Stream

Assessment
Stream Ecosystems
 Habitat Thresholds
Species MX. Weekly Max Temp. for Max Weekly
Avg. Temp for Survival of Avg. Temp. for
Juveniles Short Exposure Spawning
Juveniles

90◦F 95◦F 77◦F

Bluegill

90◦ 95◦ 81◦

Channel
Catfish

90◦ 93◦ 70◦

Largemouth

84◦ 63◦
Smallmouth

66◦ 75◦ 48◦

Brook Trout
 Bankfull Channel Width
• Determines the length of the
assessment reach
• Numerous field indicators to determine
bankfull channel width; some stronger
according to physiographic region
• ALWAYS try to measure bankfull
channel width just upstream of a
hydraulic control
– Riffles, bedrock outcrops, waterfalls, etc.
Bankfull Channel Width
K. Gullett photo
River Elements
Channel Condition
Channel Condition
Hydrologic Alteration
Hydrologic Alteration
Riparian Zone
Left Bank Narrow Right Bank No Buffer
Riparian Buffer Emergent Vegetation boundary

Sept.18, 2004
Flood level in
Town hay field
Bank Stability
Bank Stability

K. Gullett photo U. of Wash. photo

Water Appearance
Water Appearance

K. Gullett photo
Nutrient Enrichment
Nutrient Enrichment

M. Zuroske photo

D. Orth photo
Barriers to Fish Movement
Barriers to Fish Passage-A regional and local
perspective
Barriers to Fish Passage in RI

Dams of the
Eastern
United States
Impacts of River and
Stream Dams/Crossings

– Habitat loss and degradation

– Alteration of Ecological Processes
– Population fragmentation & isolation
– Reduced access to vital habitats
– Disruption of processes that maintain
regional populations
Passage Barriers

K. Gullett photo K. Gullett photo

USFS photo
Instream Fish Cover
Aquatic Habitats – formed by the free
movement of water and materials, during
high flows
 Habitat Structure
Minnows/sucker
Brook trout

Bass/sunfish
 Fish and
Invertebrate
Habitat
Instream Fish Cover

U. of Wash. photo
 Pools

A stream with many pool types will support a wide variety of aquatic
species. Rivers with low sinuosity (few bends) and monotonous pool
characteristics do not have sufficient quantities and variety of habitat to
support a diverse aquatic community. An even mix of all pool types is
most desirable. In the absence of some pool types, it is better to have
deep pools over shallow pools. All small-shallow pools or lack of pools
entirely are the least desirable conditions.
 Pools

• Refuge for fish during low flow,

drought periods

• Resting and feeding area

• Refuge from predators

 Stream Bed Terminology
• Riffles: the sections of the bed with the steepest slopes and shallowest
depths at flows below bankfull. Riffles typically occur at the cross over
locations and have a poorly defined thalweg.

• • Runs: differ from riffles in that depth of flow is typically greater and slope of
the bed is less than that of riffles. Runs will often have a well defined
thalweg.

• • Pools: are the deepest locations of the reach. Water surface slope of pools
at below bankfull flows is near zero. Pools are often located at the outside of
meander bends.
 Stream BedTerminology
• • Glides: are located immediately downstream of pools. The slope of
the channel bed through a glide is negative while the slope of the
water surface is positive. The head of the glide can be difficult to
identify. Use the following characteristics to help you locate the head
of the glide:

– the location of increased flow velocity coming out of the pool,

– the location at which the steeply sloped bed rising out of the pool
decreases to a lesser gradient,
– the location at which the thalweg coming out of the pool
becomes less well defined and essentially fades completely.
– the location which is approximately same elevation as the tail of
the run
Invertebrate Habitat
Invertebrate Habitat
Canopy Cover
Canopy Cover

AFS photo
 Manure Presence

Score only if livestock and/or human waste discharge is

present
Manure Presence
 Riffle Embeddedness

Score only if riffles are present, a naturally occurring

alluvial feature, or known to be buried.
Riffle Embeddedness

K. Gullett photo
Macroinvertebrates Observed
Macroinvertebrates Observed
 Group I
Mayfly-
Ephemeroptera
(collector)
 Group I
Stonefly-Plecoptera
(Shredder)
 Group II
Crayfish-
Crustacean
 Group II
Dragon Fly
 Group III
Midge Fly Larvae
In 1735 The RI General Assembly stated that any mill owner erecting a dam across a
water where migratory fish normally pass had to provide a “good and sufficient Way
through such Dam or Weir for the fish to pass and repass” that be opened during the
spring runs…., “

Courtesy of Buckley and Nixon(2001) An Historical Assessment of Anadromous Fish in the Blackstone River