Biological Resources

Riparian Transect: Evaluation of species of riparian plants, the size and density of the trees, and caopy closure over the stream. Riparian vegetation is integral in maintaining cool water temperatures and providing food and shelter to a variety of animals.

Siltation and Channel Conditions:

Pebble Count and Embeddedness: A method of characterizing the material on the streambed. Size and distribution of material on the streambed are important factors in determining the quality of salmon habitat. Extensive fine particle deposits in pools decrease the pool depth and reduce the complexity of the substrate which creates poor habitat for salmon and other organisms.

Identifying Bankfull: A method to measure the physical characteristics that indicate the flow at bankfull and measure the distance between these points. A stream is said to be at bankfull when the water is at the top of the bank; just about to overflow. The flow at bankfull, also called bankfull discharge, shapes the channel over time and since significant levels of sediment transport occur at this time, estimates of sediment transport capacity can be made given estimates of bankfull discharge and depth.

Water Quality:

Water Quality Monitoring: A method to determine if the water chemistry is suitable for fish and other beneficial uses of the water. The presence of high levels of certain consituents can indicate the need for change in land use or land management.