Habitat Assessment

1
Habitat Assessment
1. Concepts and Methods
2
Stream Channel
Banks - sides of the channel
Substrate - the stuff on the bed
Bed - bottom of channel
3
Channel carries low to moderate flows
Floodplain carries high flows
4
Watershed
5
Land use in watershed
6
Erosion from Watershed
Sedimentation
7
(No Transcript)
8
Impacts from Changes in Flow
Widening of channel
Downcutting of channel
9
Rapid Bioassessment Protocol Habitat
10
Habitat for whom?
11
Habitat for Fish Benthic Macroinvertebrates
12
Channel Habitat
13
(No Transcript)
14
(No Transcript)
15
High Gradient Stream
16
(No Transcript)
17
Your Stream Reach
100 m 300 ft
At least 1 riffle
18
What we are asking you to do. (Once a year)
1. Photographs
2. Site Characterization Form
3. Habitat Assessment Form
19
Photographic Record
1. A shot from the center of the stream pointing

up stream
showing
both banks
and the riffle
(if any)
20
Photographic Record
2. A close up of the

bottom
material at the
riffle.
21
Photographic Record
3 Label
Stream Name
Clear Creek
each
photo
Sampling Site
Church's Grove Riffle Upstream
of Softley Farm in Franklin Co.
Description
Report 3a
4. Attach


to
Survey Team
Mary Carol Cooper
Alice
back
Howell
Oscar Gerelds Ralph Reiss
of
David Holt Robert Palmer
report
Date of Photo
4/26/99 1230pm
Form
22
S
Site Characterization Provides Location
information and Site descriptions
23
Habitat Assessment 10 point evaluation of the
streams ecological health and fitness
24
Habitat Assessment reporting
1. Complete the forms immediately
Use ball point pen or 2 pencil (nothing that
runs)
Store in zip lock bag while on the river.
2. Attach Photographs and render maps.
3. Mail in collection as soon as possible to this
address
Water Watch Program

14 Reilly Road
Frankfort, KY 40601
25
Habitat Assessment Quality Control
1. Volunteers must have
completed training
in Habitat Assessment Technique (this
course).
2.
Two trained volunteers
must participate
in the evaluation and
agree
on all the
parameters.
3.
Photographic records
will be kept on at
least 3 sites evaluated by the team for later
comparison.
26
Habitat Assessment Measurements
1. Epifaunal Substrate / Available Cover
2. Embeddedness
3. Velocity-Depth Combinations
4. Sediment Deposition
5. Channel Flow Status
6. Channel Alteration
7. Frequency of Riffles
8. Bank Stability
9. Bank Vegetative Protection
10. Riparian Vegetative Zone Width
27
Categories
Scores