wetlands, upland, the riparian area, and a stream channel. Wetlands are often incorporated into Iberian areas. Although shown here as distinct dividing lines, the boundaries between riparian areas, wetlands and uplands are often indistinct or fuzzy.
Okay. Let's have a general overview of floodplains and riparian areas after hearing about those. Let's move on and discuss how these important areas of the landscape are addressed by our trend one policies.
To do that, let's review some of the concepts that Matthew presented at the February environmental compliance webinar where he showed you this pyramid. Environmental compliance deals with laws, regulations, policies and our agency guidance. Laws of the authority for regulation upon which policy is built. That is why we have this pyramid. One built upon the other. Laws are passed by the legislative body in our case Congress. The powers of the president and the executive branch are limited to those granted by Congress. However, the president can implement certain aspects of loss through executive orders and executive orders which are often called Dos tend to be considered authorities similar to laws. Regulations are rules. By federal agencies in order to carry out the laws passed by Congress. After being finalized, regulations are published in the code of federal regulations or CFR. Such a guide at the field level is usually agency policy this is internal policy that trend one generates often based on regulations in the CFR. Policy is what is in the trend one general manual. Finally, the agency guidance in our case bulletins, instructions, handbooks and other items that we follow every day are based on NRCS policy and can be used to help us implement our actions .
Here is a pyramid again with the trend one related items filled in for floodplain management on the left side in blue and riparian areas on the right side in green. Up until we get to the top where we have the blue-green.
At the field level you mostly will be relying upon the general manual, the environmental compliance handbook, and the national planning procedures handbook. However, let me provide a little background information for you this down at the bottom part of the pyramid with the executive order 11 1198 on flood payment -- floodplain management.
Executive order 11988 was signed in 1977 by President Jimmy Carter. It requires federal agencies to do a couple of things. To avoid to the extent possible the long and short-term adverse impacts associated with the occupancy and modification of floodplains. And to avoid direct and indirect supported floodplain development where there is a practical alternative. The key idea here is avoidance for which which will show you examples later in this presentation. As shown on the left, to meet the objectives of this executive order federal agencies are to take action to reduce the risk of flood loss and minimize the impact of floods upon human safety, health and welfare, and to restore and preserve the natural and beneficial value served by floodplains. Note how this last bullet point identifying natural and beneficial values found a whole lot -- sounds a whole like benefits by riparian areas. -- Values functions and benefits provided by riparian areas. So when does this all apply? Under three different situations as shown at the right. The bottom two federal finances are provided or federal activities are conducted by the major areas of application of the EEO by the trend one. -- By the trend one. And will will will the word will now all the word --
Now let's move up to the policy level that is the third level between the words floodplain management and riparian areas. In skipping -- I am skipping over the regulations area because of verbiage in the Code of Federal Regulations for floodplain management is essentially 100% incorporated into policy and the trend one general manual as shown at level III in the pyramid. When you look at the right side of the pyramid you will see there is no law or regulations specifying riparian area management. The importance of wetlands was realized in the 1970s which resulted in national level regulatory system for their protection. It was not until the 1990s however that riparian areas begin to receive legal recognition as places requiring special attention. During the past couple of decade a -- decades a patchwork of federal state and local laws and programs has developed that directly or indirectly begins to recognize the not riparian areas and to require or encourage special management to restore or protect essential functions. The bottom line is that unlike wetlands, riparian area protection is not provided by federal law nor by regulation. And floodplains also. At the NRCS policy is I mean of helping to preserve and protect these areas. The policy being in the general manual.
What is the overarching purpose that NRCS is to achieve an floodplain management and riparian area management? As shown here on the slide four floodplains, NRCS is to take action practicable to conserve, preserve, and restore existing natural and beneficial values in base floodplains. That is what up -- I will discuss whether this floodplain is on the next slide. Once again, the guy -- I will discuss what a base floodplain is in the next so I. Once again note the -- once again, note the statement to conserve preserve and restore existing natural and beneficial values which is basically the same statement from the executive order. As you see on the right riparian management policy is to guide NRCS personnel in providing assistance on lands that include riparian areas. NRCS assistance is to help land users make sound resource management decisions. Also, NRCS must drive to provide the best alternatives for the proper use and management of riparian area resources.
