Qualitative Habitat Evaluation IndexQualitative Habitat Evaluation Index

• Qualitative• Habitat• Evaluation• Index

Clean Water ActClean Water ActTITLE I—RESEARCH AND RELATED PROGRAMS

DECLARATION OF GOALS AND POLICYSEC. 101. (a) The objective of this Act is to restore and maintain

the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation’s waters. 

•Chemical measures are the most developed and relied-on indicators of CWA success.

•Used extensively as surrogates for biological integrity•Linked to biology through laboratory studies•not always a direct correspondence with field observations

•Ohio has well-developed biological measures•Feds trying to elevate the chemical measures to equal status for Ohio

•Habitat quality surprisingly under-regulated•401, 404 certification (very weak protection at best)•Drainage laws functionally supersede CWA•QHEI provides a measure of habitat quality

Why Include Why Include  Habitat Habitat 

Assessment?Assessment?

0 500 1000 1500

Habitat Alterations

Siltation

Organic Enrichment

Nutrients

Flow Alteration

Metals

pH

Top Causes of ImpairmentStatewide

1414

1032

865.3

698

637.9

235.1

131.8

Miles Impaired By Cause

The Importance of HabitatThe Importance of Habitat One of Karr’s Five Factors

Water Qualitydissolved oxygenammoniasediment

Energy Sourceleaf litteralgaeputrescent matter 

Hydrologysustained base‐flowflashinesssedimentgeomorphology

Physical Habitatgeologic settingland useposition in watershedcumulative scalegeomorphology

Biotic Interactionspredator‐preyinvasive speciestrophic cascade

Biological 

Integrity

QHEIQHEI

• Visual Method

• Tool For Designating Aquatic Life Uses• Tool For Assessing Causes of Impairment

• Correlated With Biological Integrity

• Associated With Sediment/Nutrient Inputs

• Effects on Biota Occur At Multiple Scales

• Matches Resolution of Biological Data

Correlated With IBICorrelated With IBI• QHEI and its subcomponents correlated 

with IBI at multiple scales

10

20

30

40

50

60

20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Data by Site All YearsECBP & HELP EcoregionsReference Sites ONLY

y = 15.4 + 0.39x R2= 0.51

Site

Spe

cifi

c IB

I

Site Specific QHEI

10

20

30

40

50

60

20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Data by Huc 11 WatershedIBI Data - 1994-2001

ECBP and HELP Ecoregions

y = 9.98 + 0.43x

R2= 0.43

Mea

n H

uc-1

1 Sc

ale

IBI

Mean Huc-11 Scale QHEI

Erosion:Particulate PDissolved P

Leaves,WoodyDebris

Bacteria,Fungi

Nutrients & SedimentAre Intercepted byRiparian Biomass

Invertebrates (Shredders,Scrapers)

AlgaeInverts.

Predators

Herbivores

FishPredators

Sunlight isLimited By

the RiparianVegetation

Two-WayMovement ofSediment &

NutrientsWoody Debris

SlowsExport ofSediments & Increases

Conversion of Nutrients toDesirable Biomass Insectivorous

Fish

Humans Bird,Mammal

Predators

Riparian Width

Good Stream Habitat

Major Downstream Exports: I. Desirable Biomass (e.g., fish, plants, birds, mammals, sensitive species) II. Low Sediment DeliveryIII. Water Quality Suitable for ALL Uses

One-Way Movem entof Sedim ent &

Nutrients IntoStreams

Erosion:Sediment withParticulate PDissolved P

Fine SedimentBedload with

Algae & Detritus

Lack of Woody DebrisIncreases E xport &

Conversion of Nutrients toUndesirab le Biom ass

Filt er Feed ingInvertebrates,Detritivores

Herbivores

Direct Sunlight Affects100% of Channel;

Light is Not a LimitingFactor

Grasses Comprise Majority ofRiparian “Buffer”

Predators:Invertebrates

Rapid Turnover of Nutrients(“Short Spirals”) is a Key

Characteristic

Nitrates viaSubsurfaceDrainage

Predators:Birds, Mammals

Modified Stream Habitat

External energyis required tomaintain modifiedenvironment andmaintain agricul-turalproduction Major Downstream Exports:

I. Nutrients & Undesirable Biomass (e.g., algae, detritivores, tolerant species)II. High Sediment Delivery

QHEI: Six Major Categories of QHEI: Six Major Categories of MacrohabitatMacrohabitat

