Benchmarking Document

This document is provided as a tool to help the user understand the range of percent performance scores generated by the ESII Tool.  This document will grow over time, as more users apply the ESII Tool and provide map unit photos and examples of the outputs generated for those map units.  This document is provided for reference only.

Untitled Document

AIR FILTRATION

Definition: A measure of the ability of natural features to physically filter soil particles from air at or near the ground surface.
Model Attributes: aerial cover (herbs, shrubs, trees), buffer width (distance across map unit parallel to fall-line), dominant stand type, basal ground cover (herbs), vegetation height

Low air filtration
Medium air filtration
High air filtration

Performance Level

Low (0 – 30%)

Medium (30 – 70%)

High (70 – 100%)

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: narrow buffer width with little or no vegetation.
Function Performance: 3%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: three to seven ft. tall; dense herbaceous basal and aerial cover values; wide buffer width, low or no shrub or tree cover.
Function Performance: 32%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: mix of tall, deciduous and evergreen trees with high percent canopy cover; high percent aerial cover for shrubs (evergreen dominant strata scores higher than deciduous vegetation).
Function Performance: 90%.

Untitled Document

AIR TEMPERATURE REGULATION

Definition: A measure of the ability to help moderate extreme ambient air temperatures. The function focuses primarily on moderating high temperatures.
Model Attributes: albedo, latitude, total aerial cover, aquatic vegetation cover (emergent, floating mat), relative humidity, water body type, water salinity, wind class, aerial cover (herbs, shrubs, trees), average summer high temp., average summer mean temp., dominant stand type, inundation type, solar radiation, water regime


Performance Level

Low (0 – 30%)

Medium (30 – 70%)

High (70 – 100%)

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: Surfaces with low albedo (asphalt, concrete, etc.); exposed surfaces (attributes that contribute to low evaporation and transpiration); low aerial vegetation cover; no water regime.
Function Performance: 0%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: Surfaces with moderate albedo (dark soil, evergreen, etc.); exposed surfaces (attributes that contribute to moderate evaporation and transpiration); medium aerial vegetation cover, water regime.
Function Performance: 51%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: Surfaces with moderate albedo (trees, water, etc.); exposed surfaces (attributes that contribute to high evaporation and transpiration); high aerial vegetation cover; tall trees; water regime.
Function Performance: 78%.

Untitled Document

CHANNEL EQUILIBRIUM

Definition: A measure of the degree to which forces acting upon a stream channel are balanced by geomorphic changes to that channel.
Model Attributes: aerial cover (herbs, shrubs, trees), buffer width (distance across map uni% surface (bedrock, boulders, clay, cobble, gravel/cobble, manmade impervious, manmade pervious, organics, rock, sand, silt, unknown), bankfull width, ordinary high water (OHW) height and width, slope


Performance Level

Low (0 – 30%)

Medium (30 – 70%)

High (70 – 100%)

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: unstable channel; coarse substrates; steep slope; wide OHW; shallow stream indicative of periodic high flows.
Function Performance: pending

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: medium to fine substrates; low slope; small OHW width and OHW height ratio, indicating more depth to the channel.
Function Performance: 55%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: stable channel; fine substrates; low slope; ratio of OHW width to OHW height closer to or greater than 1.
Function Performance: 96%.

Untitled Document

DENITRIFICATION

Definition: A measure of the ability to remove nitrogen from the water cycle due to plant uptake, filtration of sediments, or gaseous volatilization.
Model Attributes: basal ground cover (herbs, shrubs, trees), buffer width (distance across map unit parallel to fall-line), % surface (clay, sand, silt, organics), inundation type, NRCS soil group, seeps or springs, slope, water regime area affected, water regime type


Performance Level

Low (0 – 30%)

Medium (30 – 70%)

High (70 – 100%)

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: low basal ground cover in single strata; greater than 20% slopes; little or no area affected by a water regime; moderate to highly permeable soils (e.g. Soil Group A and high percentage of sand/low percentage of clay); small buffer width.
Function Performance: 1%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: moderate basal ground cover in more than one strata; low slope; seasonal or occasional inundation over most of the map unit; medium percent substrates with low permeability (clay and silt); moderate buffer width.
Function Performance: 60%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: high basal ground cover; Low slope; permanent inundation over most of the map unit; high percent substrates with low permeability (high clay and silt); large buffer width.
Function Performance: 90%.

