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U.S. Geological Survey
Water-Resources Investigations Report 98-4052

Revised Methods for Characterizing Stream Habitat in the National Water-Quality Assessment Program

By Faith A. Fitzpatrick, Ian R. Waite, Patricia J. D'Arconte, Michael R. Meador, Molly A. Maupin, and Martin E. Gurtz

Abstract

Stream habitat is characterized in the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program as part of an integrated physical, chemical, and biological assessment of the Nation's water quality. The goal of stream habitat characterization is to relate habitat to other physical, chemical, and biological factors that describe water-quality conditions. To accomplish this goal, environmental settings are described at sites selected for water-quality assessment. In addition, spatial and temporal patterns in habitat are examined at local, regional, and national scales.

This habitat protocol contains updated methods for evaluating habitat in NAWQA Study Units. Revisions are based on lessons learned after 6 years of applying the original NAWQA habitat protocol to NAWQA Study Unit ecological surveys. Similar to the original protocol, these revised methods for evaluating stream habitat are based on a spatially hierarchical framework that incorporates habitat data at basin, segment, reach, and microhabitat scales. This framework provides a basis for national consistency in collection techniques while allowing flexibility in habitat assessment within individual Study Units. Procedures are described for collecting habitat data at basin and segment scales; these procedures include use of geographic information system data bases, topographic maps, and aerial photographs. Data collected at the reach scale include channel, bank, and riparian characteristics.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Glossary

Abstract

Introduction

Summary of revisions to original protocol

Habitat-sampling design

Conceptual framework for characterizing stream habitat

Relevance and application to other habitat-assessment techniques

Selection of sampling sites

Sampling strategy for fixed and synoptic sites

Preferred units of measure

Basin characterization

Background

Description and list of basin characteristics

Segment characterization

Background

Description and list of segment characteristics

Reach characterization

Selection of a reach

Collection of general reach data and placement of transects

Identification of banks and bankfull stage

   Empirical relations for identifying bankfull stage

   Field indicators of bankfull stage

Collection of transect data

Additional optional measurements

   Surveys of channel cross sections

   Riparian-vegetation characterization

   Substrate characterization

Description and list of reach-scale habitat characteristics

   General reach information

   Transect information

Equipment list

Data management

Forms

Habitat data dictionary

Data analysis

Data-application examples

Willamette Basin

Western Lake Michigan Drainages

   Synoptic study

   Basic fixed sites

Summary

References cited

Field forms

This report is available online in Portable Document Format (PDF). If you do not have the Adobe Reader, it is available for free download from Adobe Systems Incorporated.

Download the report (PDF, 3.6 MB)

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For further information about this report, contact the National Water-Quality Assessment Program office.

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U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey Persistent URL: http://pubsdata.usgs.gov/pubs/wri/wri984052/ Page Contact Information: USGS Publishing Network Last modified: Wednesday, December 07 2016, 01:35:24 PM

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