Definitions are important. You can read through these but let me note a couple of important points. The base floodplain by those areas with a 1% chance of being flooded in any given year. This is also referred to as a 1% exceed its probability or the 100 year return interval floodplain. Again, this criterion is from the floodplain management executive order. As you probably know, 100 year floodplain is usually a place you do not want to build your house or other honorable facilities. The critical action floodplain is defined as the 500 year floodplain or the 0.2% chance floodplain. When there is a presence of facilities such as schools and hospitals. In contrast to these blood base definitions, riparian areas are defined ecologically as eco-tones the transition zones between two ecological communities. As I showed earlier, riparian areas occur along watercourses and water bodies and occupied that transitional area between upland terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. So would one case it is purely flood and the other is ecological concept.
After a land user decides to type and location of the intended action for which a system is sought, the district conservationists need to determine if the intended action is in the base floodplain. To help you do this here are some of the methods. You can use to former HUD up to 1970s or today of flood insurance maps. You can go online and get from FEMA at the URL listed here. Certainly not for every part of the country and certainly away from the city's. Other available maps and information can be used. Later on Rich will talk to you about using soil survey interpretations to help you in areas where there was no other floodplain mapping. Finally if you have no other information, you can make an on-site determination of the approximate level of the base flood or if you're lucky to have a staffing available from a state office or the district, you can have engineering water resources staff on a backwater analysis if you have good topographic mapping at the site.
For riparian areas identification is made using several indicators. Remember, riparian areas are not wetlands. Though they may incorporate wetland places as you saw earlier in the riparian area cartoon cross-section. Similar to wetland areas, riparian areas can be characterized by the vegetation, soil, and the water hydrologic characteristics. Riparian vegetation is special in that it reflects the influence of free or unbound water from the associated watercourse or water body. In contrast to the dryer upland terrestrial vegetation. Soils and natural riparian areas often consist of stratified deposited sediments of varying textures intended recently formed soils that may be classified in the fluid suborder. Finally as I showed earlier, riparian areas are directly influenced by water from a watercourse or water body.
So. How should floodplain areas and their management be incorporated into NRCS planning ? EO 11933 stipulated that each agency was to issue or amend existing regulation procedures within one year of the signing to comply with the requirements of the order. Which they did by propagating floodplain rent -- management in the CSR and adding new policies in the general manual. Shown here are the limits on where to NRCS can and cannot provide assistance for the floodplains and this is taken from the general manual in the sections at the top up their. Providing technical and financial assistance is compatible with EO 1198. You can see here the idea is that a plant is all ready being formed continuing that user compatible with the EEO the idea or oilseed qualifier originates in the US code for farmland protection and is incorporated into the definition of prime farmland. If you have ever wondered where that came from. Similarly this production is in concordance with the official state or designated area water quality plan providing assistance is also being compatible. On the other hand, NRCS may not provide technical and financial assistance to land users if the results of such assisted actions are likely to have significant adverse effects on existing natural and beneficial values of the base floodplain. At the NRCS determines that there are practicable alternatives outside the base floodplain. Again, later in this webinar you will see how the concept of relocation from the floodplain can be put into place in devising a project alternative.
Similar to the last slide, we can ask how should riparian areas be incorporated in the NRCS planning ? This slide provides a summary of the major elements of in area management policy from the general manual. I will that you read through these items and just point out a few things. In the first bullet point the values of riparian areas are noted. Again, in the NRCS floodplain policy it was stated that it is requirement to preserve the natural and beneficial values are by floodplains. Although defined differently these two special environmental concerns have many of the same characteristics. Bullet item 4 is very specific and worth noting. It states that because of our riparian areas unique position in watercourses or water bodies the planner should always consider the water quality, water quantity and fish and wildlife benefits provided by these areas. You should always consider that in your planning. So it is most important that the plans must maintain and improve these benefits. Finally, in the last bullet point, we see that alternatives must be presented that identify ways to resolve in conflicts should the land users objectives be in conflict with the conservation of the riparian area resources.
