A method was developed to characterize ecological integrity of riparian sites based on the abundance
of hydric species. This wetland index can be calculated with species data, or with community type data as
performed here. Classified riparian community types were used to describe vegetation at 14 livestock exclosures
and adjacent grazed areas. Community type wetland index values were generated and used to calculate site wetland
index values. It was hypothesized that removal of livestock would result in higher wetland index values
because of release from herbivory and decreased physical disturbance of vegetation, streambanks, and soil. The
wetland index for exclosures was about 12% higher than grazed sites; differences were statistically significant
(p < 0.01) based on paired t-tests. The increase in hydric vegetation after livestock exclusion may have contributed
to the greater bank stability (p = 0.002) and smaller width-to-depth ratio (p = 0.005) in exclosures. Challenges
were encountered in using community types to describe and compare site vegetation, which could be
avoided with species data collection. The wetland index can be a tool to monitor sites over time, compare sites
with similar environments, or compare sites for which environmental differences can be accounted.
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