• Substrate – Size, Quality• Instream

Cover –

Type, Quality, Amount

• Channel Quality – Sinuosity, Riffle/Pool  Development, Channelization, Stability

• Riparian Width, Type, Bank Stability

• Pool, Riffle/Run –

Depth, Morphology, Current  Types, Riffle/Run Substrates

• Stream Gradient –

Standardized by Stream Size

QHEIQHEIField Field SheetSheet

QHEIQHEIBackBackSideSide

QHEI HeaderQHEI Header

• Standard River Code & RM• Stream Name• New Station ID• Location Description• Date• Scorer• Lat/Long

Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index Field Sheet QHEI Score:River Code: RM: Stream:

MBIMBI

Station ID:Date:

Location:Scorer: Latitude: Longitude:

Substrate MetricSubstrate Metric

Substrate

Max 20

1] SUBSTRATE (Check ONLY Two SubstrateTYPE BOXES; Estimate % presentTYPE POOL RIFFLE POOL RIFFLE SUBSTRATE ORIGIN SUBSTRATE QUALITY

-BLDR /SLBS[10] -GRAVEL [7] ____ _ ___Check ONE (OR 2 & AVERAGE) Check ONE (OR 2 & AVERAGE)

-BOULDER [9]____ ____ -SAND [6] ____ _ ___ -LIMESTONE [1 ] SILT: - S ILT HE AVY [-2]

-COBBLE [8]____ ____ -BEDROCK[5] ____ _ ___ -TILLS [1] -SILT MODERATE [-1]

-HARDPAN [4]____ ____ -DETRITUS[3] ____ _ ___ -WETLANDS[0] -SILT NORMAL [0]

-MUCK [2]____ ____ -ARTIFICIAL[0]____ _ ___ -HARDPAN [0] -SILT FREE [1]

-SILT [2] ____ ____ -SANDSTONE [0] EMBEDDED -EXTENSIVE [-2] -RIP/RAP [0] NESS: -MODERATE [-1]

-4 or More [2] -LACUSTRINE [0] -NORMAL [0]NUMBER OF SUBSTRATE TYPES:(High Quality Only, Score 5 or >) -3 or Less [0] -SHALE [-1] -NON E [1]COMMENTS_____________________________________________-COAL FINES [-2]_________________________________________

____ ____ -Lg BOULD. [10]

Good Substrate QualityGood Substrate Quality

Heterogeneoussize and types

Cleanfree from siltnot embedded

Parent Materialtill and limestone bestclay and muck worst

Substrate MetricSubstrate Metric

• Identify Two Predominant Substrate Types

– By Amount or Function

• Two boxes in case one type is only dominant type (e.g., 

bedrock)

• Lines after boxes for checking or estimating % of all 

substrate types present

• Pebble count procedure provides good training for  assessment of substrate 1] SUBSTRATE (Check ONLY Two SubstrateTYPE BOXES; Es

TYPE POOL RIFFLE POOL RIFFLE-BLDR /SLBS[10] -GRAVEL [7] ____ _ ___Ch

-BOULDER [9]____ ____ -SAND [6] ____ _ ___

-COBBLE [8]____ ____ -BEDROCK[5] ____ _ ___

-HARDPAN [4]____ ____ -DETRITUS[3] ____ _ ___

-MUCK [2]____ ____ -ARTIFICIAL[0]____ _ ___

-SILT [2] ____ ____

-4 or More [2] NUMBER OF SUBSTRATE TYPES:(High Quality Only, Score 5 or >) -3 or Less [0] COMMENTS_____________________________________________

____ ____ -Lg BOULD. [10]

Substrate Size CategoriesSubstrate Size Categories

• Boulder:  > 10”• Boulders as slabs:  flat 

rather than round  pieces

• Cobble: 2.5”

to 10”

• Gravel: 1/12”

to 2.5” (note wide range)

• Sand: gritty texture

• Silt: greasy texture,  inorganic

• Muck: decayed organic  material

• Detritus: leaves, sticks,  wood

• Hardpan: usually clay,  hard gummy surface

Substrate MetricSubstrate Metric

• Substrate Diversity– Number of substrate types

• More substrate types = more “niches”• Many fish and macroinvertebrate

species are 

associated with specific substrate types

• Substrate Origin– Informational– From where did the substrates originate?

• Bedrock, tills, alluvial sediments, colluvial

sediments?

