Standard Operating Procedure WWSOP04001 Effective Date: 04/01/2013 KENTUCKY WATERSHED WATCH LOW GRADIENT STREAM HABITAT ASSESSMENT

This presentation is based on the “Kentucky Watershed Watch Low Gradient Stream Habitat Assessment Standard Operating Procedure WWSOP04001” SOP statement

What is a watershed? Introduction to Habitat and Water Quality

Smaller watersheds combine to create larger watersheds Introduction to Habitat and Water Quality

Land use in watersheds affects stream habitat Introduction to Habitat and Water Quality

Introduction to Habitat and Water Quality More impervious cover Increased runoff More impervious cover Increased runoff

Increased Erosion Introduction to Habitat and Water Quality

Turbidity and Sedimentation Introduction to Habitat and Water Quality

Incised channel Streamconnection to floodplain to floodplain Introduction to Habitat and Water Quality Normal channel

Stream Types in Kentucky Differences in Gradient = Differences in Habitat Types Low Gradient High Gradient

You will receive materials from program coordinators or by mail You will receive materials from program coordinators or by mail Read instructions upon receipt! (Critical info on sample times included) Read instructions upon receipt! (Critical info on sample times included) You will receive for sampling: InstructionsInstructions Field RecordsField Records Field Data SheetsField Data Sheets Calculation SheetCalculation Sheet Pre-sampling Information

Reach Selection The Habitat Assessment is performed on the same 100 meter reach selected for the Biological Assessment… …and should be performed immediately following the Biological Assessment.

Sample Scheduling Habitat Assessments must be done in when the Biological Assessments are completed MayorJune

Habitat Assessment Field Data Sheet Ten Habitat Parameters – Front and Back of Page

Habitat Parameters Habitat Parameters 1.Epifaunal Substrate/Available Cover 2.Pool Substrate Characterization 3.Pool Variability 4.Sediment Deposition 5.Channel Flow Status 6.Channel Alteration 7.Channel Sinuosity 8.Bank Stability 9.Vegetative Protection 10.Riparian Vegetative Zone Width

Habitat Parameters 1.Epifaunal Substrate/Available Cover 2.Pool Substrate Characterization 3.Pool Variability 4.Sediment Deposition 5.Channel Flow Status 6.Channel Alteration 7.Channel Sinuousity 8.Bank Stability 9.Vegetative Protection 10.Riparian Vegetative Zone Width Parameters 1 – 5 evaluate the same 100 m used for the Biological Assessment (this 100 m includes the grab sampling location) Parameters 6 – 10 evaluate the 100 m assessed in 1 – 5, plus an additional 100 m upstream

Condition Category Score Condition Categories and Scores Condition Categories Optimal (16-20) Optimal (16-20) Suboptimal (11-15) Suboptimal (11-15) Marginal (6-10) Marginal (6-10) Poor (0-5) Poor (0-5)Scores Range from 20-0 Range from 20-0 Highest is best Highest is best

Habitat Parameters 1 What is Epifaunal Substrate? Epi - on top of Fauna - animals Substrate – material on the bottom What is Epifaunal Substrate? Epi - on top of Fauna - animals Substrate – material on the bottom

Habitat Parameters 1 Stable habitat = consistently available conditions Colonization potential = aged, stream-conditioned substrate materials capable of providing food and shelter for macroinvertebrates Stable habitat = consistently available conditions Colonization potential = aged, stream-conditioned substrate materials capable of providing food and shelter for macroinvertebrates

2

Habitat Parameters 2 Sand Gravel Mud Hard-pan clay Clay

Habitat Parameters 2 Gravel = bigger than a bb, but smaller than your fist Sand = sediment with particle sizes smaller than a bb but still with gritty texture Mud = silt and clay mixture Clay = sediment with particle sizes that will form ribbons when rubbed between thumb and fingers Hard-pan clay = compacted clay deposits on a stream bottom that give the appearance of bedrock, but have a hard gummy surface Gravel = bigger than a bb, but smaller than your fist Sand = sediment with particle sizes smaller than a bb but still with gritty texture Mud = silt and clay mixture Clay = sediment with particle sizes that will form ribbons when rubbed between thumb and fingers Hard-pan clay = compacted clay deposits on a stream bottom that give the appearance of bedrock, but have a hard gummy surface