In this section of the webinar with one final piece of advice on where to start when you have questions. For these two special environmental concerns, there are others that will be discussed in upcoming webinars you can always begin with the special environmental concern sheets at the back of the national planning procedures hand book -- handbook. The sheets will provided -- provide you with the singly summarized information on laws, policies, definitions and examples of special environmental concern issues and their potential solutions. If you want to dig a little deeper, go to the NRCS webpage and download the pertinent sections of the general manual. Riparian management policy is only one page and floodplain management is less than three pages. So just a short read. At this time let me turn to presentation back over to Matthew duty.
Again, if you do have questions we will be taking those by notes only. So please submit your questions when you have them. Since I have no questions, we are ready to proceed with Rich
Okay. Thanks guys. Thanks Craig for the first part of the session. This is Rich Weber. We are going to talk a little more into the weeds about the spatial context in conservation planning. Beginning with the statement that floodplains and riparian areas are landscapes. They occupied unique landscape positions that in most cases can be readily defined as we see here in this slide. They have forms and processes that make them distinct from adjacent landscapes.
Floodplain and riparian landscapes have soils that are formed and maintained by fluvial processes. In most cases these soils are only met in floodplains that are not mapped on Upland's [Indiscernible -- audio cutting out] In those landscape definitions. Floodplains that contain unique elements within the floodplain landscape those elements are more numerous and within boundaries. Elements may include elements such as natural [Indiscernible -- audio cutting out]
And find a floodplains exists in a continuum along a watershed network from headwaters to the river outlet. They connect to adjacent landscapes in a very predictable way. For sol met -- soil mapping exists it contains valuable information about the nature of the floodplain and riparian processes. Common soil database arteries contain information about the description for instance when mapping detail [Indiscernible -- audio cutting out] Separate landscape elements are often mapped. It is very common to find [Indiscernible] on back swamps are natural levees for instance. Information can also be gleaned from the soil specs [Indiscernible] as Greg mentioned earlier. For instance [Indiscernible] are very common in floodplains. And finally the water features table which is readily available through the survey separate information specifically on flooding, ponding and groundwater in terms of frequency and duration and even [Indiscernible] in these parameters very.
The grand level shot shows different landscape elements in this photo of [Indiscernible] in Montana. The floodplain riparian battery with a upland is readily apparent note the sharp change in vegetation between [Indiscernible] and Trapelo. In the distance the echo channel itself occupies a relatively small portion of this entire landscape and is very important to but spatially is not a large part. [Indiscernible] in the middle adjacent to the channel or on a natural levee which is in a very predictable location on the outside of the band were high flood energy sediment deposits when the energy is lost floodplain access. These natural levee areas are somewhat higher than the rest of the floodplain and the does have deeper groundwater table because [Indiscernible -- audio cutting out] In the foreground is a [Indiscernible] back swamp which is behind the natural levee between the Levy and the upland's. This back swamps has got strong [Indiscernible] groundwater flow which is being used by beavers to form ponds. The natural levee position is adjacent to the channeled does not separated from the floodplain as a separate riparian element it and the rest of the land between the uplands from the foreground to the background is a floodplain riparian landscape.
[Indiscernible] differ by scale. A good way to distinguish floodplains by scale is by using [Indiscernible] order. In the trailer system orders increase the junctions of the same order. Low order reaches into waters read but floodplains floor. [Indiscernible -- audio cutting out] Floodplain landscape elements become more pronounced. Flood durations increase in ecological functions change. These vary by scale geometry remain the same. The floodplain may reduce to a narrow band of vegetation immediately adjacent to the channel of riparian area. It may be assumed only a riparian consideration exists.