Substrate OriginSubstrate Origin• Limestone: Often contains 

fossils, easily scratched 

with knife, usually 

bedrock or flat boulders 

and cobbles• Tills: Sediments deposited 

by glaciers; particles often 

rounded. Can be carried 

into non‐glaciated areas• Wetlands: Usually organic 

muck and detritus• Hardpan: Clay – smooth, 

usually slippery

• Sandstone: Contains 

rounded fragment of sand 

“cemented”

together

• Rip/Rap: Artificial boulders• Lacustrine: Old lake bed 

sediments• Shale: “Claystone,”

sedimentary rock made of 

silt/clay, soft and cleaves 

easily• Coal Fines: Black fragments 

of coal, generally SE Ohio 

only

Pebble Count  Methodologies

• Wolman Pebble Count

• Zig‐Zag

Pebble Count

• Riffle Stability Index• Others

Boulder‐Cobble

Boulder slabs

Bedrock

Gravel and cobble

Sand and detritus

Artificial ‐

concrete

Artificial ‐

riprap

Hardpan

Silt/clay

Substrate OriginsSubstrate Origins

Glacial tills

Bedrock

Estimate % presentE SUBSTRATE ORIGIN

Check ONE (OR 2 & AVERAGE

-LIMESTONE [1 ] SILT -TILLS [1] -WETLANDS[0] -HARDPAN [0] -SANDSTONE [0] EMB -RIP/RAP [0] NES -LACUSTRINE [0] -SHALE [-1]

__-COAL FINES [-2]______

Coal fines

Riprap

Silt Cover & Silt Cover & EmbeddednessEmbeddedness

• Pervasiveness of silt cover & embeddedness

• Smother habitats

• Reduce oxygen penetration• Fines fill interstitial spaces

S

N SUBSTRATE QUALITYERAGE) Check ONE (OR 2 & AVERAGE)

SILT: - S ILT HEAVY [-2] -SILT MODERATE [-1] -SILT NORMAL [0] -SILT FREE [1]

EMBEDDED -EXTENSIVE [-2]NESS: -MODERATE [-1]

-NORMAL [0] -NON E [1]

____________________________________

Silt CoverSilt Cover

Silt Heavy

Silt Normal

Clean Gravel  Substrates

EmbeddednessEmbeddedness

• Sands, other fines  cover larger 

substrates

• “Dunes”

indicate high  bedload

• Can often dig down to  larger substrates

Embeddedness

–

Side View

Embeddedness

– Sediment Buildup

• Import of fines >  export

• Results in “agradation of sediments in riffles  and pools

• Symptom can be  “spongy”

deposits of 

sands and fine gravels  that smother larger 

riffle particles

Substrate Substrate EmbeddednessEmbeddednessRiffle

Riffle

Pool

Pool

Little/No Embeddeness:< 25 of station - only in natural

depositional areas

Riffle

Riffle

Pool

Pool

Low Embeddeness:25-50% of station - some

outside of naturaldepositional areas

Riffle

Riffle

Pool

Pool

Moderate Embeddeness:50-75% of station - poolsusually heavily embedded

Riffle

Riffle

Pool

Pool

Extensive Embeddeness:>75% of station - pools & riffles

usually heavily embedded

Substrate Metrics Strongly Substrate Metrics Strongly  Correlated with IBI, MetricsCorrelated with IBI, Metrics

• Affects overall community structure• Decrease substrate quality leads to loss of 

sensitive species• Decreasing substrate quality leads to increase 

in omnivores• Decrease substrate quality leads to  decrease 

in many sport fish species (e.g., smallmouth  bass).

