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Appendix C: Revised PFCA Checklist Scoring Definitions

A score of 1 indicates that extensive, geomorphically inconsistent (GI) alterations of an ecosystem characteristic have occurred, and a score of 5 indicates that the characteristic is geomorphically consistent (GC) and equivalent to that found in natural settings. An asterix (*) indicates that the question answered includes the use of the in-office worksheet (Appendix A). Note that work space is provided in this Appendix for composite scores for some questions in the Riparian Vegetation section. Some questions may be non-applicable (n/a) or unknown (unk): “n/a” and “unk” scores do not contribute to the average section score.

WATER QUALITY	Scoring Definitions
WQ Qualifier Perennial Stream?*	Is the study reach considered GC perennial? If not, this section gets an "n/a" - go to Hydro/Geomorphology
WQ 1. Algal Growth	1 pt = >50% GI algal cover
	2 pt = 25-50% GI algal cover
	3 pt = 10-25% GI algal cover
	4 pt = <10% GI algal cover, low diversity
	5 pt = <10% GI algal cover, with diversity
WQ 1. Baseflow Turbidity	1 pt = GI opaque water, or <40% similar to GC reference range value
	2 pt = GI near opaque, or 40-60% similar to GC reference range value
	3 pt = cloudy water, or 60-80% similar to GC reference range value
	4 pt = slight cloudiness, or 80-95% similar to GC reference range value
	5 pt = GC turbidity, >95% similar to GC reference range value
WQ3. Solar Exposure/Shading	1 pt = GI bare banks (completely exposed)
	2pt = GI slight shading
	3 pt = moderate shading
	4 pt = substantially shaded
	5 pt = Shading is GC
HYDROGEOMORPHOLOGY
Qualifier: Perennial Water?*	If stream is no longer perennial, but was historically, this section receives a score of “1”.
HG 1. Sinuosity*	1 pt = GI straight channel (not actively moving)
	2 pt = GI minimal sinuosity
	3 pt = moderate amount of GI movement
	4 pt = Considerable GC sinuosity
	5 pt = actively and GC sinuous
HG 2. Flow Regime*	1 pt = Stream GI dewatered, only erratic storm-related flows
	2 pt = Mean baseflow GI reduced by >50%
	3 pt = Baseflow equivalent to natural, historic baseflow, but few, non-naturally-timed floods
	4 pt = Baseflow equivalent to natural, historic baseflow,, flood frequency and timing >50% of natural condition
	5 pt = Current flow regime is GC and indistinguishable from the natural hydrograph
HG 3. Floodplain inundation	1 pt = GI bankfull/depth ratio < 1.7 x bankfull
(Fig. C-1)	2 pt = GI, 1.5 to 1.7 x bankfull
	3 pt = GI, 1.4 to 1.5 x bankfull
	4 pt = GC, 1.4 to 1.3 x bankfull
	5 pt = GC, 1.0 to 1.2 x bankfull
HG 4. Sediment deposition	1 pt = >90% of visible bed with GI deposition of fine sediment (no deposition at all, or excessive deposition)
	2 pt = 60-90% of bed with GI deposition
	3 pt = 30-90% of bed with GI deposition
	4 pt = 15-30% of bed with GI deposition
	5 pt = <5% of bed with GI deposition
HG 5a. Vertical bank stability	1 pt = >90% of channel bank is GI vertically unstable
	2 pt = 60-90% of channel bank is GI vertically unstable
	3 pt = 30-60% of channel bank is GI vertically unstable
	4 pt = 5-30% of channel bank is GI vertically unstable
	5 pt = <5% channel bank is GI vertically unstable
HG 5b. Lateral bank stability *	1 pt = >90% of channel is GI laterally unstable, widening or narrowing
	2 pt = 60% - 90% of channel is GI laterally unstable
	3 pt = 30% - 60% of channel is GI laterally unstable
	4 pt = 10% - 30% of channel is GI laterally unstable
	5 pt = <10% of channel is GI laterally unstable
HG 6. Hydraulic habitat	1 pt = no diversity of hydraulic habitats, GI
diversity	2 pt = low diversity of hydraulic habitats, GI
	3 pt = moderate diversity of hydraulic habitats
	4 pt = moderately high diversity of GC hydraulic habitats
	5 pt = high diversity of GC hydraulic habitats
HG 7. Riparian soil integrity	1 pt = >50% of riparian soil surface GI disturbed
	2 pt = 25-50% of riparian soil surface GI disturbed
	3 pt = 5-25% of riparian soil surface GI disturbed
	4 pt = 1-5% of riparian soil surface GI disturbed
	5 pt = <1% of riparian soil surface GI disturbed
HG 8. Beavers*	1 pt = no (GC) beaver dams or beaver sign, beaver extirpated
	2 pt = no beaver dams, but limited recent beaver sign
	3 pt = conspicuous recent GC beaver activity, but no dams
	4 pt = much recent GC beaver activity, drags and some dams present (including evidence of those that have been washed out)
	5 pt = much recent GC beaver activity, stream channel dominated by beaver activity
Fish/Aquatic Habitat	Scoring Definitions
Note: Perennial Water?*	If stream is no longer perennial, but used to be a fishery, this section receives a score of “1”.
