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Inventory & Assessment Mapping
Inventory & Assessment Mapping
The KMP aims to map meadow distribution throughout our region with field and remote-based efforts informed by models and other existing data. We characterize meadows based on their hydrogeomorphic types, existing area, hydrologic, physical, and biological conditions, and signs of degradation. This will help prioritize restoration needs at various spatial scales. Continue reading below on this page for more information on this initiative and to explore our interactive map.
Developing our Process
Developing our Process
Inventory efforts began with utilizing the Lost Meadow Model (LMM; Pope & Cummings 2023) output in the KMP region. This output alone provides generous estimates of potential meadow area over a large region, so we needed a way to narrow in our focus for conducting inventory. We utilized other physical, hydrologic, and biological data where available to create a ranking system for HUC12 level watersheds. Where there is greater spatial alignment between the LMM and other data, watersheds received a higher rank. This provided data "hotspots" in which we focused our inventory work. Other areas of interest already known were also included.
Inventory data collects information on meadow area and distribution. Additionally, our assessments describe meadow hydrogeomorphic types using methods from Weixelman et al. (2011). Meadows are also characterized by their vegetation communities, hydrologic conditions, and signs of degradation. We have quality checked data from inventory efforts in 2024. Efforts are continuing through 2026 and data are finalized on an annual basis.
In Spring 2024, KMP established a Meadow Inventory & Assessment Technical Advisory Committee to develop our protocol and conduct trainings.
We started with existing information, which led to our site selection process for inventory efforts.
By Summer & Fall of 2024, we conducted field and remote based inventory efforts among five Partner organizations.
During Winter of 2024-25, we reviewed data, revised the protocol, and produced maps of quality checked data. This process is continued annually along with Lost Meadow Model refinements trained by our local data.
B A C K G R O U N D I N F O R M A T I O N
In Northern California, many meadows are in various states of degradation, showing changes in surface and groundwater availability or dominant vegetative cover. These are all symptoms from impaired hydrologic or fire disturbance regimes due to roads or other infrastructure, fire suppression, grazing, or mining. Some meadows have completely lost their hydrologic and vegetative characteristics; all that remains may be geomorphic signatures with little to no remnant herbaceous vegetation.
Research conducted by Pope and Cummings (2023) found that meadow area is greatly reduced from historical conditions in the Sierra Nevada mountains. This was measured by modeling areas of lost meadow and comparing them to observed areas of existing meadow. Known as the Lost Meadow Model (LMM), lost meadow areas are found using predictive variables from an extensive dataset of riparian associated meadows from the Sierra Nevada. Those variables include elevation, slope, distance to nearest stream channel, and topographic wetness index.
It is hypothesized that Northern California meadows are experiencing a similar pattern of degradation as in the Sierra Nevada. In order to understand meadow distribution and loss, the KMP is supporting efforts that paint a more complete picture of what exists currently and where meadows may be improved and expanded through restoration. The LMM has been applied in the KMP region as a starting point for KMP meadow inventory, along with other reference spatial data such as other existing meadow polygons, vegetation data, aerial imagery, and high resolution terrain data.
Once we build a larger meadow dataset from desktop and field verification efforts in the KMP region, we will then run the LMM with distinct hydrogeomorphic meadow types found in the KMP region. Ultimately, this will refine our understanding of meadow conditions, allow us to prioritize restoration, and identify integrated management approaches on a landscape scale.
For more information on how we collect inventory data, click the button to download our protocol documents.
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