Ongoing CRAM Development Projects
In 2008, the California Wetland Monitoring Workgroup (CWMW) was endorsed as a subcommittee of the California Water Quality Monitoring Council (SB 1070 Council). The CWMW includes both Federal and State agencies with responsibility for wetland management as well as non-governmental organizations. The intent of the CWMW is to effectively function as the forum for statewide coordination of wetland and riparian monitoring and assessment. Ongoing coordination of activities occurs through the various subcommittees of the CWMW operating under the Monitoring Council’s overall guidance and approval.
To ensure that CRAM and other “Level 2” (L2) assessment tools continue to be supported and improved, the CWMW established a Level 2 workgroup, headed by the SWRCB, to orchestrate the development of additional level 2 tools and their consistent use for state wetland management. The Level 2 workgroup is tasked with overseeing the development of additional wetland assessment tools including CRAM for additional wetland classes, creation of ambient assessment data and reference site inventories for use in evaluating CRAM results, ongoing Quality Assurance, and training.
CCWG plays an active role in the L2 Committee and is working closely with its members in developing CRAM modules for additional wetland types including bar built estuaries, wet meadoes, arid streams, vernal pools, seasonal ponds and perennial depressions.