Research Areas > Regional Monitoring > Wetland Regional Monitoring > IWRAP
Project Group: Integrated Wetlands Regional Assessment Program (IWRAP)
SCCWRP Research
In 2002, the Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project (WRP) began development of a wetlands regional monitoring program for coastal southern California watersheds. This "IWRAP" program is based on the USEPA’s 3-tiered approach to wetland assessment: Level 1 (habitat mapping and landscape assessment), Level 2 (rapid assessment) and Level 3 (intensive assessment). The IWRAP will provide a cost-effective way to evaluate the status and trends in extent and condition of wetland and riparian areas. It will also help to assess the WRP’s progress toward achieving its regional wetland recovery objectives. Additionally, WRP partners can use this data to:
• Evaluate recovery priorities and progress,
• Answer wetland management information needs,
• Streamline reporting of monitoring data (making them more accessible for routine scientific evaluation of restoration and management techniques), and
• Verify the effectiveness of wetland regulatory and management policy for both regional and site-specific monitoring efforts.
SCCWRP research supports the development of the Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project’s (WRP's) IWRAP program in several ways. First, SCCWRP chairs the Science Advisory Panel (SAP) of the WRP and provides staff support for the SAP. With SCCWRP support, the SAP has written a series of position papers describing the conceptual approach for IWRAP, and also detailing recommendations for components of IWRAP that assess estuaries and wadeable streams. Second, SCCWRP has conducted a series of research activities in support of IWRAP development and implementation, including the development of standardized mapping tools, rapid and intensive assessment tools, and information management tools. Third, SCCWRP is coordinating the initial implementation of IWRAP through a regionwide update of wetland and riparian area maps, as well as assessment of estuaries, as part of the Bight Regional Monitoring Program.
Geographic scope of the Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project’s IWRAP program (left). Landscape positions of the various wetland types addressed in the IWRAP program (right).
Regional wetland assessment projects include:
This page was last updated on: 8/23/2010