Untitled Document

EVAPORATION

Definition: A measure of the potential to lose water to the atmosphere (from open bodies of water, exposed soil, ground cover and canopy cover).
Model Attributes: aerial cover (trees), average summer high temperature, average summer mean temp., aquatic vegetation cover (emergent, floating mat), inundation type, relative humidity, solar radiation, water body type, water regime, water salinity, wind class


Performance Level

Low (0 – 30%)

Medium (30 – 70%)

High (70 – 100%)

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: little or no vegetation cover; no permanent water regime; high permeability.
Function Performance: 4%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: seasonally or permanently inundated/saturated; moderate vegetation canopy leading to increased interception; moderate to low soil permeability.
Function Performance: 49%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: seasonally or permanently inundated/saturated; little or no vegetation canopy with impervious surfaces contributing to high interception values.
Function Performance: 100%.

Untitled Document

INFILTRATION

Definition: A measure of the ability of free-standing water on the ground surface to move vertically downward through the soil.
Model Attributes: % surface (bedrock, boulders, clay, cobble, gravel/cobble, manmade impervious, manmade pervious, organics, rock, sand, silt, unknown), annual precipitation, average depth litter/duff, average growth period (days), basal ground cover (herbs, shrubs, trees), basal litter/duff area, dominant stand type, inundation type, microtopography, seeps or springs, slope, soil compaction, total vegetative disturbance, water regime area affected, water regime type


Performance Level

Low (0 – 30%)

Medium (30 – 70%)

High (70 – 100%)

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: impervious or compacted surfaces; no vegetation cover; no water regime.
Function Performance: 0%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: slight slope; moderately well drained; moderate percent microtopography; moderate basal ground cover.
Function Performance: 54%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: high percent litter/duff; little or no slope; high percent microtopography; well drained; high basal ground cover.
Function Performance: 75%.

Untitled Document

INTERCEPTION

Definition: A measure of the ability to capture and accumulate precipitation falling on foliage, stems, branches, organic litter and inorganic surfaces such as rock, pavement, structures, etc. This function is viewed in terms of the ability to make precipitation available for evaporation.
Model Attributes: % surface (bedrock, boulders, clay, cobble, gravel/cobble, manmade impervious, manmade pervious, organics, rock, sand, silt, unknown), aerial cover (herbs, shrubs, trees), average depth litter/duff, basal litter/duff area, basal stem/branch area, basal stem/branch density index, dominant stand type, exposed surface area, inundation type, microtopography, slope, water regime

IntercepHigh_1.png

Performance Level

Low (0 – 30%)

Medium (30 – 70%)

High (70 – 100%)

Significant Descriptors/Attributes:impervious or compacted surfaces with little vegetation; no microtopography; no litter/duff or stems/branches, etc.; areas with permanent open water have 0% performance.
Function Performance: 4%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: semi-pervious or compacted surfaces; with little or no vegetation cover; no water regime.
Function Performance: 52%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: dense canopy cover; several canopy strata layers. Impervious or compacted surface with no vegetation (e.g. sidewalks, roads, building roof tops, etc.).
Function Performance: 95%.

Untitled Document

NITROGEN STORAGE

Definition: A measure of the ability of a landscape to store nitrogen.
Model Attributes: herbaceous, shrub, and tree basal cover; slope, length along fall-line


Performance Level

Low (0 – 30%)

Medium (30 – 70%)

High (70 – 100%)

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: little or no vegetation cover, narrow map unit along fall-line
Function Performance: 0%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: low basal area (just grasses), medium width along fall-line
Function Performance: 50%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: high basal cover values, slight slope, wide map unit along fall-line
Function Performance: 90%.

