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