habitat for whom?
DESCRIPTION
Habitat Assessment Developed by Ken Cooke Kentucky Division of Water Watershed Watch Program Coordinator Modified by Mike Kemp Professor of Environmental Engineering Technology Murray State University. Habitat for whom?. Habitat for Benthic Macroinvertebrates and Fish. Channel Habitat. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Habitat AssessmentDeveloped by Ken Cooke
Kentucky Division of WaterWatershed Watch Program Coordinator
Modified by Mike KempProfessor of Environmental Engineering Technology
Murray State University
Habitat for whom?
Habitat for Benthic Macroinvertebrates and Fish
Channel Habitat
In Stream Characteristics
Pools and RifflesPool
Riffle
Gabbard Substrate Scale
Sand
Gravel
Cobble
Boulder
1
2
3
Name That Sediment!
High Gradient Stream
Low Gradient Stream
Low-gradient streams typically have very gentle channel slopes, meandering streambeds made of fine sediments, and slow water flow.
100 m300 ft
At Least 1 Riffle
Your Stream Reach
Site Characterization
Provides location information and site descriptions
Habitat Assessment
10 point evaluationof the stream’secological healthand fitness
Habitat Assessment Measurements
1. Epifaunal substrate / available cover2. Embeddedness3. Velocity-depth combinations4. Sediment deposition5. Channel flow status6. Channel alteration7. Frequency of riffles8. Bank stability9. Bank vegetative protection10. Riparian vegetative zone width
1. Epifaunal Substrate/ Available Cover
Optimal Poor
Epifaunal Substrate
Epi = on top of
Fauna = animals
Substrate = material on the bottom
Epifaunal Substrate
Hard substrates such as: - cobble- large gravel, and
Other submerged structures such as: - snags
Bedrock Bottom (e.g. limestone)
Available Cover for Fish (e.g. snags)
Available Cover for Fish
Undercut stream banks
Snags and woody debris
1. Epifaunal Substrate/ Available Cover
Optimal– 70% of substrate is favorable – There is a presence of woody debris, large gravel, cobble,
and undercut banks.
Suboptimal– 40-70% mix of stable habitat – Presence of additional substrate in the form of new-fall
may rate at high end of category.
Marginal– 20-40% mix of stable habitat
Poor– Less than 20% stable habitat– Lack of habitat is obvious; substrate is unstable or lacking.
2. Embeddedness
Optimal
Poor
2. Embeddedness Optimal
– Gravel, cobble, and boulders are 0-25% surrounded by fine sediment.
Suboptimal
– Gravel, cobble, and boulders are 25-50% surrounded by fine sediment.
Marginal– Gravel, cobble, and boulders are 50-75%
surrounded by fine sediment.
Poor– Gravel, cobble, and boulders are more
than 75% surrounded by fine sediment.
Optimal
Poor
3. Velocity-Depth Regime
Different Velocity/Depth Regimes = Different Stream
Habitats
Caddisfly in CaseHellgrammite
MadtomSculpin
Riffle Inhabitants
Green Drake (Mayfly) Midge Larvae
Creek Chub Longnose Sucker
Pool Inhabitants
3. Velocity-Depth Regime Optimal
– All 4 combinations present.– Note: If only 1 riffle, score lower in this category.
Suboptimal– Only 3 of the 4 combinations present.– Note: If fast-shallow is missing, score lower in this
category.
Marginal– Only 2 of the 4 combinations present.– Note: If fast-shallow or slow-shallow are missing, score
lower in this category.
Poor– Only 1 of the 4 combinations is present.
4. Sediment Deposition
Optimal
Poor
Point Bars
Shoal
4. Sediment Deposition
Large Amount of Sediment Deposited Forming an Island
4. Sediment Deposition Optimal
– Little or no enlargement of islands or point bars – Less than 5% of bottom affected by sediment deposition
Suboptimal– Some new increase in bar formation, mostly from gravel, sand or fine
sediment– 5-30% of the bottom affected– Slight deposition in pools
Marginal– Moderate deposition of new gravel, sand or fine sediment on old and new
bars– 30-50% of the bottom affected– Sediment deposits at obstructions, constrictions & bends– Moderate deposition of pools prevalent
Poor– Heavy deposits of fine material, increased bar development– More than 50% of the bottom changing frequently– Pools almost absent due to substantial sediment deposition
5. Channel Flow Status?
5. Channel Flow Status?
5. Channel Flow Status?
Optimal: Water from bank to bank.
5. Channel Flow Status?
5. Channel Flow Status?
Poor: Very little water in channel and water mostly present as standing pools.
5. Channel Flow Status?
5. Channel Flow Status?
Marginal: Water fills 25-75% of the available channel.