Untitled Document

SOIL MOBILITY

Definition: A measure of the ability of the landscape to provide and mobilize sediment through aeolian or fluvial erosive processes.
Model Attributes: % surface (bedrock, boulders, clay, cobble, gravel/cobble, manmade impervious, manmade pervious, organics, rock, sand, silt, unknown), aerial cover (herbs, shrubs, trees), annual precipitation, average depth litter/duff, average growth period (days), basal ground cover (herbs, shrubs, trees), litter/duff area, critical bedform stress, dominant stand type, inundation type, slope, soil disturbance, total basal ground cover, total vegetative disturbance, water regime


Performance Level

Low (0 – 30%)

Medium (30 – 70%)

High (70 – 100%)

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: high percent man-made impervious surface; no vegetation; little or no exposed soil surface; no water regime.
Function Performance: 5%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: exposed soil surface; some soil disturbance; little or no vegetation cover; water regime seasonal or occasional inundation; flowing water; soils composed of smaller diameter components (high percent clay, silt, sand, etc.).
Function Performance: 38%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: high percent exposed soil surface or aquatic substrates; high percent soil disturbance; little or no vegetation cover; water regime seasonal or permanent inundation; flowing water; soils composed of smaller diameter components (high percent clay, silt, sand, etc.).
Function Performance: 81%.

Untitled Document

SOIL QUALITY

Definition: A measure of the ability of soil to support the dynamic processes necessary to promote terrestrial plant growth.
Model Attributes: % surface (bedrock, boulders, clay, cobble, gravel/cobble, manmade impervious, manmade pervious, organics, rock, sand, silt, unknown), aerial cover (herbs, shrubs, trees), annual precipitation, average depth litter/duff, average growth period (days), basal ground cover (herbs, shrubs, trees), basal litter/duff area, dominant stand type, inundation type, soil disturbance (compaction), total vegetative disturbance, water regime


Performance Level

Low (0 – 30%)

Medium (30 – 70%)

High (70 – 100%)

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: dominant soil substrates have little or no silt, clay or sand and high percent of impervious surface (e.g. man-made impervious or compacted soils); little or no vegetation (indicative of soil quality and contribution of organic material); little or no litter/duff; permanently inundated.
Function Performance: 0%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: minimal mix of clay, silt, and sand (provides basic soil medium); some vegetation over-story (indicative of soil quality and contribution of organic material); some litter/duff; seasonal or occasional inundation.
Function Performance: 50%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: Mix of clay, silt, and sand (one of the three is the dominant substrate); diverse Aerial Cover types (indicative of soil quality and contribution of organic material); deep litter/duff; no soil disturbance; seasonal or occasional inundation.
Function Performance: 84%.

Untitled Document

TRANSPIRATION

Definition: A measure of the landscape’s ability to transfer soil moisture into the atmosphere as a function of photosynthesis.
Model Attributes: aerial cover (herbs, shrubs, trees), average summer high temp., average summer mean temp., dominant stand type, inundation type, solar radiation, water regime, wind class


Performance Level

Low (0 – 30%)

Medium (30 – 70%)

High (70 – 100%)

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: very low or no canopy cover; may be seasonally or occasionally saturated.
Function Performance: 3%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: limited canopy cover (at least one strata); seasonal or permanent inundation.
Function Performance: 47%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: diverse canopy strata assemblage (high canopy cover values trees, shrubs, and grasses); occasionally saturated or no water regime.
Function Performance: 100%.

Untitled Document

WATER CONVEYANCE

Definition: A measure of the landscape’s ability to convey water from one location to another through overland transport.
Model Attributes: A% surface (bedrock, boulders, clay, cobble, gravel/cobble, manmade impervious, manmade pervious, organics, rock, sand, silt, unknown), % basal ground cover (total), % cover aquatic vegetation (emergent), slope, OHW height and width, % cover aquatic vegetation (submergent), stream sinuosity, map unit length


Performance Level

Low (0 – 30%)

Medium (30 – 70%)

High (70 – 100%)

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: attributes that contribute to reduced mobility of water through the system, e.g. low percent slope; small hydraulic radius; substrates that contribute to greater roughness within the system (gravel, gravel/cobble, cobble, etc.); aquatic vegetation; highly sinuous stream channel.
Function Performance: 15%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: low slope, medium hydraulic radius, substrates that contribute to less roughness within the system (silts, clays, sands, etc.); aquatic vegetation; moderately sinuous stream channel.
Function Performance: 61%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: low to medium slope; medium to high hydraulic radius; substrates that contribute to less roughness within the system (silts, clays, sands, etc.); aquatic vegetation, straight stream channel.
Function Performance: 93%.

