Module 10/11 Stream Surveys

1. Module 10/11Stream Surveys Stream Surveys – September 2004Part 2 – Habitat Assessment

2. Objectives Students will be able to: • identify accepted sampling methods used in streams. • explain the influence of velocity and current on organism distribution in a stream. • categorize stream bed substrates. • Describe physical, chemical and biological parameters used to assess the quality of stream habitats.

3. Stream assessments • Water quality • Habitat • Hydrologic • Biological • Watershed

4. Habitat assessments

5. Habitat Assessments • Determine and isolate impacts of pollution sources • Interpret biological data • Screen for impairments

6. Habitat Scales - review

7. Where to sample • Reach Length • 30 times mean stream width • Minimum of 100 meters in length • Avoid bridges, dams, culverts etc. • Localized effects on the stream • Both upstream and downstream of the structure. • Locate reach nearby to specifically address changes from structures

8. Transect Measurements • Necessity of measuring habitat variables in both pool and riffles and why • Slide to be completed by 3/31/04

9. Pool-Riffle-Run Sequences

10. Current velocity • Varies horizontally and vertically across the streambed • Current is the most important factor that determines where many organisms are found in streams and therefore govern differences in communities in various parts of a given stream. • Velocity of the current is determined by the steepness of the surface, roughness of the stream bed, and depth and width of the stream bed.

11. Substrate

12. Visual estimation of surface substrate • % of silt/clay, sand, gravel, cobble, boulder and bedrock • Fast, simple • Prone to error • Slide to be completed by 3/31/04

13. Substrate • Sieves • Especially for <2mm • Sample size = bucketful • ~ 3 samples • Slide to be completed by 3/31/04

14. Substrate - Pebble counts • 100 individual pebbles randomly selected from stream bed • Measure intermediate axis • Plot results as a histogram (Wolman 1954)

15. Pebble Count results

16. Embeddedness • Measure of fine sediment deposition in the interstitial spaces between rocks • High embeddedness values indicate habitat degradation

17. Substrate • Embeddedness: General guidelines • 0% = no fine sediments even at base of top layer of gravel/cobble • 25% = rocks are half surrounded by sediment • 50% = rocks are completely surrounded by sediment but their tops are clean • 75% = rocks are completely surrounded by sediment and half covered • 100% = rocks are completely covered by sediment

18. Wentworth Scale of particle sizes

19. Woody debris • Extremely important for habitat • Difficult to quantify

20. EPA Rapid Bioassessment Protocols (RBP) • The RBPs include a set of cost-effective, yet scientifically valid, stream quality indicators that include: • Physical habitat assessment • Water Quality assessment • Biological surveys • Easily and quickly obtained • Compares data with standards fromunaffected site

21. RBP - parameters • Stream characterization • Watershed features • Riparian vegetation • In-stream features • Large woody debris • Aquatic vegetation • Water quality • Sediment/substrate

22. RBP – stream characterization • Is stream flow perennial, intermittent? Are there any tidal influences? • Is the temperature regime considered warm water or coldwater? • Stream origin: glacial, montane, wetland, bog

23. RBP – watershed features • What is the predominant land use type within the watershed? • Are there any local nonpoint pollution sources? • Any signs of local watershed erosion ?

24. RBP – riparian vegetation • Width of the vegetation zone on either side of the stream

25. reach length stream width reach area velocity % canopy high water mark # riffles, runs, pools channelization dams RBP – in-stream features

26. RBP – large woody debris and aquatic vegetation • Large woody debris • Aquatic vegetation • periphyton • macrophytes

27. RBP – water quality • Temperature, EC, DO, pH, and turbidity • Water odors • Water surface oils • Turbidity-visual assessment

28. RBP – sediment and substrate • Odors • Oils • Deposits • Inorganic substrate components • Organic substrate components

29. Visual-Based Habitat Assessment (VHA) • This protocol rates habitat parameters for each sampling reach on a scale from 0 to 20 (highest). • The rankings are then totaled and compared to a reference condition to provide a final habitat ranking. • Habitat evaluations are made on: • In-stream habitat • Channel morphology • Bank structural features • Riparian vegetation

30. VHA - Habitat for aquatic insects and other creatures • Look for the amount and variety of structures in the stream, such as: • rocks • fallen trees • undercut banks • logs and branches • The more diverse the “structure” the better. Poor Very good

31. 1b. Habitat for Aquatic Insects and Other Creatures • Look for: • The amount and variety of structures in the stream, such as: • Rocks • Fallen trees • Undercut banks • Logs and branches • A lot of diverse “structure” is good Mary Kay Corazalla, U of MN Very good Poor