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Habitat Parameters 3

Mix = well-balanced combination of all four pool types present in the reach Deep/shallow = very dependent on watershed size; deep at the beginning of a stream may be only 0.5 meter, and deep in a larger stream may be one meter or more Mix = well-balanced combination of all four pool types present in the reach Deep/shallow = very dependent on watershed size; deep at the beginning of a stream may be only 0.5 meter, and deep in a larger stream may be one meter or more

Habitat Parameters 4 Point Bar Island

Habitat Parameters 4 Point bar = a curved ridge of sediment deposited by a stream on the inside of a bend (can be located below the surface of the water or extend above it)

Habitat Parameters 5 Base of lower bank = the point at which the stream bed ends and the stream bank begins

Habitat Parameters NOTE: = Parameters six through ten should evaluate an area from approximately 100 m upstream of (and in addition to) the original 100 m sampling reach (for a total of 200 m). This whole area should be evaluated as a composite. 200 meter reach original 100 meters additional 100 meters

Habitat Parameters 6 Dredging = physical removal of material from stream bed, usually done with heavy equipment Embankment = a stream bank that has been raised to hold back water, carry a roadway, etc. Bridge abutment = a structure that supports a bridge and is built in or near the stream Gabion = a metal cage containing natural materials (usually rock) that are stacked to support stream banks Dredging = physical removal of material from stream bed, usually done with heavy equipment Embankment = a stream bank that has been raised to hold back water, carry a roadway, etc. Bridge abutment = a structure that supports a bridge and is built in or near the stream Gabion = a metal cage containing natural materials (usually rock) that are stacked to support stream banks

Habitat Parameters 7 Channel Channel Sinuosity Sinuosity Channel Channel Sinuosity Sinuosity 200 meter reach length 200 meter reach length Straight line distance Straight line distance 200 meter reach length 200 meter reach length Straight line distance Straight line distance=

Habitat Parameters 7 Measure the straight line distance (ignoring the bends of the stream) from the starting point to the end point of your 200 meter reach Straight line distance

Habitat Parameters meters 200 meter reach Channel Channel Sinuosity Sinuosity Channel Channel Sinuosity Sinuosity 200 meter reach length 200 meter reach length Straight line distance Straight line distance 200 meter reach length 200 meter reach length Straight line distance Straight line distance= meter reach 200 meter reach 120 meters 120 meters 200 meter reach 200 meter reach 120 meters 120 meters=

Habitat Parameters 7

Habitat Parameters 8 through 10 are scored for each bank Which bank is left and which is right?

Habitat Parameters 8 Erosion = loss of soil or rock material from the stream bank due to the flow of water Bank Failure/Sloughing = events that cause large scale displacement of soil or rock material due to support material being undercut or weakened by erosion due to saturation “Raw” areas = stream bank locations with recently exposed soil Erosion = loss of soil or rock material from the stream bank due to the flow of water Bank Failure/Sloughing = events that cause large scale displacement of soil or rock material due to support material being undercut or weakened by erosion due to saturation “Raw” areas = stream bank locations with recently exposed soil

Habitat Parameters 9

Native vegetation = the plants that have developed over time to exist in a particular geographic area without human intervention and are adapted to survive in a balance in the specific local conditions Understory shrub = a woody plant of low height having several stems arising from the base that grows beneath the tree canopy Nonwoody macrophytes = soft-stemmed plants that are visible to the naked eye Native vegetation = the plants that have developed over time to exist in a particular geographic area without human intervention and are adapted to survive in a balance in the specific local conditions Understory shrub = a woody plant of low height having several stems arising from the base that grows beneath the tree canopy Nonwoody macrophytes = soft-stemmed plants that are visible to the naked eye

Habitat Parameters 10 Optimal width is around 18 meters = ~60 feet

Habitat Parameters 10 Riparian area = the land along and adjacent to a stream or river

