Habitat Analysis Data Sheet

Stream: ______Group Members: ______

River System: ______

Date: ______

As you complete your habitat analysis please follow these steps.

Stream Discharge: The highlight of this portion is to calculate how much water is moving through your stream (volume). To do this, you will need three measurements, average width, average depth, and velocity.

1. Calculating the Average Width and Depth: With your metric measuring tape and meter stick, please measure the width and depth of your study site in three locations and then calculate the average of each.

Calculating Average Width:

(Location 1 ______m + Location 2 ______m + Location 3 ______m) / 3 = ______m

Calculating Average Depth:

(Location 1 ______m + Location 2 ______m + Location 3 ______m) / 3 = ______m

2. Calculating the Stream Velocity: In order to measure stream velocity, you will need your meter stick, stop watch, and a float. The float can be any buoyant object, such as an orange. To measure velocity, lay the meter stick along the bank parellel to the stream. Upstream from the meter stick, release the float and using the stopwatch, record the time it takes to reach the downstream end of the meter stick.

Calculating Stream Velocity:

1m / (______sec) = ______m/sec

3. Calculating Stream Discharge: Once you have completed steps 1 and 2, multiply each of the values together to then be able to calculate the volume of water moving through your stream.

Average Width x Average Depth x Velocity = Stream Discharge

______m x ______m x ______m/sec = ______m3/sec

Riparian and Channel Survey: The highlight this portion is to get a general idea of how energy (nutrients) might be getting into your stream, and how the structure of your stream channel may be impacting what invertebrates you have found. To do this, you will need to estimate:

  • the percentage of stream substrate type (boulders, cobble, gravel, etc)
  • the percentage of sections that are pooled in your stream
  • the percentage of sections of you stream that are shaded
  • the type of streamside coverage and in-stream woody debris
  • the surrounding land use
  • Estimate the water clarity

1. Estimate the percentage of stream substrate type (boulders, cobble, gravel, etc)

______% Boulder (3'<) ______% Cobble (6” - 3') ______% Gravel (1” - 6”)

______% Sand (1” >) ______% Bedrock

2. Estimate the percentage of sections that are pooled in your stream: A pooled area is any area within the stream where the water is moving slow and/or not at all. Use your best judgment and shade in the boxes that fit your estimated sections that are pooled in the stream.

0% / 10% / 20% / 30% / 40% / 50% / 60% / 70% / 80% / 90% / 100%

3. Estimate the percentage of sections of your stream that are shaded: A shaded area is any area within the stream where you are unable to see sunlight reflecting off of the surface. Use your best judgment and shade in the boxes that fit your estimated sections of the stream that is shaded.

0% / 10% / 20% / 30% / 40% / 50% / 60% / 70% / 80% / 90% / 100%

4. Estimate the type of streamside coverage and in-stream woody debris: For this portion, you will need to look at what sort of vegetation that is mostly found growing along the stream channel as well as what sort of woody debris is found within the stream channel. Place an X in the box that fits your estimation. If a type is not found, place your X in the None column.

Streamside Cover Type

Type / Abundant / Moderate / Sparse / None
Coniferous Trees
Deciduous Trees
Grass and/or Shrubs

Instream Woody Debris:

Type / Abundant / Moderate / Sparse / None
Logs
Root Wads
Limbs
Brush

5. Estimate the water clarity: For this portion, estimate how far down you can see clearly into the water. Circle the depth range that best fits your estimation.

< 1”Between 1” and 3”Over 3”