CLASSIFICATION OF STREAMS 



Each stream in the study area was classified and ranked to assist the 

 Federal aqencies with nakinq the decision concerninq leasinq of federal 

 coal reserves. The importance of the aquatic resources in relation to 

 surface coal mininq is therefore recoqnized. A ratinq procedure 

 developed by Holton and McFarland (1978) was utilized to assiqn each 

 stream a species and habitat value and a sport fishery potential value. 

 The fish resource value was then assiqned. 



The value assiqned for species and habitat was determined by a point 

 system in which most points were awarded for important habitats of fish 

 species of special concern. Native species found in limited numbers and/or 

 limited waters were considered of special concern. Fewer points were 

 awarded to less important habitats of species of special concern and for 

 widespread species occurrinq in larqe numbers. Least points were awarded 

 for non-indiqeneous species considered of minimal value. Points were also 

 qiven for esthetics and for importance to local connunity for scientific 

 study, nature study and/or recreation. The procedure for the ratinq system 

 is included in Appendix III. 



Sport fishery potential was based on a point system in which points were 

 awarded for (1) productivity as indicated by biomass or numbers and sizes of 

 qame or sport fish, (2) leqal riqhts of the public to fish or will inqness 

 of a landowner to permit fishinq, (3) esthetics and, (4) use by fishermen 

 (fishinq pressure). 



Six value classes were established and a stream was rated accordinq to 

 its score as follows: 



Value Class 



Class Identification 



1 

 2 

 3 

 4 

 5 

 6 



Hiqhest valued fishery resource 



Hiqh priority fishery resource 



Substantial fishery resource 



Limited fishery resource 



Low value fishery resources 



Neqliqible fishery resource or not classified 



The value and subsequent ratinq for each stream covered by this study 

 is summarized in Table 12. Computer printouts for each stream reach are in 

 Appendix III. 



Beaver Creek received the hiqhest ratinq of the streams under consideration, 

 with a value class of 2. Habitat for the creek chub, a class C species of 

 special concern was considered to be substantial in Beaver Creek. Since 

 Beaver Creek is the only perennially flowinq stream in the area, it was 

 qiven special consideration as beinq important to the cormunity. Points 

 accumulated from the remaininq species brouqht the total to 10.9. A 

 class 2 stream is considered to have a hiqh priority fishery resource and 

 should be protected. Activities planned for the Beaver Creek drainaqe 



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