EmbeddednessEmbeddedness

Little to none

Moderate

10

20

30

40

50

60

None Low Moderate High

Data by Site, All YearsECBP & HELP Ecoregions

Reference Sites Only

Site

Spe

cifi

c IB

I

QHEI Embeddedness Rating

Substrate Score Substrate Score vsvs

IBIIBI

0

10

20

30

40

50

60IB

ISubstrate Metric

Low High

Substrate Metric Score

0 10 20

EWH

WWH

Smallmouth Bass vs QHEI SubstrateSmallmouth Bass vs QHEI Substrate

0

5

10

15

20

25

0-4 5-8 9-12 13-16 17-20 > 20

Wadeable Reference Sites

Rel

ativ

e N

umbe

r of

Sm

allm

outh

Bas

s Substrate Score

8 10 12 14 16 18

WARMOUTH SUNFISH

REDEAR SUNFISH

PUMPKINSEED SUNFISH

ORANGESPOTTED SUNFISH

BLACK CRAPPIE

GREEN SUNFISH

LARGEMOUTH BASS

BLUEGILL SUNFISH

WHITE CRAPPIE

LONGEAR SUNFISH

SPOTTED BASS

ROCK BASS

SMALLMOUTH BASS

QHEI Substate Metric

Weighted Substrate Score5 10 15 20

LEAST DARTER

BLACKSIDE DARTER

JOHNNY DARTER

DUSKY DARTER

EASTERN SAND DARTER

ORANGETHROAT DARTER

CHANNEL DARTER

GREENSIDE DARTER

FANTAIL DARTER

LOGPERCH

RAINBOW DARTER

BANDED DARTER

SLENDERHEAD DARTER

BLUEBREAST DARTER

VARIEGATE DARTER

TIPPECANOE DARTER

SPOTTED DARTER

RIVER DARTER

QHEI Substate Metric

Weighted Substrate Score

Instream Cover/ StructureInstream Cover/ Structure MetricMetric

Cover

Max 20

2]I NSTREAM COVER(Structure)

(Give each cover type a score of 0 to 3; see back for instructions) AMOUNT: (Check ONLY One orTYPE: Score All That Occur check 2 and AVERAGE )

___UNDERCUT BANKS [1] ___POOLS> 70 cm [2] ___OXBOWS, BACKWATERS [1] - EXTENSIVE > 75% [11]___OVERHANGING VEGETATION [1] ___ROOTWADS [1] ___AQUATIC MACROPHYTES [1] - MODERATE 25-75% [7]___SHALLOWS (IN SLOW WATER) [1] ___BOULDERS [1] ___LOGS OR WOODY DEBRIS [1] - SPARSE 5-25% [3]___ROOTMATS [1] COMMENTS:______________________________________________ - NEARLY ABSENT < 5%[1]3] CHANNEL MORPHOLOGY: (Check ONLY One PER Category OR check 2 andAVERAGE )

Cover MetricCover Metric• Scores the types and amounts of cover available as habitat.

– Undercut banks– Rootwads and Rootmats

– Boulders– Logs and other LWD

– Aquatic Macrophytes

– Pools– Overhanging Vegetation– Backwaters and Shallows

2]I NSTREAM COVER(Structure)

(Give each cover type a score of 0 to 3; see back for instructions)TYPE: Score All That Occur

___UNDERCUT BANKS [1] ___POOLS> 70 cm [2] ___OXBOWS, BACKWATERS [1]

___OVERHANGING VEGETATION [1] ___ROOTWADS [1] ___AQUATIC MACROPHYTES [1]___SHALLOWS (IN SLOW WATER) [1] ___BOULDERS [1] ___LOGS OR WOODY DEBRIS [1]

___ROOTMATS [1] COMMENTS:______________________________________________

New Cover MetricNew Cover Metric• Instructions for scoring the alternate cover metric:

Each cover type should receive a score of between 0 and 3, Where:

• 0 - Cover type absent; • 1 - Cover type present in very small amounts or if

more common of marginal quality; • 2 - Cover type present in moderate amounts, but not

of highest quality or in small amounts of highest quality;

• 3 - Cover type of highest quality in moderate or greater amounts. Examples of highest quality include very large boulders in deep or fast water, large diameter logs that are stable, well developed rootwads in deep/fast water, or deep, well-defined, functional pools.

Rootwads/LogsRootwads/Logs

High Quality High Quality  RootwadRootwad

• Sycamore among the  best quality

• Large diameter roots

• Best when in deep  water

• Best when in or  adjacent to fast water

BouldersBoulders• Examine all cover 

types to determine  whether they are 

functional!