Untitled Document

WATER TEMPERATURE REGULATION

Definition: A measure of the landscape’s ability to maintain cool surface water temperatures.
Model Attributes: % surface (bedrock, boulders, clay, cobble, gravel/cobble, manmade impervious, manmade pervious, organics, rock, sand, silt, unknown), adjacent to open water, aerial cover edge, direction to waterbody, open water area, predominant inundation depth, predominant tree height, total aerial cover, total aquatic vegetation, within 200ft of water


Performance Level

Low (0 – 30%)

Medium (30 – 70%)

High (70 – 100%)

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: not adjacent to, or within, 200 ft. of an aquatic map unit; no water regime; little or no vegetation; man-made impervious surface dominant.
Function Performance: 0%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: adjacent to, or within, 200 ft. of water; low vegetation aerial cover (distant map units may have higher vegetation cover (aerial and height) values); not directly south of an aquatic map unit.
Function Performance: 44%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: adjacent to, or within, 200 ft. of water; high vegetation cover values (distant map units require higher vegetation cover values); directly south of an aquatic map unit.
Function Performance: 79%.

ecosystem services

Untitled Document

AESTHETICS - NOISE ATTENUATION

Definition: A measure of a site or landscape’s potential to attenuate sound from anthropogenic sources as it travels across a site to a potential recipient.
Model Attributes: dominant stand type, landform height, vegetation height, visual occlusion


Performance Level

Low (0 – 30%)

Medium (30 – 70%)

High (70 – 100%)

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: building with no natural attributes (no vegetation, on level with surrounding map units).
Function Performance: 0%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: some trees possible but open understory; open grassland with relatively tall vegetation; on same elevation as surrounding map units.
Function Performance: 54%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: tall tree dominant strata (evergreen scores better than deciduous) with dense understory; map unit is higher than surrounding/adjacent map unit.
Function Performance: 93%.

Untitled Document

AESTHETICS - VISUAL SCREENING

Definition: A measure of the landscape’s potential to obstruct a line of vision between man-made objects, buildings, or structures and likely off-site vantage points.
Model Attributes: % surface (bedrock, boulders, clay, cobble, gravel/cobble, manmade impervious, manmade pervious, organics, rock, sand, silt, unknown), adjacent to open water, aerial cover edge, direction to waterbody, open water area, predominant inundation depth, predominant tree height, total aerial cover, total aquatic vegetation, within 200ft of water


Performance Level

Low (0 – 30%)

Medium (30 – 70%)

High (70 – 100%)

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: building with no natural attributes (no vegetation, on level with surrounding map units).
Function Performance: 0%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: some trees possible but open understory; open grassland with relatively tall vegetation; on level with surrounding map units.
Function Performance: 58%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: dense, tall vegetation with multiple strata; tall berms or hills can also score well; must be natural map unit; conifers are most effective.
Function Performance: 81%.

Untitled Document

AIR QUALITY - NITROGEN REMOVAL

Definition: A measure of the landscape’s potential to improve air quality through the removal of airborne nitrogen.
Model Attributes: aerial cover (trees)


Performance Level

Low (0 – 30%)

Medium (30 – 70%)

High (70 – 100%)

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: zero to thirty percent aerial tree cover.
Function Performance: 0%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: thirty to seventy percent aerial tree cover.
Function Performance: 45%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: seventy to one hundred percent aerial tree cover.
Function Performance: 75%.

Untitled Document

AIR QUALITY - PARTICULATES REMOVAL

Definition: A measure of the landscape’s potential to improve air quality through the removal of airborne particulate matter.
Model Attributes: average summer high temperature, average summer mean temp., aquatic vegetation cover (emergent, floating mat), relative humidity, zolar radiation, water body type, water salinity, wind class, aerial cover (herbs, shrubs, trees), buffer width (distance across map unit parallel to fall-line), vegetation height, % surface (bedrock, boulders, clay, cobble, gravel/cobble, manmade impervious, manmade pervious, organics, rock, sand, silt, unknown), annual precipitation, average depth litter/duff, average growth period (days), basal ground cover (herbs, shrubs, trees), litter/duff area, critical bedform stress, dominant stand type, inundation type, slope, soil disturbance, total basal ground cover, total vegetative disturbance, water regime.