Floodplains and riparian landscapes exist in a predictable relationship with the basic landscapes. This relationship varies widely by region. NRCS uses the [Indiscernible] area as a way to define areas with common geology land cover and soils. The ML RA concept works very well for using defining the relationship between floodplain and [Indiscernible] landscapes. In [Indiscernible] for example the large yellow area is a floodplain found in a high [Indiscernible] stream [Indiscernible]. The first and second headquarters on a dark blue are not floodplains. In fact these are headwater wetlands as they correspond to the [Indiscernible] classification system. They have strong groundwater inflows [Indiscernible] organic surfaces and geometry. This relationship is consistently replicated across his entire resource area.
The hydrology of floodplains and riparian areas is dominated by the hydrograph of the water body and in this case [Indiscernible] adjacent to a stream so is dominated by stream hydrograph. The data represented by this graph is used to determine probabilities frequency and durations and flow. Those are major in terms of water but water contains sediment and nutrient compounds and anti-aquatic organisms. Many complex relationships can be defined using streamflow but it's helpful that shuffle to simplify. They provide floodplains [Indiscernible] residual ponding and groundwater. These are the three parameters readily available through survey interpretation table. Streamflow data is or can be used to quantify these three parameters.
There are distinct differences between dynamic flooding and residual ponding. First of all these two machines are associated with floodplain landscape elements separate of them. Flooding only exist as long as the flood hydrograph is at high stage and after the hydrograph proceeds those landscape elements that are [Indiscernible] within the floodplain which have been filled by flood peak may have long-term ponding for days or weeks afterward. Floodplains that have very short flood durations may still have long-term ponding in floodplains with detailed soil mapping [Indiscernible] elements and regimes are typically have [Indiscernible] mapping. It's associated flooding upon the information in water features table again.
Now planning and environmental evaluation responsibility [Indiscernible]. The language in Executive Order 11 988 is heavily weighted to the concept of the base floodplain are hundred year floodplain quite a bit of that earlier. 1% chance probability any given year. This is a strict definition based on hydraulics and hydrology which we can really think of as a surrogate for the floodplain ecological processes. I do flood planning management [Indiscernible] provides information on the use of soils information to help us with the terminating that floodplain landscape boundary in terms of hydrology. Floodplain soils have flood frequency information associated -- there are distinct and residual ponding. First of all they see resumes are associated with floodplain landscape elements separate elements. Flooding only exist as long as the hydrograph is at high stage and after the hydrograph proceeds those landscape elements that are [Indiscernible] within the floodplain which have been filled by [Indiscernible] may have long-term ponding for days or weeks afterwards. Floodplains that have very short flood durations may still have long-term ponding. Floodplains with detailed soil mapping [Indiscernible] elements and regimes typically have distinct soil mapping. Associated flooding of putting information in the water pictures table again.
Now. Part of planning and environmental evaluation responsibility in a technical sense. The language in Executive Order 11 988 is heavily weighted to the concept of the base floodplain are hundred year Greg talked a bit about that earlier. That is a 1% chance probability of flooding and any given year. There is a strict definition based on hydraulics and hydrology which we can really think of as a surrogate for the area where floodplain ecological process occurs. A new floodplain management guide sheet provides information on these [Indiscernible] information to help us with determining that floodplain landscape boundary in terms of hydrology and [Indiscernible]. Floodplain soils have flood frequency for information associated which of course the 100 year return period definition. However soil information contains information that can be applied to a full range of ecological processes.
A floodplain riparian landscape defined as a 100 year flood elevation or any other hydrologic definition can only be delineated with hydraulic analysis. Most of the floodplain areas do not have such analysis available. Regardless of how the extent is the finder map this definition is based on the executive criteria of the 100 year based floodplain.