Functional Boulder: In 

Deep, Fast Water

Non‐Functional Boulder: 

In Shallow Water & 

Embedded

Aquatic Aquatic  MacrophytesMacrophytes

• Only macrophytes, not  algae or diatoms

• Emergent or submergent

• Great nursery areas• Improve riffle quality by 

making riffles narrower  and deeper

Undercut BanksUndercut Banks• Needs to be in deep enough water and undercut enough 

to provide function as cover• If undercut is part of rootwad count as rootwad, not as 

undercut

RootmatsRootmats

• Fine fibrous roots of  willows and other 

plants

• Small fish may use  these as cover or feed 

on invertebrates that  colonize them

Logs and Logs and  Woody DebrisWoody Debris

• Habitat forming  functions

• Fish cover• Macroinvertebrate 

production, especially  in big rivers

• Bank protection

Large Logpiles = Big FishLarge Logpiles = Big Fish

Overhanging Overhanging  VegetationVegetation

• Shading• Refuge from avian 

predators (e.g., 

kingfishers, herons)• Terrestrial food• Does not include high 

canopy

Oxbows, Backwaters, & Side Channels

• Oxbows, backwaters, and side channels are excellent  nursery habitat

• Sequester/transform nutrients

• Spawning areas (e.g., northern pike, muskie)

Oxbow

Backwater

10

20

30

40

50

60

Absent Present Absent Present

IBI

Aquatic PlantsOxbows, Backwaters,

Sidechannels

N = 317

N = 105N = 431

N = 10

Shallows in Slow WaterShallows in Slow Water• Y‐O‐Y fish use margin areas to feed and 

escape predators

Amount of CoverAmount of CoverCover

Max 20

AMOUNT: (Check ONLY One orcheck 2 and AVERAGE ) - EXTENSIVE > 75% [11] - MODERATE 25-75% [7] - SPARSE 5-25% [3] - NEARLY ABSENT < 5%[1]

E )

Cover vs IBICover vs IBI

10

20

30

40

50

60

0-4 5-8 9-12 13-16 17-20

IBI

Cover Metric Score

Channel

Max 20

SINUOSITY DEVELOPMENT CHANNELIZATION STABILITY MODIFICATIONS/OTHER - HIGH [4] - EXCELLENT [7] - NONE [6] - HIGH [3] - SNAGGING - IMPOUND.

- MODERATE [3] - GOOD [5] - RECOVERED [4] - MODERATE [2] - RELOCATION - ISLANDS - LOW [2] - FAIR [3] - RECOVERING [3] - LOW [1] - CANOPY REMOVAL - LEVEED

- NONE [1] - POOR [1] - RECENT OR NO - DREDGING - BANK SHAPINGRECOVERY [1] - ONE SIDE CHANNEL MODIFICATIONS- IMPOUNDED [-1]

3] CHANNEL MORPHOLOGY: (Check ONLY One PER Category OR check 2 andAVERAGE )

Channel Morphology MetricChannel Morphology Metric

Channel Condition MetricChannel Condition Metric

• Four measures related  to channel condition

• Sinuosity (pool  formation)

• Pool/Riffle  Development

• Channel Modification

• Channel Stability

SinuositySinuosityRatio of Channel Length to Downvalley Distance

No Sinuosity

LowSinuosity

Bend Poorly Defined

ModerateSinuosity

1

2

3

HighSinuosity

1

2

34

56

Function: Creates depth and habitat heterogeneity, more habitat per unit distance

SINUOSITY - HIGH [4] - MODERATE [3] - LOW [2] - NONE [1]

3] CHANNEL MOR

DEVELOPMENT - EXCELLENT [7] - GOOD [5] - FAIR [3] - POOR [1]

RPHOLOGY: (Check

Development Development ‐‐

Riffle/Pool Riffle/Pool  ComplexesComplexes

• Pool ‐

slow current velocity; greater depth 

• Riffle ‐

fast current velocity and shallow depth; water surface 

is visibly broken• Run ‐

rapid flow and deeper than riffles; generally located 

downstream from riffles; water surface is not visibly broken• Glide ‐

flat, “canal‐like”

flow; shallow, generally poor habitat

RiffleRiffle‐‐Pool DevelopmentPool Development

Excellent Good Fair Poor

Pool> 1 m deep,well defined

0.7- 1.0 m deep, well

defined

Some depth variation

Shallow if present

Glide Not Dominant Not Dominant Common Predominant

RiffleDeep, well

defined riffles with large substrates

Defined riffles, large substrates

Poorly defined riffles or

riffles absent

Absent or shallow with fine substrate

Run > 0.5 m deep, well defined

Deep, well defined Usually absent Absent

Good DevelopmentGood Development

Well‐definedriffle‐pool‐runsequences

Poor DevelopmentPoor Development

No No  ChannelizationChannelization

CHANNELIZATION] - NONE [6] - RECOVERED [4] - RECOVERING [3] - RECENT OR NORECOVERY [1]- IMPOUNDED [-1]