#5: Channel Flow Status?5. Channel Flow Status?
Suboptimal: Water fills >75% of channel.
#5: Channel Flow Status?5. Channel Flow Status?
5. Channel Flow Status Optimal
– Water reaches base of both lower banks.– Minimal amount of channel substrate is exposed.
Suboptimal– Water fills >75% of the available channel; OR– <25% of channel substrate is exposed.
Marginal– Water fills 25-75%of the available channel; AND/OR– Riffle substrates are mostly exposed.
Poor– Very little water in channel– Water mostly present as standing pools.
6. Channel Alteration
OptimalPoor
A highly disturbed, channelized stream like this contains little habitat for fish and invertebrates due to no rocks or wood, uniform depth, and limited aquatic habitat diversity.
Hardening Channel
Stream HardeningGabbionsRiprap
Stream Hardening
6. Channel Alteration Optimal
– Channelization or dredging absent or minimal– Stream with normal pattern
Suboptimal– Some channelization present, usually in areas of bridge abutments– Evidence of past channelization may be present, but recent
channelization is not present (greater than past 20 yr)*
Marginal– Channelization may be extensive.– Embankments or shoring structures present on both banks– 40-85% of stream reach channelized and disrupted
Poor– Banks shored with gabion or cement– More than 80% of stream reach channelized and disrupted– Instream habitat greatly altered or removed entirely
7. Frequency of Riffles
OptimalOptimal
Poor
Frequency of Riffles = Distance Between RifflesWidth of Stream
Frequency of Riffles
Width of Stream 10’Distance Between Riffles 50’
50’10’= 5:1
7. Frequency of Riffles Optimal
– Occurrence of riffles relatively frequent– Distance/Width < 7:1
Suboptimal– Occurrence of riffles infrequent– Distance/Width between 7:1 and 15:1
Marginal– Occasional riffle—bottom contours provide some habitat– Distance/Width between 15:1 and 25:1
Poor– Generally all flat water or shallow riffles– Poor habitat
8. Bank StabilityOptimal
Poor
8. Bank Stability Undercut
Steeply Sloping
Gradually Sloping
Bank Erosion
8. Bank Stability Optimal
– < 5% of bank affected– Banks stable (evidence of erosion or bank failure absent or
minimal).– Little potential for future problems
Suboptimal– 5-30% of bank in reach has areas of erosion– Moderately stable (infrequent, small areas of erosion mostly
healed over)
Marginal– 30-60% of bank in reach has areas of erosion– Moderately unstable– High erosion potential during floods
Poor– 60-100% of bank has erosional scars – Raw (bare) areas frequent along straight sections and bends– Unstable (obvious bank sloughing)
9. Bank Vegetative Protection
Optimal Poor
Lack of Vegetation = Banks Easily Eroded
9. Bank Vegetative Protection Optimal
– More than 90% of the streambank surfaces and immediate riparian zone covered by native vegetation
Suboptimal
– 70-90% covered, but one class of plants is not well represented– Disruption evident but not affecting full plant growth potential
to any great extent– More than ½ of the potential plant stubble height remaining
Marginal– 50-70% covered (disruption obvious)– Patches of bare soil or closely cropped vegetation common– Less than ½ of the potential stubble height remaining
Poor– Less than 50% covered (disruption of vegetation is very high)– Vegetation has been removed to 5 cm or less in average
stubble height
Optimal
Poor
10. Riparian Vegetative Zone
Provides Shade Filters Runoff Provides Food (leaves &
stems) Wildlife Habitat
Riparian Zone
Riparian Vegetative Zone Width
Optimal width is about 18 meters = ~60 feet.
Manmade Alterations• Roads• Parking Lots• Fields (e.g. crops, grazing)• Lawns• Bare Soil• Buildings (e.g. barns, houses)• Golf Courses
10. Riparian Vegetative Zone Optimal
– Width of riparian zone > 18 meters (~60 ft)– Human-made alterations have not impacted zone
Suboptimal– Width of riparian zone 12-18 meters (~37-60 ft)– Human activities have impacted zone only minimally
Marginal– Width of riparian zone 6-12 meters (~19-37 ft)– Human activities have impacted zone a great deal
Poor– Width of riparian zone <6 meters (~19 ft)– Little or no riparian vegetation due to human activities
RBP - physical and chemical parameters
3. Riparian vegetation• Width of the vegetation zone on either side of the
stream
How Wide is This Riparian Zone?
RBP - physical and chemical parameters
3. Riparian vegetation• Width of the vegetation zone on either side of the
stream
How Wide is This Riparian Zone?
0 Feet