[Indiscernible] definition based on baseball played 100 year flood elevation definition do not include other hydrologic processes that are very important in floodplain [Indiscernible] many floodplains are very wet because of a high water table supported by stream flows much lower than the 100 year floodplain [Indiscernible] in these cases the extent of floodplain hydrology may be very large or fully -- floodplain hydrologic -- hydrologic process wealthy may be very small. Some floodplains have large areas was seldom if ever see stream flooding but are still inundated frequently from on-site or uplands runoff. Finally the duration of any 100 year flood event may be very short or long. Frequency definition applies equally to floodplains in a data for a few hours and those in the data for several weeks. The presence of groundwater and pounding [Indiscernible] floodplains into the definition of a riparian zone even though they may be outside of a base floodplain. So that is a way of tying together the concept of riparian and floodplain into the same landscape.
This shows the [Indiscernible] River in Reno County Kansas. Is a good example of a floodplain with very wet conditions provided by groundwater. Is currently much less than a 100 year discharge. It's extreme water surface supports a high groundwater table. This water table is shallow but crosses the left lane however the area inundated during the 100 year peak discharge event is relatively limited.
This is an example of a survey shot which shows how we can [Indiscernible] information defining the landscape. These flow along creep in Jackson County Kansas has frequency ranging from occasional shown in blue to rare shown in all of. The definition of rare is a peak flow return period of 20 to 100 years. The boundaries of the all of [Indiscernible] constitutes the boundary of the floodplain. [Indiscernible] boundaries are no remaining riparian areas and pass those boundaries on the upland side or upland soils. So the color in this map constitutes the entire area as consideration for the floodplain or riparian.
Further information from the area in the previous slide was extracted with the water report readily available to [Indiscernible] survey. Represent the areas you previously in blue. This has a water table some 3.3 to 3.7 feet from February to May [Indiscernible] groundwater for consideration. It has no ponding interpretation so we can interpret is probably not occupying a [Indiscernible] position. Basically we are looking at flood frequency alone and again the flooding is very brief and we could see occasional which [Indiscernible] within the 100 based floodplain.
A policy deals with impacts federal actions and riparian areas. These impacts are expressed in policy as avoidance minimization rectifying reducing or compensating for those impacts. An impact is any activity that may reduce floodplain [Indiscernible] increases or decreases in flooding or one of many potential impacts for floodplains and riparian areas.
The ecosystem services provided by an individual floodplain very. Most floodplains provide at least this partial list of benefits on the flight. The cycle nutrients compounds and sediments, the [Indiscernible] capture and siphon the maintenance of healthy sediment transporter [Indiscernible]. The sediment cycling itself is critical to maintain [Indiscernible]. These are ecologically valuable. [Indiscernible] and habitats depend on the groundwater ponding in regimes found in floodplains and found the different levels in these floodplain features which are not go directly to [Indiscernible]. To the extent that there is lateral connectivity between the channel and the floodplain dynamic floodwater storage benefits are realized. The benefit to humans who see less flood damage downstream. In many communities program -- [Indiscernible] and the recharge of these aquifers also depends on the hydrologic function of floodplains.
[Indiscernible] into these three categories. First of all breaks and hydrologic connectivity. Are those that reduce the connection of water between a stream and associated floodplain. Dikes and levees have given her obvious. However water diversions, can eliminate the [Indiscernible] needed to create those levies to maintain the lateral connectivity. And where's break the longitudinal let -- they also prevent movement above aquatic organisms that make a downstream.
Hydrologic regime in terms of groundwater ponding of flooding may result in breaks and connectivity and also occur [Indiscernible] activity filling depressions and groundwater [Indiscernible] on site on a floodplain are examples. And finally remove vegetation or change vegetative pressure [Indiscernible].
In this case on-the-fly the removal of riparian vegetation in the foreground has allowed a Russian and channel migration. This is an example of direct on-site impact due to a management change for the removal of vegetation.
Hydrologic impact cross site are those that may decrease lateral and longitudinal productivity off-site activities. The channel capacity itself if it's increased may cause a break in lateral connectivity which results in it direct effect on floodplain -- floodplain function.
I think at this point I'm going to turn the reins back over to Craig. And lets him [Indiscernible -- audio cutting out]
Okay. Here we see Smith Ranch sitting out in Wyoming on the Smith River near Smithfield Wyoming. You can undoubtably see the problem of bank erosion and the loss of land for Mr. Smith pasture. There's a long story as to how this condition came about. Grazing is one significant factor. Mr. Smith comes into your office and says he needs help solving this problem.
