EPA-OW: NRSA Habitat 2013 (Wade): Physical Habitat Characterization in small wadeable streams
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Official Method Name
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Section 8: Physical Habitat Characterization—Wadeable Streams (of National Rivers and Streams Assessment: Field Operations Manual (2013)) |
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Current Revision
| 2013 |
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Media
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WATER (Waterbody type - Wadeable stream) |
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Instrumentation
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Field Equipment |
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Method Subcategory
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Physical |
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Method Source
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Citation
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Protocol
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EPA-841-B-12-009 - National Rivers and Streams Assessment: Field Operations Manual (2013) |
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Brief Method Summary
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Physical habitat in rivers includes all those physical attributes that influence or provide sustenance to organisms within the stream. The physical habitat of a river varies naturally, thus expectations differ even in the absence of anthropogenic disturbance. River sample reach lengths are defined as 40 times the wetted width at the x-site, with a minimum of 150m and maximum of 4k, as described in Section 3. Measurement points are systematically placed to statistically represent the entire reach. River depth and wetted width are measured at very tightly spaced intervals, whereas channel cross-section profiles, substrate, bank characteristics and riparian vegetation structure are measured at larger intervals. Woody debris is tallied along the full length of the sampling reach. The tightly spaced depth and width measures allow calculation of indices of channel structural complexity, objective classification of channel units such as pools, and quantification of residual pool depth, pool volume, and total stream volume. |
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Scope and Application
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This method describes the procedure for collecting water quality, physical habitat characteristics in large non-wadeable rivers that are sampled as part of the U.S. EPA's National Rivers and Streams Assessment. Physical habitat in rivers includes all those physical attributes that influence or provide sustenance to river organisms. Physical habitat varies naturally; thus, expectations differ even in the absence of anthropogenic disturbance. Within a given physiographic-climatic region, river drainage area and channel gradient are likely to be strong natural determinants of many aspects of river habitat, because of their influence on discharge, flood stage, and stream power (the product of discharge times gradient). |
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Applicable Concentration Range
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Interferences
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Follow the guidelines for choosing the habitat sampling increment between thalweg profile measurements, based on channel width. |
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Quality Control Requirements
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Sample Handling
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Maximum Holding Time
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Relative Cost
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Unknown |
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Sample Preparation Methods
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