Performance Level

Low (0 – 30%)

Medium (30 – 70%)

High (70 – 100%)

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: high percent man-made impervious area; little or no vegetation cover.
Function Performance: 0%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: moderate vegetation cover values (basal and canopy cover); only 1 or 2 vegetation strata present; little to no exposed soil surface.
Function Performance: 48%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: robust, multi-layered canopy.
Function Performance: 80%.

Untitled Document

CLIMATE REGULATION

Definition: A measure of the landscape’s potential to moderate heat extremes through shading, transpiration/ evaporation, albedo.
Model Attributes: albedo, latitude, total aerial cover, aquatic vegetation cover (emergent, floating mat), relative humidity, water body type, water salinity, wind class, aerial cover (herbs, shrubs, trees), average summer high temp., average summer mean temp., dominant stand type, inundation type, solar radiation, water regime


Performance Level

Low (0 – 30%)

Medium (30 – 70%)

High (70 – 100%)

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: surfaces with low albedo (asphalt, concrete, etc.); exposed surfaces (attributes that contribute to low evaporation and transpiration); low aerial vegetation cover; no water regime.
Function Performance: 0%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: surfaces with moderate albedo (dark soil, evergreen, etc.); exposed surfaces (attributes that contribute to moderate evaporation and transpiration); medium aerial vegetation cover, water regime.
Function Performance: 51%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: surfaces with moderate albedo (trees, water, etc.); exposed surfaces (attributes that contribute to high evaporation and transpiration); high aerial vegetation cover; tall trees; water regime.
Function Performance: 78%.

Untitled Document

CARBON UPTAKE

Definition: A measure of the landscape's potential to uptake and store carbon compounds, both above ground and below ground, in vegetative structures and soil.
Model Attributes: % surface (clay, sand, silt), aerial cover (herbs, shrubs, trees), dominant stand type, dominant vegetation strata, vegetative disturbance (herbs), inundation type, percent open water, water regime


Performance Level

Low (0 – 30%)

Medium (30 – 70%)

High (70 – 100%)

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: little or no vegetation cover; no water regime; low permeability.
Function Performance: 0%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: moderate to limited canopy cover strata assemblage; often trees with small dbh; limited vegetation disturbance; water regime precluded by slope and/or low permeability (higher % clay).
Function Performance: 33%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: trees (medium to larger dbh indicative of mid-life stage life stage) and robust shrub strata layer; soils with medium distribution of percent sand, silt and clay capable of forming well-drained loam soils.
Function Performance: 78%.

Untitled Document

EROSION CONTROL

Definition: A measure of the ability of the soils on a site to resist the forces of wind and water.
Model Attributes: soil mobility function, filtration functions (air and water), mass wasting function


Performance Level

Low (0 – 35%)

High (>30%)

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: high percent exposed soil surface or aquatic substrates; high percent soil disturbance; little or no vegetation cover; water regime seasonal or permanent inundation; flowing water; soils composed of smaller diameter components (high percent clay, silt, sand, etc.).
Function Performance: 17%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: low percent exposed soil surface; some soil disturbance; little or no vegetation cover; water regime seasonal or occasional inundation; flowing water; soils composed of smaller diameter components (high percent clay, silt, sand, etc.).
Function Performance: 38%.

Untitled Document

MASS WASTING

Definition: Geomorphic process by which soil, sand, and rock move downslope typically as a mass, largely under the force of gravity, but frequently affected by water and water content.
Model Attributes: % surface (bedrock, boulders, clay, cobble, gravel/cobble, manmade impervious, manmade pervious, organics, rock, sand, silt, unknown), basal ground cover (herbs, shrubs, trees), annual precipitation, exposed surface area, inundation type, slope, total vegetative disturbance, water regime


Performance Level

Low (0 – 30%)

Medium (30 – 70%)

High (70 – 100%)

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: flat terrain; limited tree, shrub, and herbaceous basal cover; no water regime (WV Site 1 – 3-01). Steep, short slopes with moderate basal cover; occasional or seasonal inundation
Function Performance: 0% and 9%, respectively.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: steep, long slope with minimal basal vegetation; some exposed soil surface area; soils that are seasonally saturated or inundated.
Function Performance: pending

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: steep, long slope with low basal vegetation cover; high vegetation disturbance; high percent exposed soil surface area; soils that are permanently or seasonally saturated or inundated.
Function Performance: 100%.