32. William Taft, MI DNR William Taft, MI DNR Very good Poor 2a. Embeddedness • Look for: • How much silt, sand, or mud cover rocks and snags or is “embedded” among the rocks? • Lots of silt reduces insect habitat and fish shelter, spawning areas, and egg incubation areas Poor

33. Very good Poor 2b. Pool Substrate Condition • Look for: • Type and condition of bottom of stream in pool area • Healthy stream has: • Firm sediment types, such as sand, gravel, rather than soft clay or silt • Aquatic plants • Lots of variety Mary Kay Corazalla, U of MN

34. Very good Mary Kay Corazalla, U of MN William Taft, MI DNR Poor 3a. Velocity and Depth Regimes • Look for: • Lots of variety in depths and flow rates as you move downstream • Look for a combination of: • Slow-deep • Slow-shallow • Fast-deep • Fast-shallow • Provides more habitat for aquatic insects and fish Poor

35. 3b. Pool Variability • Look for: • Mixture of types of pools • Large-shallow • Large-deep • Small-shallow • Small-deep • A variety of pool types means good habitat Very good Poor Peggy Morgan, FL DEP William Taft, MI DNR

36. Deposited sediment Very good Poor 4a. Sediment Deposition • Look for: • How much sediment has been deposited in the stream channel as: • Islands • Points, bars • Shoals • Pools filling in • Lots of sediment means lots of human impacts on stream

37. 4b. Sediment Deposition • How much sediment has been deposited in the stream channel as: • Islands • Points, bars • Shoals • Pools filling in • Lots of sediment means lots of human impacts on stream Poor Very good

38. Water is not reaching both banks; leaving much of channel exposed. Very good Poor 5a. Channel Flow Status • Look for: • How full is the channel? • If too much of the streambed is exposed, habitat is limited and probably poor

39. 5b. Channel Flow Status • How full is the channel? • If too much of the streambed is exposed, habitat is limited and probably poor James Stahl, IN DEM Very good Water is not reaching both banks; leaving much of channel exposed. Poor

40. Poor Very good 6a. Channel Alteration • Look for: • Human-caused changes in the stream channel, such as: • Deepened • Straightened • Diversions • These alterations mean less habitat

41. 6b. Channel Alteration • Human-caused changes in the stream channel, such as: • Deepened • Straightened • Diversions • These alterations mean less habitat Very good John Maxted, DE DNREC Poor

42. Arrows showing frequency of riffles and bends Poor Very good 7a. Frequency of Riffles • Look for: • Frequency of riffles as you look up or downstream • Riffles are excellent habitat for aquatic insects and fish • Lots of riffles means good habitat

43. 7b. Channel Sinuosity Sinuosity refers to the curviness of the stream • Look for: • The number of twists and turns you see in the stream • A “curvy” stream • Has more habitat • Is more stable during storms, thus reducing erosion Very good Poor

44. Very good Poor 8a. Bank Stability Stable streambank • Look for: • Condition of banks • No vegetation • Crumbling banks • Overly steep banks • Exposed tree roots • Exposed soil • Presence of eroded stream banks means poor conditions for aquatic life Unstable streambank MD Save Our Streams

45. 8b. Bank Stability • Look for: • Condition of banks • No vegetation • Crumbling banks • Overly steep banks • Exposed tree roots • Exposed soil • Presence of eroded stream banks means poor conditions for aquatic life Peggy Morgan, FL DEP Very good Poor

46. Very good Poor 9a. Bank Vegetation • Look for: • Amount of vegetation on banks of stream • Lots of vegetation • Holds soils • Absorbs water, thus reducing bank erosion • Absorbs nutrients (through roots) • Provides shade for stream • Good to have >90% vegetative cover on banks and in riparian area

47. 9b. Bank Vegetative Protection • Look for: • Amount of vegetation on banks of stream • Lots of vegetation • Holds soils • Absorbs water, thus reducing bank erosion • Absorbs nutrients (through roots) • Provides shade for stream • Good to have >90% vegetative cover on banks and in riparian area Peggy Morgan, FL DEP Very good MD Save Our Streams Poor

48. 10a. Riparian Vegetative Zone Width • Look for: • Width of riparian zone (vegetated area adjacent to stream) • Wider riparian area helps • buffer pollutants • Control erosion • Provide habitat • Regulate nutrient inputs Very good Poor

49. 10b. Riparian Vegetative Zone Width • Look for: • Width of riparian zone (vegetated area adjacent to stream) • Wider riparian area helps • buffer pollutants • Control erosion • Provide habitat • Regulate nutrient inputs MD Save Our Streams Very good Poor

50. 2. Low Gradient Streams • Less steep, slower moving Low Gradient Streams Low gradient streams are dominated by deep areas (pools) interspersed with shallower segments of river (glides). The stream bottom is typically made of up fine sediments and occasional coarser material (gravel or larger).