F/AH 1. Pool Distribution	1 pt = No pool habitat, GI
	2 pt = 1 to several pools, GI
	3 pt = limited pool distribution, GI
	4 pt = moderate pool distribution, GC
	5 pt = abundant (~50%) pools, GC
F/AH 2a. Underbank Cover	1 pt = No GC underbank cover (concave bank)
	2 pt = GC underbank cover < 10% of reach
	3 pt = GC underbank cover 10% to 25% of reach
	4 pt = GC underbank cover 25% to 50% of reach
	5 pt = GC underbank cover > 50% of reach
F/AH 2b. Overbank Cover	1 pt = No GC overbank cover
	2 pt = GC overbank cover<25% of reach
	3 pt = GC overbank cover in 25-50% of reach
	4 pt = GC overbank cover in 50-90% of reach
	5 pt = >90% GC overbank cover
F/AH 2c. Solar Exposure/ Shading	1 pt = GI bare banks (completely exposed)
	2 pt = slight shading
	3 pt = moderate shading
	4 pt = substantially shaded
	5 pt = Shading is GC
F/AH 3. Embeddedness	1 pt = >50% GI gravel in riffles embedded with fine silt
	2 pt = 40 to 50% GI gravel in riffles embedded
	3 pt = 25-40% GI gravel in riffles embedded
	4 pt 20-25% GI gravel in riffles embedded
	5 pt = <20% GI gravel in riffles embedded with fine silt
F/AH 4. Role of Large Woody	1 pt = No GC LWD (>10 cm in diameter, >2 m long)
Debris (LWD)	2 pt = <0.05 GC LWD pieces/m
	3 pt = 0.05-0.075 GC LWD pieces/m
	4 pt = 0.075-0.10 GC LWD pieces/m
	5 pt = >0.10 GC LWD pieces/m
F/AH 5. Benthic Invertebrates*	1 pt = No benthic invertebrates, GI
	2 pt = 1 GC aquatic invertebrate orders (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera, Coleoptera, Diptera) present (BCI <70)
	3 pt = 2 GC aquatic invertebrate orders present, BCI 70-80
	4 pt = 3 GC aquatic invertebrate orders present, BCI 80-90
	5 pt = 4 GC aquatic invertebrate orders present, BCI >90
F/AH 6. Terrestrial Invertebrate Habitat	1 pt = No GC grass/shrubs/trees overhanging the water)
	2 pt = <10% GC vegetation overhang
	3 pt = 10-25% GC vegetation overhang
	4 pt = 25-50% GC vegetation overhang
	5 pt = >50% GC vegetation overhang
F/AH 7a. Native Fish (NF)*	1 pt = NF historically present but all species extirpated
	2 pt = some NF species present but limited populations
	3 pt = most NF species present but <50% of population is non-native
	4 pt = all NF species present and moderately abundant
	5 pt = all NF species present and abundant
F/AH 7b. Non-native Fish (NNF)*	1 pt = One or more NNF populations dominate the study reach and no NF species present
	2 pt = One or more NNF populations <33% or >300% of management target level (MTL)
	3 pt = NNF populations 30-60% or 150-300% of MTL
	4 pt = NF populations 60-90% or 111-150% of MTL
	5 pt = NF populations >90% and <111% of MTL
F/AH 8. Habitat Suitability for Aquatic Sensitive Species	1. No GC habitat available for aquatic invertebrate and vertebrate sensitive species (AIVSS) in study reach
	2 pt = poor GC habitat suitability for AIVSS
	3 pt = Moderate GC habitat suitability for AIVSS
	4 pt = Good GC habitat suitability for AIVSS
	5 pt = Excellent GC habitat suitability for AIVSS
RIPARIAN VEGETATION	Scoring Definitions
RV 1a, 1e. Native Vegetation	1 pt = No native GC G/H/F species present
Relative Abundance – Grasses,	2 pt = 50% of species present are native
Herbs, Forbs	3 pt = 50-75% of species present are native
	4 pt = 75-90% of species present are native
	5 pt >90% of species present are native
RV 1b, 1f. Native Vegetation	1 pt = No native GC shrub species present
Relative Abundance - Shrubs	2 pt = 50% of species present are native
	3 pt = 50-75% of species present are native
	4 pt = 75-90% of species present are native
	5 pt >90% of species present are native
RV 1c, 1g. Native Vegetation	1 pt = No native GC mid canopy species present
Relative Abundance	2 pt = 50% of species present are native
– Mid Canopy	3 pt = 50-75% of species present are native
	4 pt = 75-90% of species present are native
	5 pt >90% of species present are native
RV 1d, 1h. Native Vegetation	1 pt = No native GC upper canopy species present
Relative Abundance	2 pt = 50% of species present are native
– Tall Canopy	3 pt = 50-75% of species present are native
	4 pt = 75-90% of species present are native
	5 pt >90% of species present are native
Workesheet Space:	GC SC MCC TC Mean
RV 2a. LRZ Veg % cover	1 pt = <5% GC cover
by layer (estimate points for	2 pt = 5-25% GC cover
Ground Cover, Shrub Cover	3 pt = 25-50% GC cover
Mid-Canopy Cover and Tall	4 pt = 50-80% GC cover
Canopy Cover; enter average value on checklist)	5 pt = >80% GC cover
Worksheet Space:	GC SC MCC TC Mean
RV 2b. URZ Veg - % cover	1 pt = <5% GC cover
by layer (estimate points for	2 pt = 5-25% GC cover
Ground Cover, Shrub Cover	3 pt = 25-50% GC cover
Mid-Canopy Cover and Tall	4 pt = 50-80% GC cover
Cover; enter average value)	5 pt = >80% GC cover
RV 3. Vegetation Demography	1 pt = no native and GC vegetation classes (seedlings, saplings, mature, snags) present
	2 pt = one native GC class present
	3 pt =two native and GC classes present (at least one of which is seedling or sapling)
	4 pt = three native and GC classes present
	5 pt = all native and GC classes present
RV 4a. Estimated Non-native	1 pt = >50% NNS cover
Plant Species (NNS) Cover on	2 pt = 25-50% NNS cover
LRZ	3 pt = 10-25% NNS cover
	4 pt = 5-10% NNS cover
	5 pt = 0-5% NNS cover