ONLY One PER Categ

RecoveringRecovering

Recent Channelization  or No Recovery

Stable Channel CharacteristicsStable Channel Characteristics

• Mature Riparian• Deep Pools• Stable, vegetated non‐

eroding banks• Large diameter, 

unembedded  substrates

• Well defined pools  and riffles

STABILITY M - HIGH [3] - MODERATE [2] - LOW [1]

egory OR check 2 andA

Channel InstabilityChannel Instability

• Signs of Instability:– Unvegetated Point 

Bars

– Shallow, Fine  Diameter, Diagonal 

Riffle Features

– High Bedload– Bank Erosion

Channelization and StabilityChannelization and Stability• Simplifies habitat

– no living space except for 

species that exploit disturbance

• Not an equilibrium state– requires maintenance

– leads to instability, especially 

bank erosion

•Reduces the use of the waterbody 

to conveyance  only – as currently 

practiced.

ModificationsModifications

CMODIFICATIONS/OTHER - SNAGGING - IMPOUND.

- RELOCATION - ISLANDS - CANOPY REMOVAL - LEVEED

- DREDGING - BANK SHAPING - ONE SIDE CHANNEL MODIFICATIONS

dAVERAGE )

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

0-2 3-6 7-10 11-13 14-16 17-20

IBI

Channel Condition Metric

Channel Metric Score

Riparian

Max 10

4]. RIPARIAN ZONE AND BANK EROSION-(check ONE box per bank or check 2 and AVERAGE per bank) River Right Looking DownstreamRIPARIAN WIDTH FLOOD PLAIN QUALITY (PAST 100 Meter RIPARIAN) BANK EROSION

L R (Per Bank) L R (Most Predominant Per Bank) L R L R (Per Bank) -FOREST, SWAMP [3] -CONSERVATION TILLAGE [1] -NONE/LITTLE [3] -SHRUB OR OLD FIELD [2] -URBAN OR INDUSTRIAL [0] -MODERATE [2] -RESIDENTIAL,PARK,NEW FIELD [1] -OPEN PASTURE,ROWCROP [0] -HEAVY/SEVERE[1]

-FENCED PASTURE [1] -MINING/CONSTRUCTION [0]

Comments:

- WIDE > 50m [4]

- MODERATE 10-50m [3]- NARROW 5-10 m [2]

- VERY NARROW <5 m[1] - NONE [0]

- VERY WIDE > 100m [5]

Riparian Zone and Bank ErosionRiparian Zone and Bank ErosionMetricMetric

Woody Riparian QualityWoody Riparian Quality

• Effects increase in 

importance as they 

accumulate in a watershed: 

Death of a Thousand Cuts!• Bank stabilization• Assimilation/storage of 

nutrients and sediment• Temperature moderation

Riparian WidthRiparian Width

• Riparian vegetation includes trees, shrubs and  wetlands; not grasses

• Select one width or two and average for each  bank, then average banks together

4]. RIPARIAN ZONE AND BRIPARIAN WIDTH

L R (Per Bank)

- WIDE > 50m [4]

- MODERATE 10-50m [3]- NARROW 5-10 m [2]

- VERY NARROW <5 m[1] - NONE [0]

- VERY WIDE > 100m [5]

Functional Riparian Zone in ActionFunctional Riparian Zone in Action

Adjacent Land Use/ FloodplainAdjacent Land Use/ Floodplain

• Area outside of existing 

riparian that can strongly 

affect stream via runoff

• Screening data, most 

accurate data from photos or 

GIS

FLOOD PLAIN QUALITY (PAST 100 Meter RIPARIAN)L R (Most Predominant Per Bank) L R -FOREST, SWAMP [3] -CONSERVATION TILLAGE [1] -SHRUB OR OLD FIELD [2] -URBAN OR INDUSTRIAL [0] -RESIDENTIAL,PARK,NEW FIELD [1] -OPEN PASTURE,ROWCROP [0] -FENCED PASTURE [1] -MINING/CONSTRUCTION [0]

Shading

• In streams with good habitat, good riparian shading and elevated nutrients, effects of these nutrients may be somewhat moderated by limiting light penetration

• Sunlight is match thrown on nutrient fuel

Excess Nutrients + No Shade = 

Bank ErosionBank Erosion

• Scores based on  Streambank Soil  Alteration Rating of 

Platts et al. (1983)

