USGS-NAWQA: Stream Habitat Assessment
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Title
| Revised Methods for Characterizing Stream Habitat in the National Water-Quality Assessment Program |
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Author
| Fitzpatrick, F.A., Waite, I.R., D'Arconte, P.J., Meador, M.R., Maupin, M.A., and Gurtz, M.E. |
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Abstract/Summary Statement
| Stream habitat is characterized in the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program as part of an integrated physical, chemical, and biological assessment of the Nation's water quality. The goal of stream habitat characterization is to relate habitat to other physical, chemical, and biological factors that describe water-quality conditions. To accomplish this goal, environmental settings are described at sites selected for water-quality assessment. In addition, spatial and temporal patterns in habitat are examined at local, regional, and national scales. This habitat protocol contains updated methods for evaluating habitat in NAWQA Study Units. Revisions are based on lessons learned after 6 years of applying the original NAWQA habitat protocol to NAWQA Study Unit ecological surveys. Similar to the original protocol, these revised methods for evaluating stream habitat are based on a spatially hierarchical framework that incorporates habitat data at basin, segment, reach, and microhabitat scales. This framework provides a basis for national consistency in collection techniques while allowing flexibility in habitat assessment within individual Study Units. Procedures are described for collecting habitat data at basin and segment scales; these procedures include use of geographic information system data bases, topographic maps, and aerial photographs. Data collected at the reach scale include channel, bank, and riparian characteristics. |
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Table of Contents
| Sections include: Abstract Introduction Summary of revisions to original protocol Habitat-sampling design Basin characterization Segment characterization Reach characterization Data management Data analysis Data-application examples Summary References cited Field forms |
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Citation
| Fitzpatrick, F.A., Waite, I.R., D'Arconte, P.J., Meador, M.R., Maupin, M.A., and Gurtz, M.E., 1998, Revised Methods for Characterizing Stream Habitat in the National Water-Quality Assessment Program: U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources Investigations Report 98-4052, 67 p. |
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Method Source
| USGS-NAWQA |
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Source Organization Country
| USA |
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Publication Year
| 1998 |
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Special Notes
| |
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Item Type
| Report / Guidance Document |
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Publication Source Type
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Government Agency (Federal, USA) |
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Purpose
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Data analysis Monitoring program design |
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Design or Data Analysis Objectives
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Communities & populations Compare locations Relationships & correlations Spatial trends |
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Complexity
| Low |
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Media Emphasized
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Biological Other Surface Water Additional information: Stream Habitat |
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Media Subcategory
| |
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Special Topics
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