Andrew Lipsky

State Biologist

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Andrew.Lipsky@ri.usda.gov

Rhode island Watershed Stewardship Class: Introduction to Stream Visual Assessment

Providence, RISeptember 26, 2006

Stream Visual

Assessment Protocol (SVAP)

Stream Visual Assessment Protocal-SVAP

One among Many

• All protocols, indices, and assessment tools used to characterize stream condition.

• Vary significantly in required scale, expertise, and data intensity.

VT Agency of Natural Resources

Healthy Stream Ecosystems

Habitat Thresholds Species MX. Weekly

Avg. Temp for

Juveniles

Max Temp. for Survival of

Short Exposure Juveniles

Max Weekly Avg. Temp. for

Spawning

Bluegill 90◦F 95◦F 77◦F

Channel Catfish

90◦ 95◦ 81◦

Largemouth 90◦ 93◦ 70◦

Smallmouth 84◦ 63◦

Brook Trout 66◦ 75◦ 48◦

SVAP

• Qualitative and meant to be conducted with the input and assistance of the landowner

• Allows relatively fast assessment of meaningful stream and riparian characteristics

• Provides the basics for planning stream and riparian conservation practices

Benchmarks

• So, how do you figure out how a stream should “look”???Reference sites – Benchmarks that serve

as examples of relatively unimpacted systems that exhibit a complete set of structural and functional elements

You may have to contact/collaborate with other agencies who have reference site data in the basin of interest

Using SVAP

• Two part approach – Reach identification and assessmentSelect a representative reachIf channel changes dramatically, add

additional reachesDetermine active channel (bankfull) widthAssessment reach = 12 X bankfull width

Example: Bankfull Width = 32 feet

Assess at least 384 feet

Scoring

• Maximum 15 stream elements to score

• Range of scores: 10 (best conditions) to 0 (worst conditions)

• Macroinvertebrates 15 to -3

• Score only elements that are relevant to the reach you are assessing

• Intermediate scoring is allowed

SVAP Assessment

• Two page worksheet with 15 assessment elementsNot all elements are applicable everywhere

in the USOverall score = summation of all scored

values divided by the number scoredEXAMPLE – 12 elements scored

Sum = 82

SVAP Score = 82/12 = 6.8 (Fair)6.8 (Fair)

Bankfull Channel Width

• Determines the length of the assessment reach

• Numerous field indicators to determine bankfull channel width; some stronger according to physiographic region

• ALWAYS try to measure bankfull channel width just upstream of a hydraulic control– Riffles, bedrock outcrops, waterfalls, etc.

Bankfull Channel Width

K. Gullett photo

Embryonic active floodplain developing in incised channel. Stage IV of channel evolution.

a. Abandoned floodplain b. Active floodplain indicating bankfull stage

Adapted from Vermont Stream Geomorphic Assessment

VT Agency of Natural Resources

SVAP Scoring Elements

Channel Condition

Channel Condition

Hydrologic Alteration

Hydrologic Alteration

Riparian Zone

Right Bank No BufferEmergent Vegetation boundary

Left Bank Narrow Riparian Buffer

Sept.18, 2004 Flood level in Town hay field

Bank Stability

K. Gullett photo U. of Wash. photo

Bank Stability

Water Appearance

Water Appearance

K. Gullett photo

Nutrient Enrichment

Nutrient Enrichment

M. Zuroske photo

D. Orth photo

Barriers to Fish Movement

Barriers to Fish Passage-A regional and local perspective

Dams of the Eastern United

States

Barriers to Fish Passage in RI

Impacts of River and Stream Dams/Crossings

– Habitat loss and degradation

– Alteration of Ecological Processes

– Population fragmentation & isolation

– Reduced access to vital habitats

– Disruption of processes that maintain regional populations

K. Gullett photo K. Gullett photo

USFS photo

Passage Barriers

The RI River & Stream Continuity Project

Watershed ApproachThe RI River & Stream Continuity ProjectRoad Crossings as Potential Barriers to

Wildlife and Fish Movement

American Shad Declines on the Pawcatuck River

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

1979

1981

1983

1985

1987

1989

1991

1993

1995

1997

1999

2001

2003

2005

Alosids: Declining Populations

Current Commercial Shad Harvest 5% of Historic Catch

Data provided by RIDEM Fish & Wildlife

River Herring Decline at Two Rhode Island Rivers

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

300,000

350,000

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Ab

un

dan

ce

Gilbert Stuart Nonquit

Instream Fish Cover

Aquatic Habitats – formed by the free movement of water and materials, during high flows

