US Patent 9390331 System and method for assessing riparian habitats

A method of assessing a riparian area includes mapping a physical extent of a potential riparian area (PRA) along a stream using first imagery, determining a percent of basic functional groups of vegetation with the PRA using the first imagery, and determining a Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) for the PRA over multiple years using second imagery. The method further includes setting an NDVI threshold value for riparian vegetation in the PRA using the NDVI, mathematically relating the percent of basic functional groups with the NDVI threshold value to evaluate and correct the NDVI threshold value, and determining a proper function and condition (PFC) assessment of the PRA using the corrected NDVI threshold value.