Aquatic Inventory Project Training Materials and Methods for Stream

272 Pages·1999·6.99 MB·English

by  Patty Bowers

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AQUATIC INVENTORY PROJECT
Training Materials
and
Methods For
Stream Habitat Surveys
OREGON OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
Salmon-Trout Enhancement Program
and
Aquatic Inventory Project
Natural Production Program
Fish& Wildlife
Prepared By:
OREGON
Kelly Moore, Kim Jones, Jeffrey Dambacher, Jennifer Burke
Charlie Stein & STEP Biologists
Editor:
Fish& Wildlife Patty Bowers
May 1999
Funding provided by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's
Restoration and Enhancement Program and the Governor's
Watershed Enhancement Board.
Copyright © 1999 by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. All rights reserved. No part of this
manual may be reproduced without written permission of the STEP Program Coordinator.
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
PO Box 59
2501 SW First Avenue
Portland, OR 97207
phone:[phone]
fax: [phone]
web: www.dfw.state.or.us
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
This program receives federal assistance in Sport Fish Restoration and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color,
national origin, age, sex, or disability. If you believe that you have been discriminated against as described above in any
program, activity, or facility, or if you desire further information, please contact ADA Coordinator, Oregon Department of
Fish and Wildlife, PO Box 59, Portland, OR 97207, 503-872-5262, or write Office for Human Resources, US Fish and
Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, Washington, DC 20240.
This material will be furnished in alternate format for people with disabilities if needed. Please call 503-872-5252 (voice)
or 503-872-5259 (Portland TTY) to request.
Aquatic Habitat Inventory
OREGON
Table Of Contents
Fish& Wildlife
A Habitat Survey — Here's What It's All About................................................................A-1
Here's What You'll Find...........................................................................................A-3
Preparing For The Survey.......................................................................................A-5
Survey Level Comparison .......................................................................................A-13
B A Lesson Plan And Checklist For The Trainer
•Getting Started.......................................................................................................B-3
•Get Ready — A Simple Guide To Planning...........................................................B-7
•Get Set — Lay Out The Ground Work...................................................................B-9
•Go — Make It Happen...........................................................................................B-15
•Assessor's Office Field Trip...................................................................................B-19
Habitat Survey Methods
C •Basic Level Methods For Stream Habitat Surveys ................................................C-1
D •Intermediate Level Methods For Stream Habitat Surveys.....................................D-1
E •Riparian Zone Methods For Stream Habitat Surveys............................................E-1
F •Photo Records Methods For Stream Habitat Surveys...........................................F-1
G Slide Show and Script (Intermediate Level Methods)...................................................G-1
H Tool Box
•Training Tools........................................................................................................H-1
•Data Sheet Masters...............................................................................................H-7
•Data Sheet Examples............................................................................................H-12
•Habitat Unit References.........................................................................................H-17
•Survey Tools..........................................................................................................H-19
•Landowner Contact Tools......................................................................................H-29
I Data Analysis And Interpretation
•Data Analysis.........................................................................................................IA-1
•A Guide To Interpreting Stream Survey Analysis Reports.....................................I-1
•How To Use This Guide.........................................................................................I-3
•Guide Organization................................................................................................I-4
•Stream Level Analyses..........................................................................................I-7
•Watershed Level Analyses ....................................................................................I-41
J Volunteer Management
•Volunteer Management Tools................................................................................J-1
•Volunteer Program Contacts .................................................................................J-3
•Volunteer Form Masters ........................................................................................J-11
K Resources
•ODFW Fish District Contacts.................................................................................K-1
•ODFW STEP Biologists.........................................................................................K-6
•ODFW-Aquatic Inventory Project Contacts ...........................................................K-9
•Watershed Council Contacts .................................................................................K-11
L Literature Sources ........................................................................................................L-1
M Glossary........................................................................................................................M-1
Aquatic Inventory Project
OREGON
Habitat Survey
Fish& Wildlife
Here's What It's All About!
The Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds is a call to all Oregonians, whether they live
in a city, in a suburb, or on a farm, to join the effort to save our salmon and protect our
rivers. It represents commitments on behalf of government, organizations, and private
citizens from all areas of the state. While the plan began as an effort to address a decline
in coastal salmon it has expanded to represent a comprehensive statewide approach for
watershed protection that includes improvements in water quality and fish populations.
As a result, Oregonians from all walks of life are focused on watersheds — their uplands,
waterways, and fish. Restoration and recovery efforts are taking place in nearly every
