CRAM down the river: Validation of the California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM)

California policy aims to achieve a long-term net gain in the quantity and quality of wetlands; however there is no commonly accepted method to measure wetland condition in the State. The California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM) was developed as a tool to rapidly and inexpensively assess the habitat condition of California wetlands. In the summer of 2005 the method was ground truthed by comparing CRAM results from 54 riverine sites to a more intensive and quantitative Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) of benthic macro-invertebrates. These randomly chosen sites were assessed by the California Department of Fish and Game using IBI in 2003. Results revealed a significant correlation (r = 0.623, P < 0.001) between overall CRAM results and IBI scores. Individual CRAM attributes were also significantly correlated with IBI scores. The close association between CRAM results and the more in-depth assessment suggests that CRAM is a viable tool for assessing ecological integrity, despite the rapid and somewhat qualitative nature of the method. Future work will involve an ambient CRAM assessment of California rivers sampled in parallel with ongoing IBI monitoring, and assessment of restoration success in the central coast of California.