Habitat for whom?

1. Habitat AssessmentDeveloped by Ken CookeKentucky Division of WaterWatershed Watch Program CoordinatorModified by Mike KempProfessor of Environmental Engineering TechnologyMurray State University

2. Habitat for whom?

3. Habitat for Benthic Macroinvertebratesand Fish

4. Channel Habitat

5. In Stream Characteristics

6. Pools and Riffles Pool Riffle

7. Sand Gabbard Substrate Scale Gravel Cobble Boulder

8. Name That Sediment! 2 1 3

9. High Gradient Stream

10. Low Gradient Stream Low-gradient streams typically have very gentle channel slopes, meandering streambeds made of fine sediments, and slow water flow.

11. Your Stream Reach 100 m 300 ft At Least 1 Riffle

12. Site Characterization Provides location information and site descriptions

13. Habitat Assessment 10 point evaluation of the stream’s ecological health and fitness

14. Habitat Assessment Measurements 1. Epifaunalsubstrate / 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

15. Epifaunal Substrate/ Available Cover Optimal Poor

16. Epifaunal SubstrateEpi= on top ofFauna= animalsSubstrate=material on the bottom

17. Epifaunal SubstrateHard substrates such as: - cobble- large gravel, and Other submerged structures such as: - snags

18. Bedrock Bottom (e.g. limestone)

19. Available Cover for Fish (e.g. snags)

20. Available Cover for Fish Undercut stream banks Snags and woody debris

21. 1. EpifaunalSubstrate/ 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.

22. 2. Embeddedness Poor Optimal

25. 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.

26. 3. Velocity-Depth Regime Poor Optimal

28. Different Velocity/Depth Regimes = Different Stream Habitats

29. Caddisfly in Case Hellgrammite Riffle Inhabitants Sculpin Madtom

30. Pool Inhabitants Green Drake (Mayfly) Midge Larvae Creek Chub Longnose Sucker

31. 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.

32. 4. Sediment Deposition Poor Optimal

33. 4. Sediment Deposition Point Bars Shoal

34. Large Amount of Sediment Deposited Forming an Island

35. 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

36. 5. Channel Flow Status?

37. 5. Channel Flow Status?

38. 5. Channel Flow Status? Optimal: Water from bank to bank.

39. 5. Channel Flow Status?

40. 5. Channel Flow Status? Poor:Very little water in channel and water mostly present as standing pools.

41. 5. Channel Flow Status?

42. 5. Channel Flow Status? Marginal: Water fills 25-75% of the available channel.

43. #5: Channel Flow Status? 5. Channel Flow Status?

44. #5: Channel Flow Status? 5. Channel Flow Status? Suboptimal:Water fills >75% of channel.

45. 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.

46. 6. Channel Alteration Optimal Poor

47. 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.

48. Hardening Channel

49. Stream Hardening Riprap Gabbions

50. Stream Hardening