He will fill out the CPA-52, part of it anyway. He will go through this form and we put the information up and ABC for Mr. Smith. When you think about it we would almost want to fill-in P before D. A is a need for action. The step 1 of the planning process. We're going to control bank erosion and reduce [Indiscernible] to the stream. Item D is step two days of the planning process. What is their objective? To prevent has lost due to erosion in approve pasture management. For planning step three and four we inventoried the resources and analyze resource data. Here we see we had a couple of of resource concerns we're going to address. Bank erosion and stream sediment. The banks eroding is putting the stream sediment and various material load into a trout fishery. And so this is all causing our resource concern. After we have inventoried our resources and analyze start [Indiscernible] let's go on to the planning, step five formulating our [Indiscernible]. I know action alternative would be to continue grazing operations with no bank revegetation. Nothing happening. The status quo. As you can see we expect that our resource condition will be the same.
The objective of a plan that we have come up here is to go from the condition shown on the left where we have eroding banks to the one on the right where it is well vegetated and you only have water at erosion. I'm going to present one alternative because of time. We could come up with several others. Our plan involves planning plants like willows and dogwoods along the blade constructing a fence to keep the cows out of the near stream riparian area and providing a stream watering facilities to get the cows to more evenly use the pasture. Here I show the main conservation practice standards that will be used. The mayor does there may be others it could be incorporated to this type of plan
Again, here is a very basic concept of our plant the yellow line being the fans where we are crime to treat does keep a fence a good 35 feet away in this case and we need a buffer riparian also. And developing several watering tanks with water pipe from the stream so the cows will disperse over the pasture.
Back to our CPA-52. Let's fill in the alternative splake here. We did our fans are planning to tanks in the pipeline. Using the same type of analysis that I have done before I have reduced my losses both of pasture and fine sediment production to about 10% of what it had been. Again, I will still have a little bit of [Indiscernible] out there but I am going to basically eliminate this issue.
Before we get onto page 3, let's go fill out our [Indiscernible]. Here it is. Were quickly going through this. Step two, we put our information up at the top for our client. This is alternative 1 it's a) -- it's a [Indiscernible]. Step 2. Do the actions address maintenance or improvement of water quality, water quantity and fish and wildlife benefits divided by the riparian area? Yes, they do. If you remember that whole statement I read you a little bit earlier those are things that we must do. Into the trash to the actions conflict with the conservation values are functions with the riparian area? No. Let's go on and provide the commission -- documentation below as I show you. I'm not going to read it to you but basically we are consistent with the plans and we are addressing the situation.
Finally, let's go to CTA-52 page 3. In this case I am using proper functioning condition method to assess riparian conditions because it is widely used in the Western United States. I think Matthew probably introduced us to some of you last time also. However depending on where you are you might want to consider using something like NRCS [Indiscernible] procedure or other assessment tools including specific tools developed in your state. Use what is best for the situation. Under our alternative we have taken our condition with this practices from functional to nonfunctional condition and we take it to a Private First Class functional at risk trend upward. Our site is still a little bit at risk from a big flat until a vegetation takes hold which may take five years or more at times depending on where we are. But the improved riparian area condition has been kick started. So with that, I am not going to put this back over to rich.
Okay thanks Greg. I'm going to go through three or four quick examples with a little less detail of paperwork and try to bring this home in terms of avoiding, minimizing and compensating really means in the real world. Let's start with an example of a floodplain is shown as met by this in blue and gray. A big red large earthen animal way -- animal waste door structure located in a floodplain area.
What are the impacts of potential impacts of this practice? Is going to occupy a relatively large cross-section enough floodplain and we can expected to increase in floodwater surface profile in other words were going to racy elevation of the 100 year base flood and actually all of the other lower frequency floods as well. We have a potential loss of wildlife due to the land-use change structure of sales. We may start seeing potential changes in sediment and nutrient cycling during flood times. Even to the extent that we start generating local floodplain [Indiscernible] during floods. And basically a general modification to floodplain landscape maintenance process.