Field Data Sheet Completion Add the scores from parameters 1-10 on your Field Data Sheet (both sides) to determine your Total Habitat Score This step does not have to be completed at the stream Add the scores from parameters 1-10 on your Field Data Sheet (both sides) to determine your Total Habitat Score This step does not have to be completed at the stream

Field Record Completion At the stream, record the time and date that you perform your Habitat Assessment DateTime

Field Record Completion At the stream, complete: (1) Land (1) Land Uses Uses in the in the Watershed Watershed

Field Record Completion And, at the stream, complete: (2) Riparian Vegetation and and (3) Instream Features

Field Record Completion Transfer the Total Habitat Score from the Field Data Sheet to the box labeled “Total Habitat Score” on your Field Record

Field Record Completion Determine and record your headwater or wadeable classification in the box labeled “Headwater/Wadeable” These classifications are based on the watershed size (or area) measured from your sampling location

Field Record Completion Determining Headwater/ Wadeable Classification From the Watershed Watch Data Management page URL: Use the “Watershed Use the “Watershed Watch Site Locations” Watch Site Locations” link to determine your link to determine your site’s latitude and site’s latitude and longitude longitude

Field Record Completion Determining Watershed Size Use the “Kentucky Watershed Viewer” URL: to locate your to locate your sampling site sampling site using the using the “Find an Address” icon icon

Field Record Completion Determining Watershed Size Using the “Kentucky Watershed Viewer,” click the yellow line click the yellow line to determine to determine “SQMI:” “SQMI:” (watershed size in (watershed size in square miles) square miles)

Using the watershed size (“SQMI:” area), classify your watershed area as: <5.0 square miles = Headwater <5.0 square miles = Headwater OR OR >5.0 square miles = Wadeable >5.0 square miles = Wadeable Record the square miles (“SQMI:”) and Classification on your Field Record Field Record Completion Determining Headwater/Wadeable Classification

Using your Total Habitat Score, Bioregion, and Headwater or Wadeable classification, determine on Table 2 the Habitat Rating for your site and record in the box labeled “Habitat Rating” on your Field Record Field Record Completion

Following each Habitat Assessment event, please mail a copy of all completed forms to: KY Water Watch Office 200 Fair Oaks Lane, 4 th Floor Frankfort, KY Watershed Watch forms are maintained by the KY Water Watch program and electronically filed for safekeeping If you have any questions or difficulties, please contact the KY Water Watch office at: FORM SUBMITTAL

The Watershed Watch Stream Habitat Assessment examines the condition of ten habitat parameters to make supporting conclusions about the health of the aquatic system. INTERPRETATION

INTERPRETATION Diverse macroinvertebrate community Undisturbed riparian habitat High quality instream habitat

Disturbed riparian habitat Altered instream habitat INTERPRETATION Less diverse macroinvertebrate community

Typically shallow and narrowTypically shallow and narrow Direct influence by adjacentDirect influence by adjacentwatershed Watershed disturbance leadsWatershed disturbance leads to rapid, extensive stream impacts Headwater Typically wider and deeperTypically wider and deeper Also influenced by multiple headwater watershedsAlso influenced by multiple headwater watersheds Watershed disturbance effects buffered/magnified by multiple headwater watershedsWatershed disturbance effects buffered/magnified by multiple headwater watershedsWadeableINTERPRETATION

INTERPRETATION IF THEN look further to water quality results to attempt to explain the impacts

INTERPRETING DATA STATEWIDE

Phase 2 (Biological and Habitat Assessment) Phase 2 (Biological and Habitat Assessment) Training: Training: Your sampling and assessment skills are considered Your sampling and assessment skills are considered current after completing WWKY-approved training current after completing WWKY-approved training You will be notified that training updates are You will be notified that training updates are required if modifications are made to WWKY required if modifications are made to WWKY methods methods RECERTIFICATION

IMPORTANT: If you observe an outfall, pipe, or anything that might indicate illegal pollution of a waterway, contact KDOW to report complaints or concerns at during business hours. For environmental emergencies such as spills of gas, oil or other substances, contact the Environmental Response Team at or