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The
Riparian Area Management Plan - Photomonitoring
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Good
monitoring sites must be:
Photo-monitoring
can be an effective way to record changes in physical and
biological conditions at specific sites over time.
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There are many
ways to monitor riparian areas as well as other parts of your operation.
One of the most common and easiest is the use of photographs. These
can include "horizontal view" or landscape pictures and
"vertical" or overhead close-up shots of smaller areas.
How many times
have you asked -- or heard one of your neighbors ask -- "What
are people complaining about? Our riparian areas are in much better
shape than they were 20 years ago." Unfortunately, few people
have the experience or ability to visualize what a stream looked
like 20 years ago. If, however, you had started taking pictures
then and repeated them on a regular basis at the same location,
you could show just how much the place has improved under your stewardship.
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Figure
4-11
A photo-monitoring point here would allow you to determine
if this bare ground is revegetating over time.
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Although there
are limitations associated with this approach, photo-monitoring
can be an effective way to record changes in physical and biological
conditions at specific sites over time. Features that can be monitored
with photography include streambank stability or instability, establishment
and growth of woody species, improvements in gully repair, long-term
utilization trends, and weed control effectiveness.
Photo-monitoring
need not be highly technical, but it must be done in a consistent
manner. As you consider possible photo points, you should ask the
following questions:
- What am I
trying to show?
- How can I
best "capture" it in a picture?
- Will this
location be appropriate now and over time?
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