Subsequent agency visits (during site operation and site closure) should 

 measure the same parameters and document habitat alterations. 



Field Techniques 



Observations. Record and numerate all fish and wildlife encountered in 

 each habitat type. 



Stream Velocity. Stream velocity can be estimated by placing a biodegrad- 

 able object with a density slightly less then that of water (such as an orange 

 or lemon), in the river and recording the time required to travel between two 

 measured points. Express the measurement in feet or meters per second. 



Bank and Instream Cover. Bank and instream cover can be expressed as 

 percent of total cover and percent by each category. Categories for which 

 available habitat should be assessed include: 



• Banks - undercut bank, overhanging bank vegetation, and near-surface 

 (submerged and emergent) bank vegetation. 



• Instream - boulders, logs, large debris, and other velocity bar- 

 r iers. 



• Depth - water depth acting as cover such as deep pools and runs. 



Substrate. Estimate the percent of substrate composed of the different 

 particle sizes according to the modified Wentworth scale supplied in Appendix 

 H. Separate by pool and riffle. 



Photographs . Photographs should be obtained to show the main habitat 

 features of the river reach being studied (e.g., riffles, runs, pools, 

 islands, gravel bars, riparian shrub thickets, mud flats, backwater areas, 

 incised and undercut banks). If possible, photographs should be collected from 

 an elevated vantage point, such as a high bank. A sequence covering the entire 

 reach of stream is desirable. A record should be made of each photograph. 



I 13 



