Riparian Functional Assessment: Choosing Metrics that Quantify Restoration Success in Austin, Texas

In an effort to understand how various levels of management have impacted the ecological function of urban riparian zones, the City of Austin performed Riparian Functional Assessments (RFA) at 28 site locations in the spring of 2012. Sites were categorized into degraded (history of vegetative control and disturbance) and reference (minimal vegetation management and anthropogenic disturbance) in order to determine which of the 15 measured RFA parameters could be used to monitor improvements to riparian zone function as a result of vegetative restoration over time. Results suggest that monitoring for changes in soil compaction and moisture, riparian zone width, in-stream canopy cover, plant cover and structural diversity, hardwood demography, and seedling recruitment over time will allow managers to accurately assess if ecological function is being improved following restoration activities. Being able to prove restoration project success is vital to maintaining public support and funding for future riparian restoration projects.