California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM)
A summary of one of the Technical Tools used in Environmental Science and Management within California's Central Coast Region created by ENVS 560/L Watershed Systems class at CSUMB.
Summary
California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM) is a standardized approach to monitor and assess the ecological conditions of wetlands California's wetland resources.[1][2] CRAM is represented as a single score that reflects the wetland's condition and stressors based on metrics of landscape and buffer condition, hydrology, biotic structure, and physical structure.[1]
CRAM was developed by a committee consisting of federal, state, and local agency personnel and scientists, NGO scientists, and consultants.[3] CRAM is considered "rapid" because it can take less than three hours for only two or three practitioners to asses a representative wetland area.[3]
Why use CRAM?
CRAM has been adopted in California because it is consistent, scientifically defensible, and affordable.[4] There are several public and private fund investments aimed at the protection, restoration, and management of California wetlands, but the impact of these investments are difficult to evaluate because there are often inconsistencies in data collections and quality control.[4] With CRAM, wetland health can be compared and monitored under consistent conditions. Additionally, the results of the monitoring are hosted on the EcoAtlas website, making records of CRAM data available to analysts and decision makers.[5][3]
CRAM Modules
To make CRAM applicable to virtually all of California's diverse range of wetlands, modules or types were created.[4] There are six major types, four of which have sub-types.[4]
CRAM Wetland Types | CRAM Sub-types |
---|---|
Riverine | Confined Riverine |
Non-confined Riverine | |
Depressional | Individual Vernal Pools |
Vernal Pool Systems | |
Depressional | |
Playas | No sub-type |
Estuarine | Perennial Saline Estuarine |
Perennial Non-saline Estuarine | |
Bar-Built Estuarine | |
Lacustrine | No sub-type |
Slope | Seeps and Springs |
Forested Slope | |
Wet Meadows |
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 California Creates Rapid Assessment Method for Wetland Protection https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/california-creates-rapid-assessment-method-wetland-protection
- ↑ California Rapid Assessment Method Website https://www.cramwetlands.org/
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 About California Rapid Assessment Method https://www.cramwetlands.org/about
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 California Rapid Assessment Method for Wetlands User’s Manual Version 6.1 https://www.cramwetlands.org/sites/default/files/2013-04-22_CRAM_manual_6.1%20all.pdf
- ↑ About EcoAtlas https://www.ecoatlas.org/about/
- ↑ California Rapid Assessment Method Flowchart https://www.cramwetlands.org/sites/default/files/UPDATED%20CRAM%20Flowchart_July2016.pdf
Disclaimer
This page may contain students' work completed as part of assigned coursework. It may not be accurate. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion or policy of CSUMB, its staff, or students...