Can we avoid this impact? The simplest thing for avoidance that can be accomplished by moving the structure completely out of the floodplain. In many cases this alternative may be prohibitively excessive or not even feasible from a technical standpoint.
If the avoidance is a visible the next step is to look for ways to minimize the impact. The size of the earth and we storage structure not only the actual waste produced by the operation but also the bulk of the earthen embankments and furthermore most of the need a storage volume in these type of structures is required to capture precipitation falling on the pond surface itself. These can be reduced if we use the alternative of a vertical wall concrete waste storage structure. [Indiscernible] is significantly reduced and this alternative can be considered as one that minimizes the impact.
Compensating for impacts me determining to replace the section's laws with the same functions elsewhere. Ideally the compensation is as close to the laws as possible. In this particular case the project site is on the same [Indiscernible] as a back swamp area which are [Indiscernible] units shown in dark blue. And let's assume for this exercise the back swamp is degraded by sediment infilling and is an agricultural production so we have a loss of vegetative plan community original plan community. If we can remove the sediment down to the regional [Indiscernible] and revegetate this back swamp area to the original native pack community we can compensate for both hydrologic and [Indiscernible] impact. The back swamp may be a wetland area and is -- if that's true the use of the wetland [Indiscernible] practice standard is very appropriate.
If I go into too much detail the CPA-53 -- 52 pastry for the scenario alternative for avoidance and [Indiscernible] are presented. Locating the structure outside the floodplain will require no further construction. On the other hand compensation for the impacts of restoring the other part of the floodplain to natural back swamp levels requires that compensation area be a vacuum -- [Indiscernible] in fact this would lead to an evaluation in terms of wetland which is the subject of the next webinar.
In the interest of time I think were going to skip over this form. Craig went over it in quite a bit of detail earlier. Let's move on to a stock water pond example. In this case we have a stock water pond proposed on a [Indiscernible] it is defined by those map units quite narrow in this case. We still are on a geomorphic floodplain as indicated by soil mapping. The impacts here we have the potential break in longitudinal connectivity between the [Indiscernible] upstream and [Indiscernible] downstream. Potential loss of wildlife habitat due to change in hydrologic regime as well as loss of habitat under the embankment of the pond. More than likely an interruption in sediment transport and cycling and potential decrease in flooding, ponding or groundwater attributes downstream.
There are propose alternatives. It might be a well, pipeline or tank. However there are more than one other alternatives. This is a potential to essentially avoid the impact by using alternative water source. If we have suitable groundwater source available through a well we can install a pipeline intake and accomplish the same planning requirements and completely avoid the pond impact.
Another alternative to developing -- develop a spring where groundwater is entering the surface by [Indiscernible] the map unit shown in blue happens to be a Indo saturated soil with a high [Indiscernible] that can be exported for water. However soil map units with these attributes are very likely to support wetlands. Specifically wetlands in these [Indiscernible] ecosystems. If is that while and it is more than likely may be a riparian area. This alternative will need to be of I waited on its own merits [Indiscernible] policy.
If the floodplain is above or below the pond is all ready impacted in [Indiscernible] can be increased these areas can be used for [Indiscernible]. Livestock exclusion, streambank stabilization of wetland restoration is appropriate to compensate to the laws of [Indiscernible].
Finally, it's not dictated by [Indiscernible] but the range area at the selected site. If that water demand can be met at a the pond and abatements can be reduced by moving it upstream to an area with smaller drainage. Of this drainage area is available at the upper end of the expanse of the floodplain map units a project can be effectively located. These impacts will reduce [Indiscernible] have avoidance or minimization are both at the same time by relocating the pond site.
Let's take a look at a wetland enhancement project. This particular project is on a portion of a large floodplain and consists of areas with water control structures. The [Indiscernible] floodwater long-term [Indiscernible]. Water control structures are intended to function for managed [Indiscernible].
