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Relative Abundance of Meadows And Wetland Vegetation Types

The indicator measures the percentage of land cover dominated by meadow (wet and dry variants) and wetland vegetation in the Tahoe Region in relation to the total amount of undisturbed vegetation. The relative proportion of meadows and wetlands is important because the areas provide flood attenuation, wildlife habitat, ground water recharge, water filtration, and aesthetic and recreation values. The primary factors influencing the extent of meadow and wetland vegetation are the geomorphic setting and the seasonal or permanent presence of surface groundwater, subsurface groundwater, and/or saturated soil. Urbanization has altered the movement of water through some meadow and wetland systems through impoundments, water rerouting, and the creation of impervious surface such as paved roads and building footprints. TRPA has adopted policies and ordinances designed to promote the conservation and protection of existing meadow and wetland vegetation types. In addition, Environmental Improvement Program partners implement meadow and wetland restoration and enhancement projects, which have  increased in wetland and meadow vegetation acreage. Programs such as TRPA’s transfer of development rights program provide additional incentives for moving development rights out of environmentally sensitive areas.

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Status

Wetland and Meadow Vegetation Types Within the Tahoe Basin.

Data provided by the USDA Forest Service, R5 Remote Sensing Lab. Access detailed datasets on Tahoe Open Data, including, vegetation type summary, vegetation spatial data, and detailed vegetation attributes.

Evaluation Map

Extent of Wetland and Meadow Vegetation Types Within the Tahoe Basin.

2023 Evaluation

Status
Somewhat Worse Than Target
Trend
Little or No Change
Confidence
Moderate
View Evaluation

Applicable Standard

VP4: Relative Abundance - Of the total amount of undisturbed vegetation in the Tahoe Basin: Maintain at least four percent meadow and wetland vegetation.

Key Points

  • The recently completed SEZ baseline assessment identified 6,061 acres of meadow and wetland. For additional detail see: https://gis.trpa.org/TahoeSEZViewer/
  • The threshold target is at least four percent of undisturbed landscape as meadows and wetlands. The Tahoe Region is at 88 percent of the target.
  • For the last 40 years, Environmental Improvement Program partners have implemented projects to restore and enhance meadows and wetlands.

About the Threshold

This indicator measures the percentage of land cover dominated by meadow (wet and dry variants) and wetland vegetation in the Tahoe Region in relation to the total amount of undisturbed vegetation. The relative proportion of meadows and wetlands is important because the areas provide a number of services including flood attenuation, wildlife habitat, ground water recharge, water filtration, and aesthetic and recreation values.
Several factors can influence the extent of meadow vegetation in the Tahoe Region. The primary factors responsible for meadow and wetland vegetation are the geomorphic setting and the seasonal or permanent presence of surface groundwater, subsurface groundwater, and/or saturated soil (Mitsch et al., 2009; Potter, 2005). A regular fire-return frequency in the Region historically contributed to the maintenance of meadow vegetation by eliminating encroaching conifer trees (Murphy and Knopp, 2010). Historic grazing and Comstock era land uses changed how water moves through meadows and wetlands, resulting in drier soils not capable of supporting meadow and wetland vegetation (Murphy and Knopp, 2010). Urbanization has similarly altered the movement of water through meadow and wetland systems through impoundments, water rerouting, and the creation of impervious surface such as paved roads and building footprints (Murphy and Knopp, 2010). Groundwater extraction for consumptive use may also influence the vigor of meadow and wetland vegetation in localized areas.

Delivering and Measuring Success

EIP Indicators

Example EIP Projects

  • Aspen Restoration

    This project seeks to restore aspen as the dominant tree in the forest canopy and stimulate regeneration through conifer thinning and prescribed fire.

  • Big Meadow Watershed Fire Regime Restoration

    This 640-acre project restores upland, riparian, aspen, and meadow habitat in Big Meadow Creek watershed and restores fire on the landscape.

  • Restoration of Fire Adapted Ecosystems

    This project completed by the USDA Forest Service reduced conifer encroachment into the Baldwin, Freel, Meiss, Benwood, Star, and Hellhole meadows.

Monitoring Programs

Rationale Details

Somewhat worse than target. The baseline SEZ assessment identified 6,061 acres of meadow and wetland in the Region. The basis for attainment is 4 percent of the undisturbed vegetation of the Region or 6,857 of the 171,438 acres. Based on this target, the Region is at 88 percent of attainment. Consequently, a determination of somewhat worse than target was determined.
Little or no change. No major disturbance events (e.g. fires, disease, clearing) that would have significantly altered the extent of this vegetative community in the Region occurred.

Confidence Details

Moderate. There is moderate to high confidence that in the absence of disturbance events (e.g. fires, disease, clearing) the spatial extent of the vegetation communities in the Region does not change considerably over a four-year period.
Moderate. There is moderate to high confidence that in the absence of disturbance events (e.g. fires, disease, clearing) the spatial extent of the vegetation communities in the Region does not change considerably over a four-year period.
Moderate

Additional Figures and Resources

No photos available.

No documents available.