• In many cases bank  erosion is greatest 

source of bedload

• False banks are  considered eroded

Riparian

Max 10

River Right Looking DownstreamBANK EROSION

L R (Per Bank) -NONE/LITTLE [3] -MODERATE [2] -HEAVY/SEVERE[1]

Riparian encroachment ultimately leads to Riparian encroachment ultimately leads to bank destabilization and bank erosionbank destabilization and bank erosion

False BanksFalse Banks

• False banks are  formed when stream 

banks are trampled  by livestock and a 

steep bank is formed  back from the 

waters edge

Pool/Glide and Pool/Glide and Riffle/Run MetricRiffle/Run Metric

PoolPool‐‐Glide & RiffleGlide & Riffle‐‐Run QualityRun Quality

• Deeper pool = better pool• Deeper riffles & runs = better quality• Diversity of current velocities best• Morphology of riffles/pools affects 

characteristics and quality

Riffle‐Pool Morphology

RiffleRiffle• areas of the stream

with fast current velocity and shallow depth;

• the water surface is visibly broken by rocks, boulders, etc.

•

Functions:–

High production zone for 

macroinvertebrates

–

Spawning area for many 

sensitive species

–

Feeding area for species 

groups such as darters

–

Oxygenation

–

Filtration and pollution 

assimilation (high surface area 

relative to the volume of water 

passing through and over)

Engineered Riffles Trickling Sand Filter

RunRun• areas of the stream that have 

rapid flow but lack the depth 

discontinuity of a riffle;• runs are deeper than riffles with 

faster current velocity than pools;• generally located down‐stream 

from riffles where the stream 

narrows; • the stream bed is often flat 

beneath a run and the water 

surface is not visibly broken.

• Functions:– Spawning Area– Feeding Area– Oxygenation– Macroinvertebrate 

Production

Riffle/Run CharacteristicsRiffle/Run Characteristics

• What is depth of better 

riffle and run areas?

• Measure depths in areas 

that are clearly run or 

riffle

• Are substrates coarse or 

fine?

• Are substrates in 

riffle/run area 

embedded?

PoolPool• an area of the stream with 

slow current velocity;

• depth greater than riffle 

and run areas;

• the stream bed is often 

concave;

• stream width frequently is 

the greatest; 

• the water surface slope is 

nearly zero.

• Functions:– Low Flow Refugia– Nursery Area– Resting Area– Cover

5.]POOL/GLIDE AND RMAX. DEPTH

(Check 1 ONLY!) - >1m [6]

- 0.7-1m [4] - 0.4-0.7m [2]

- 0.2- 0.4m [1] - < 0.2m [POOL=0]

GlideGlide

• Flat, “canal‐like”

flow

• Shallow, generally  poor habitat

• Transitional in natural  streams

• Can be predominant  in channelized and 

altered streams

PO O L

•

Functions:

‐

Shallow nursery  areas

‐

Invertebrate  production

Stream FlowStream Flow

• Not explicitly  measured in QHEI

• Reflected in certain  metrics

• Can be limiting to  aquatic life in many 

instances• Consider flow regime 

when interpreting  data

Current Velocities in Streams

Eddy FastModerateCURRENT VELOCITY [ POOLS & RIFF

(Check All That Apply) -EDDIES[1] -TORRENTIAL[-1]

-FAST[1] -INTERSTITIAL[-1] -MODERATE [1] -INTERMITTENT[-2]

-SLOW [1]____________________________________

-VERY FAST[1] -NONE [-1]

Sharp drop from front to back of rod and boot indicates fast current velocities

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

TIPPECANOE DARTER

BLUEBREAST DARTER

SPOTTED DARTER

VARIEGATE DARTER

SLENDERHEAD DARTER

BANDED DARTER

EASTERN SAND DARTER

GREENSIDE DARTER

RAINBOW DARTER

LOGPERCH

CHANNEL DARTER

DUSKY DARTER

FANTAIL DARTER

BLACKSIDE DARTER

JOHNNY DARTER

ORANGETHROAT DARTER

LEAST DARTER

RIVER DARTER

QHEI Riffle Metric

Weighted Riffle Score

Large, Fast, Deep RifflesLow Embeddedness

Gradient MetricGradient Metric

Calculating Stream GradientCalculating Stream Gradient

• Locate site on topo  map

• Find upstream and  downstream contour 

line crossings• Calculate miles 

between contours• E.g. 640’

–

630’/1.5 

miles = 6.67’/mile

Gradient Metric ScoreGradient Metric Score

To the streams!!