California Aquatic Resource Inventory (CARI)

The California Aquatic Resource Inventory is a standardized statewide map of wetlands, streams, and riparian areas. This Geographic Information System (GIS) dataset provides accurate and detailed information a bout wetland and riparian distribution and abundance for management, planning, and research of the State’s aquatic resources.

Pre-CARI mapping efforts for California contain varying levels of detail, vintages, coverage, and classifications, which makes comparisons of wetland presence across the State challenging. To improve wetland a nd riparian data in the State, CARI is produced using a standardized mapping approach developed by statewide experts and implemented regionally drawing on local knowledge. Examples of CARI mapping can be seen in the San Francisco Bay Ar ea, Lake Tahoe Basin (Upper Truckee River Watershed), and the Southern California Coast. As CARI efforts continue to produce high-quality, comprehensive maps, there is still a need for a single statewide dataset of aquatic resource data . CARI v0, as seen on EcoAtlas Modern Habitats, is a compilation of multiple data sources to produce seamless coverage across the state. Datasets used in CARI v0 include the National Wetland Inventory (USFWS), National Hydrography Datas et (USGS), and regional intensified maps.

The effort to stitch together a statewide dataset from multiple sources is largely a classification crosswalk exercise. Due to this there may be errors in classification of the features or boundaries of wetlan d extent in CARI v0. This is particularly an issue with depressional features or freshwater ponds and marshes. The CARI map is not intended for regulatory purposes and does not serve as a jurisdictional delineation. Efforts to correct b oth spatial accuracy and classification errors will be addressed in CARI v1.

For more information or to submit comments or corrections (including screen shot or lat/longs) contact [email protected]

To download the data visit GeoFetch: http://gis.sfei.org/geofetch

Last update: Varies by dataset and feature

California Environmental Data Exchange Network (CEDEN)

The California Environmental Data Exchange Network is a central location to find and share environmental data on California’s water bodies, including streams, lakes, rivers, and the coastal ocean. Many groups in California monitor water quality, aquatic habitat, and wildlife health to ensure good stewardship of our ecological resources. CEDEN aggregates this data and makes it accessible to environmental managers and the public.

Water and sediment toxicity data in CEDEN are made available in EcoAtlas. Sites are categorized as non-toxic or having some, moderate, or high toxicity based on a common algorithm. The assessment of toxicity is based on methods used to summarize nine years of toxicity testing data collected by the Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP) and was designed to integrate results from multiple samples taken at a site and multiple tests conducted on the samples. For more information on the methods for categorizing toxicity data, view the State’s Toxicity in California Waters report: http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/swamp/docs/txcty_rprt.pd .

For more information on CEDEN and to download the data: http://www.ceden.org .

Last update: Weekly

California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM)

The California Rapid Assessment Method is a standardized, cost-effective tool for assessing the health of wetlands and riparian habitats of California. It is designed to enable standardized ambient assessments at multiple scales: projects, watersheds, regions, and statewide. CRAM can be used to assess compensatory mitigation projects, as well as restoration projects, to help evaluate the performance of wetland and riparian protection policies and programs. The use of CRAM for ambient monitoring will, over time, help wetland managers and scientists quantify the relative influence of anthropogenic stress, management actions, and natural disturbance on the spatial and temporal variability in reference conditions. This information can then be used in the design, management, and assessment of projects.

For more information on CRAM: http://www.cramwetlands.org/ . CRAM data can be downloaded from www.ecoatlas.org .

Citation: California Wetlands Monitoring Workgroup (CWMW). "California Rapid Assessment Method for Wetlands and Riparian Areas (CRAM)." EcoAtlas . Accessed [date]. [URL]

Last update: Frequently

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