Watersheds are distinct hydrologic units that comprise a range of terrestrial upland and riparian complex ecological sites. Since the hydrologic function of the entirety of the watershed is linked, other ecological functions and processes are also likely linked. No single assessment tool is available to describe the ecological status of both terrestrial upland sites and riparian complexes in a single watershed. We investigated the relationship by integrating two assessment tools, Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health protocol (IIRH) and stream geomorphic surveys in prairie ecosystems. The qualitative values from the IIRH protocol were different among upland sites associated with 35 intermittent stream reaches in North Dakota in the United States. Riparian complex sites were separated using three metrics of stream stability: stream channel type, bank-height ratio, and Bank Erosion Hazard Index. Stream channel type had the strongest relationship with two attributes of rangeland health, Soil & Site Stability and Hydrologic Function, while bank-height ratio had the strongest relationship with the Biotic Integrity attribute. The influences of individual indicators were identified using a principal components analysis, which revealed unstable streams were typified by departures from the reference state in compaction, soil loss, bare ground, litter dynamics, infiltration, and invasive species. These findings suggest that changes in these IIRH indicators should be monitored and managed by land managers to ensure that riparian function and ecosystem services are not compromised. Future research must continue to investigate the link between upland and riparian functions within a watershed, with special emphasis on vegetation dynamics. In the meantime, integrating these two assessments can provide land managers with vital information about maintaining ecological function throughout the watershed.

流域是独特的水文单元，包括一系列陆地高地和河岸复杂的生态场所。由于整个流域的水文功能是相互联系的，因此其他生态功能和过程也可能相互联系。没有单一的评估工具可以描述单个流域内陆地高地和河岸综合体的生态状况。我们通过整合两种评估工具，即牧场健康协议解释指标（IIRH）和草原生态系统中的河流地貌调查，研究了这种关系。在美国北达科他州，与35个间歇溪流相关的高地站点，来自IIRH协议的定性值不同。使用三个流稳定性指标来分隔河岸复杂站点：流通道类型，河岸高度比和河岸侵蚀危害指数。河道类型与牧场健康的两个属性，土壤和场地稳定性和水文功能之间的关系最强，而岸高比与生物完整性的属性之间的关系最强。使用主成分分析确定了各个指标的影响，该分析表明不稳定流的典型特征是压实，土壤流失，裸露地面，垫料动力学，入渗和入侵物种偏离了参考状态。这些发现表明，土地管理人员应监测和管理这些IIRH指标的变化，以确保河岸功能和生态系统服务不受影响。未来的研究必须继续研究流域内高地和河岸功能之间的联系，并特别强调植被动态。同时，将这两个评估结合起来可以为土地管理者提供有关在整个流域维持生态功能的重要信息。