Chapter 1. Introduction
13
Table 1. Potential OHWM indicators for testing and evaluation, categorized by location
below, at, and above ordinary high water.
Vegetation Indicators
Geomorphic
indicators
Hydroriparian
Mesoriparian
Xeroriparian
Herbaceous marsh
Sparse, low
Below
In-stream dunes
Pioneer tree seedlings
OHW
species
vegetation
Crested ripples
Sparse, low vegetation
Pioneer tree seedlings
Xeroriparian species
Flaser bedding
Pioneer tree saplings
Sparse, low
Annual herbs, xeric
Harrow marks
Xeroriparian species
vegetation
ruderals
Gravel sheets to
Annual herbs,
rippled sands
hydromesic ruderals
Meander bars
Perennial herbs,
Sand tongues
hydromesic clonals
Muddy point bars
Long gravel bars
Cobble bars behind
obstructions
Scour holes down-
stream of obstructions
Obstacle marks
Stepped-bed
morphology in gravel
Narrow berms and
levees
Streaming lineations
Dessication/mud
cracks
Armored mud balls
Valley flat
Annual herbs,
Sparse, low vegetation
Sparse, low
OHW
hydromesic ruderals
vegetation
Active floodplain
Annual herbs, hydromesic
Perennial herbs,
Xeroriparian species
ruderals
Benches: low, mid,
hydromesic clonals
Perennial herbs,
Annual herbs, xeric
most prominent
Pioneer tree seedlings
hydromesic clonals
ruderals
Highest surface of
Pioneer tree saplings
Pioneer tree seedlings
channel bars
Top of point bars
Pioneer tree saplings
Break in bank slope
Xeroriparian species
Upper limit of sand-
Annual herbs, xeric
sized particles
ruderals
Change in particle
size distribution
Staining of rocks
Exposed root hairs
below intact soil layer
Above Desert pavement
Annual herbs, xeric
Xeroriparian species
Annual herbs, xeric
OHW Rock varnish
ruderals
ruderals
Annual herbs, xeric
Perennial herbs, non-
Mature pioneer trees
ruderals
Clast weathering
clonal
w/ upland species
Perennial herbs, non-clonal
Salt splitting
Perennial herbs,
Perennial herbs, clonal and Upland species
Carbonate etching
clonal and non-clonal
non-clonal co-dominant
Depositional
co-dominant
Mature pioneer trees, no
topography
Mature pioneer trees,
young trees
Caliche rubble
no young trees
Mature pioneer trees, xeric
Soil development
Mature pioneer trees
understory
Surface color/tone
w/ upland species
Mature pioneer trees
Late-successional
w/ upland species
development
species
Late-successional species
Surface relief
Upland species
Surface rounding
Previous Page