Untitled Document

FLOOD MITIGATION

Definition: A measure of the landscape’s ability to maintain floodplain integrity. The service focuses on the protection of floodplain integrity through the presence of natural features that protect floodplain boundaries from erosion.
Model Attributes: basal ground cover (herbs, shrubs, trees), total vegetative disturbance, slope, infiltration function, depressional area, within 100yr. floodplain (FEMA)


Performance Level

Low (0 – 30%)

Medium (30 – 70%)

High (70 – 100%)

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: pending
Function Performance: pending

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: pending
Function Performance: pending

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: pending
Function Performance: pending

Untitled Document

WATER QUALITY CONTROL - NITROGEN

Definition: A measure of the landscape’s potential to improve water quality through removal of dissolved or suspended nitrogen and moderation (cooling) of water temperature. In the ESII Tool outputs, this is reported as "Total (Water) Nitrogen".
Model Attributes: basal ground cover (herbs, shrubs, trees), buffer width (distance across map unit parallel to fall-line), % surface (clay, sand, silt, organics), inundation type, NRCS soil group, seeps or springs, slope, water regime area affected, water regime type


Performance Level

Low (0 – 30%)

Medium (30 – 70%)

High (70 – 100%)

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: low basal ground cover in single strata; greater than 20% slopes; little or no area affected by a water regime; moderate to highly permeable soils (e.g. Soil Group A and high percentage of sand/low percentage of clay); small buffer width.
Function Performance: 1%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: moderate basal ground cover in more than one strata; low slope; seasonal or occasional inundation over most of the map unit; medium percent substrates with low permeability (clay and silt); moderate buffer width.
Function Performance: 60%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: high basal ground cover; Low slope; inundation over most of the map unit; high percent substrates with low permeability (high clay and silt); large buffer width.
Function Performance: 90%.

Untitled Document

WATER QUALITY CONTROL - SEDIMENT REMOVAL

Definition: A measure of the landscape’s potential to improve water quality through removal of dissolved or suspended contaminants and moderation (cooling) of water temperature. In the ESII Tool outputs, this is reported as "Water Filtration".
Model Attributes: % surface (bedrock, boulders, clay, cobble, gravel/cobble, manmade impervious, manmade pervious, organics, rock, sand, silt, unknown), aerial cover (herbs, shrubs, trees), buffer width (distance across map unit parallel to fall-line), dominant stand type, herbaceous basal ground cover, microtopography, slope, soil compaction, vegetation height


Performance Level

Low (0 – 30%)

Medium (30 – 70%)

High (70 – 100%)

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: high impermeability (e.g. man-made impervious) with little or no vegetation.
Function Performance: 0%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: moderate basal cover; slight slope; some porous soils surface (e.g. rip-rap).
Function Performance: 59%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: robust herbaceous cover; flat, high percent microtopography; dense basal cover; porous soils (i.e. high percent, sand, gravel, and/or cobble).
Function Performance: 90%.

Untitled Document

WATER PROVISIONING

Definition: A measure of the landscape’s potential to provide water necessary for use, storage, or discharge during the course of normal operations for a facility.
Model Attributes: area (acres), canopy cover trees, inches rain, inundation type, percent depressional areas, predominant depth, slope, predominant stand type, water regime, water body type, infiltration function


Performance Level

Low (0 – 30%)

Medium (30 – 70%)

High (70 – 100%)

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: little or no depressional area with >2’ depth, man-made surfaces, low percent canopy cover.
Function Performance: 0%.

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: pending
Function Performance: pending

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: depressional area >2’ over large portion of the map unit, high level of interception, low level of infiltration
Function Performance: 76%.

Untitled Document

WATER QUANTITY CONTROL

Definition: A measure of the landscape’s ability of to adequately manage and convey a 25-year storm event. This service includes elements that predict both water storage and water transport potential.
Model Attributes: annual rainfall, area, interception values, infiltration values, surface storage value (depressional area, predominant depth, water regime, and inundation type), soil disturbance, and soil compaction


Performance Level

Low (0 – 30%)

Medium (30 – 70%)

High (70 – 100%)

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: pending
Function Performance: pending

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: pending
Function Performance: pending

Significant Descriptors/Attributes: pending
Function Performance: pending