Habitat Structure

Bass/sunfish

Brook troutMinnows/sucker

Fish and Invertebrate

Habitat

Instream Fish Cover

U. of Wash. photo

Pools

A stream with many pool types will support a wide variety of aquatic species. Rivers with low sinuosity (few bends) and monotonous pool characteristics do not have sufficient quantities and variety of habitat to support a diverse aquatic community. An even mix of all pool types is most desirable. In the absence of some pool types, it is better to have deep pools over shallow pools. All small-shallow pools or lack of pools entirely are the least desirable conditions.

Pools

• Refuge for fish during low flow, drought periods

• Resting and feeding area

• Refuge from predators

Stream Bed Terminology• Riffles: the sections of the bed with the steepest slopes and shallowest

depths at flows below bankfull. Riffles typically occur at the cross over locations and have a poorly defined thalweg.

• • Runs: differ from riffles in that depth of flow is typically greater and slope of the bed is less than that of riffles. Runs will often have a well defined thalweg.

• • Pools: are the deepest locations of the reach. Water surface slope of pools at below bankfull flows is near zero. Pools are often located at the outside of meander bends.

Stream BedTerminology• • Glides: are located immediately downstream of pools. The slope

of the channel bed through a glide is negative while the slope of the water surface is positive. The head of the glide can be difficult to identify. Use the following characteristics to help you locate the head of the glide:

– the location of increased flow velocity coming out of the pool, – the location at which the steeply sloped bed rising out of the pool

decreases to a lesser gradient, – the location at which the thalweg coming out of the pool

becomes less well defined and essentially fades completely. – the location which is approximately same elevation as the tail of

the run

Invertebrate Habitat

Invertebrate Habitat

Canopy Cover

Canopy Cover

AFS photo

Manure Presence

Score only if livestock and/or human waste discharge is present

Manure Presence

Riffle Embeddedness

Score only if riffles are present, a naturally occurring alluvial feature, or known to be buried.

Riffle Embeddedness

K. Gullett photo

Macroinvertebrates Observed

Macroinvertebrates Observed

Group IMayfly-

Ephemeroptera(collector)

Group IStonefly-Plecoptera

(Shredder)

Group IICrayfish-

Crustacean

Group IIDragon Fly

Group IIIMidge Fly Larvae

Summary

• Assess stream reach 12 X bankfull width• Score a maximum 15 elements; use those

applicable to your site• Assign a rating for each element—

intermediate scoring is OK• Calculate overall score• Determine the narrative rating• Describe potential causes of poor conditions

and recommendations for improving them

Identify Reaches to be evaluated

East Branch Of The North River Rapid Habitat Assessment Summary

of Six Reaches Sampled 9-20-2004

-1

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

PR1 DSPR2 PR3DS PR6 PR7B PR7AReach Id

Co

nd

itio

n R

atin

g(2

0-16

Ref

eren

ce,

15-1

1 G

oo

d,

10-6

Fai

r, 5

-0 P

oo

r)

Epifaunal Substrate and Available Cover EmbeddednessVelocity/Depth patterns Sediment DepositionChannel Flow Status Channel Alteration Frequency of Riffles/Steps Bank Stability-left bankBank Stability-right bank Bank Vegetative Protection-left bankBank Vegetative Protection-right bank Riparian Zone Width-left bankRiparian Zone Width-right bank

Reference-Optimal

Poor

Good

Fair

Rapid Aquatic Habitat Assesment Total Score Based Upon Ten Aquatic Habitat Variables at Six Reaches of the East Branch of the North River

0.00

0.10

0.20

0.30

0.40

0.50

0.60

0.70

0.80

PR1 DSPR2 PR3DS PR6 PR7B PR7A

Reach Identifier

To

tal A

sses

smen

t S

core

(0.

00 t

o 1

.00)

Poor

Good

Fair

Courtesy of Buckley and Nixon(2001) An Historical Assessment of Anadromous Fish in the Blackstone River

In 1735 The RI General Assembly stated that any mill owner erecting a dam across a water where migratory fish normally pass had to provide a “good and sufficient Way through such Dam or Weir for the fish to pass and repass” that be opened during the spring runs…., “