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The Grasslands National Park assesses the riparian health at 31 sample sites along the Frenchman River and Rock Creek watersheds. The overall measure is based on thirteen metrics that are scored subjectively in a semi-quantitative rapid assessment where percent cover is estimated.

The Grasslands National Park monitors daily the peak flow rates of the Frenchman River and Rock Creek every year from March to August; this measure reports on the integrity of a natural disturbance process by comparing the current distribution of peak flow rates to a historic baseline from the early 1900s.

This dataset is produced for the Government of Alberta and is available to the general public. Please consult the Distribution Information of this metadata for the appropriate contact to acquire this dataset. Riparian areas consist of the lands adjacent to streams, rivers, wetlands and lakes that are strongly influenced by the presence of water. They are often distinct from the surrounding landscape as the vegetation growth is very lush.

This dataset is produced for the Government of Alberta and is available to the general public. Please consult the Distribution Information of this metadata for the appropriate contact to acquire this dataset. Riparian areas consist of the lands adjacent to streams, rivers, wetlands and lakes that are strongly influenced by the presence of water. They are often distinct from the surrounding landscape as the vegetation growth is very lush.

Long-term population data on birds can provide information on population trends, particularly for species of concern, but it can also provide information on ecosystem structure and function. Monitoring grassland birds is an effective method for assessing the condition of grassland ecosystems, which are amongst the most dynamic ecosystems in Canada. Grassland ecosystems include ecoregions such as bunchgrass, tall-grass prairies and shrubland, but also open forests such as open ponderosa pine and interior Douglas-fir forests. Grassland ecosystems are maintained by fire and grazing, and are threatened by tree encroachment, intensive agriculture, invasive species, use of pesticides, climate change and overgrazing and trampling by cattle.

Elk Island National Park monitors primary productivity to determine the health of grassland vegetation throughout the park. This measure relies on remotely-sensed multispectral satellite imagery, specifically, the Landsat Shortwave Infrared (SWIR2) and Near Infrared (NIR) bands. Analysis is performed roughly every five years, using images from mid-July. Grassland and Forest primary productivity is in the same database.

Five riparian classes of wetlands (W1 to W5) based on whether the wetland is a simple wetland or wetland complex, wetland size, and biogeoclimatic unit in which the wetland occurs. Wetland classification is based on the 1995 Forest Practices Code Riparian Management Area Guidebook: http://www.llbc.leg.bc.ca/public/PubDocs/bcdocs/237312/Rip-toc.htm

The Grasslands National Park measures the abundance of Sprague's Pipit as a part of overall grassland bird point count surveys.

The Grasslands National Park measures the abundance of Chestnut-collared Longspur as a part of overall grassland bird point count surveys.

The Grasslands National Park measures the abundance of Sprague's Pipit as a part of overall grassland bird point count surveys.