California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM)

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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

Flow chart to determine which wetland module is appropriate for CRAM.[6]


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
[4]




Links

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 California Creates Rapid Assessment Method for Wetland Protection https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/california-creates-rapid-assessment-method-wetland-protection
  2. California Rapid Assessment Method Website https://www.cramwetlands.org/
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 About California Rapid Assessment Method https://www.cramwetlands.org/about
  4. 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
  5. About EcoAtlas https://www.ecoatlas.org/about/
  6. 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...