Potential impacts here. The cross-sectional area [Indiscernible] a significant part in will likely increase the elevation of the base floodplain are the 100 year [Indiscernible]. The floodplain will be converted from a dynamic flooding regime or one were static ponding is more present. The structures were more than likely [Indiscernible] and if nothing else will require periodic cleanup.
If we use an alternative that provides for replication of the same floodplain landforms that are all ready [Indiscernible] we can avoid, minimizing compensate for the impacts all in one. Shallow excavation of fields that allow for dynamic flooding below sediment [Indiscernible] can still provide ponding for waterfall, careful design of elements but [Indiscernible] changes in habitat without the need for water control.
At this time I think we are complete except we covered a lot of material in one hour. We certainly didn't present the whole picture but we hope you've taken away a good understanding of the significance of floodplain and riparian areas and or landscapes. We have policies and laws and regulations that say what we must or must not do in these areas. More importantly we hope you come away with a better understanding of the importance of these areas and what we can do to conserve preserve and restore existing. With a, we will take questions.
Rich, this is Craig. I see we have one question here from Bill Holman. This is probably a good one. RES dues usable for [Indiscernible] planning quick
I think riparian and floodplain they have the potential to be very valuable. The effort intends to document landscapes in terms of landscape positions and those ecological processes including hydrology and [Indiscernible]. I am looking forward to working [Indiscernible -- audio cutting out] In wetland floodplains and riparian areas. Yes.
We have another question that asks can you talk more about the effects of floodplains on aquifer recharge specifically what needs to happen in a floodplain for the aquifers to receive the necessary water from the floodplain?
Quick question for hydrologist. I'm going to give you the hydrology answer in terms of hydraulics and hydrology. And that is to the extent that we maximize the duration of water on the floodplain. In other words actually follow the principles in the proper evaluations and [Indiscernible] and water perimeter. In other words keep the water is high in the landscape as possible for as long as possible. We can accomplish that recharge function.
Okay. Good answer. Good answer. Let's see. I have another question. [Indiscernible] resources are often associated with floodplain and riparian areas but we're -- but were not mentioned in this session. Will this be discussed in a future session?
That is probably a question for me. I would say that we will be having a session that will deal with cultural resources. I will take note of your request and ensure that riparian and floodplain areas are specifically addressed in that session.
[Multiple Speakers]
Go ahead. I was going to the next question so if you have a, go ahead.
Most of us are aware that floodplains tend to be a particular focus as a density of cultural resources. Many populations obviously occupy the area with water [Indiscernible] up lens is so yes, it's a critical consideration.
Okay. I have another question. This has to do with [Indiscernible] streams. What hydraulic runoff information generated by a site like Illinois streams [Indiscernible] the good to use or would you suggest sticking with toolkit soil runoff info?
Another good question for the hydraulic engineer. NRCS surface runoff tools are really good for designing structures on smaller watersheds. We are getting into large stream order reaches we need to start thinking about referring to areas where we start doing statistics on flow data which Illinois streams has for anybody almost everybody that [Indiscernible]. I would tell you to take a hard look at the [Indiscernible] and all of those systems and most of them will give you a runoff number. They will also give you the boundaries in those numbers which tend to be quite large. They also do tend to be superior to direct routes with TR 55 or [Indiscernible].
Well. That concludes our questions that we have received. If you have additional questions in the future or comments about this webinar, you can contact myself or Andre do Varney. I would like to think of presenters Craig Goodwin and Rich Weber for a fantastic job. I would like to thank the 188 participants for attending. This webinar has been recorded and will be posted shortly for replay at conservation webinars.[Indiscernible]. I want to alert you to mark your calendars for the next webinar the environmental series that will cover special environmental concerns for wetlands and the Clean Water Act. This webinar will be presented by Jason outlaw the acting national wetland and ATL compliance specialist. And David Heffington DE colleges at the national water management Center. This concludes today's webinar. Have a great day.
[Event concluded]