major watershed. Everyone is “getting their feet wet” — government agencies, businesses,
private landowners, educators, students, and individuals. Everyone wants to help, but few
know where to begin.
Restoration efforts can be futile without a thorough assessment of a stream's existing
habitat conditions. A watershed or stream's potential for recovery also needs evaluation.
This is where the Aquatic Inventory Project comes into the picture. What is a third order
stream? Do you know how to measure active channel width? What is the stream’s pool to
riffle ratio? Is large woody debris present? How much shade is available to the stream?
These questions and more are answered through an aquatic habitat inventory — an
assessment tool for streams. Aquatic habitat inventories are coordinated through the
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's (ODFW) Aquatic Inventory Project and the
Salmon-Trout Enhancement Program.
The Aquatic Inventory Project began in 1989 with sponsorship provided by ODFW''s
Restoration and Enhancement Program. Drafting of stream survey methods and
implementation of field work began in 1990. Methods found in this manual are the result of
project staff experience and cooperative efforts with Oregon State University, forest
industry, and US Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Lab scientists. Members of
the Umpqua Basin Fisheries Restoration Initiative and the Oregon Forest Industry Council
also provided review and consultation.
Aquatic habitat inventory surveys collect basic information about existing stream habitat.
Data collected by trained volunteers and other crews help biologists determine factors
limiting natural fish production, identify habitat protection and restoration needs, and
provide information for fish management plans and policies. Watershed councils also use
habitat survey information to prepare watershed assessments and action plans.
Aquatic Habitat Inventory Training Materials - Introduction A-1
With training and oversight provided by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife personnel,
volunteers, schools, and other groups can undertake an aquatic habitat inventory. The
training benefits educators, watershed council members, landowners, and others interested
in learning more about stream survey methods. Participants receive both classroom and
field experience during the training segment.
Methods described in this training packet are designed for compatibility with other stream
habitat inventory and classification systems (Rosgen, 1985, Frissell et. al., 1986, USFS
Region 6 Level II Inventory, 1992, and others). Compatibility is achieved by systematically
identifying and measuring valley and stream features. The resulting measurements and
relationships are then summarized into unifying valley and channel types.
A-2 Aquatic Habitat Inventory Training Materials - Introduction
Here's What You'll Find:
Lesson Plans Detailed lesson plans help the trainer develop a well-
rounded training experience with the aquatic habitat
inventory process. The checklist approach is a step-by-
step system from planning to implementation.
Preparing For The Survey Consider the following items when preparing for a
survey: time commitment, equipment, pre-survey
homework, maps, safety, and other details.
Survey Level Comparison To help you determine the level of intensity for your
survey, look over the survey comparison page.
Basic Level Survey Methods Basic level surveys are designed for school groups and
specific watershed information needs without the rigor of
higher level surveys.
Slide Show And Script The slide show and script are coordinated with the
Intermediate Level survey methods.
Intermediate Level Survey Methods The Intermediate Level Survey is the preferred level for
STEP volunteers and watershed councils. Training is
required.
Riparian Zone Survey Methods Riparian zone survey methods are used to obtain
detailed information about the riparian zone.
Photo Record Survey Methods To document changes in streams over time use the
Photo Record Survey methods while completing the
habitat survey.
Tool Box The toolbox contains a number of helpful items for the
trainer and the surveyor — quality control checklists,
field references, evaluation form, private property and
landowner contact information, and more.
Volunteer Management Tools Information and masters for required and optional
volunteer program management responsibilities are
found in this section.
Interpretation Guide Use this guide to interpret the graphs and reports of the
stream survey data analysis. Access to the stream
survey data analysis package is also presented.
Resources This section includes contact numbers for ODFW fish
districts, STEP Biologists, watershed councils, and
Aquatic Inventory Project personnel plus emergency
contact information for environmental concerns.
Literature Cited The bibliography includes the technical references cited
within the document.
Glossary A list of key terms and their definitions isfound at the end
of the package.
Aquatic Habitat Inventory Training Materials - Introduction A-3
A-4 Aquatic Habitat Inventory Training Materials - Introduction
Aquatic Habitat Inventory
OREGON
Preparing For The Survey
Fish& Wildlife
Conducting a stream survey includes gathering general information from maps and other
sources and direct observation of stream characteristics in the field. A number of
preparations must take place before going to the field. Use the suggestions, ideas, and
helpful hints on the next several pages to help you prepare.
VOLUNTEER INVOLVEMENT
Salmon-Trout Enhancement Program volunteers have completed many miles of habitat
surveys contributing large amounts of data to the Aquatic Inventory Project's statewide data
base. More information is needed to identify habitat protection and restoration needs in
local watersheds. To complete a survey as an ODFW volunteer, you must complete the
following requirements.
1. For quality control and consistent application of methods, a training session,
including both classroom and field instruction, is required before volunteers conduct
an intermediate or advanced level aquatic habitat inventory.
2. Do not enter private property along the stream without either verbal or written
permission for access, even if it is not posted. The trainer will supply a form to use
as a landowner contact record. If you enter private property without permission, you
are trespassing and are liable for any problems that arise.
3. A "State of Oregon Conditions Of Volunteer Service" agreement must be submitted
by each participant. It includes important personal property and medical insurance
information, assigned duties, and emergency contact information. The trainer
supplies and explains the agreement.
EQUIPMENT CHECK LIST
In Storage Box:
p Atlas (Oregon Atlas and Gazetteer -DeLorme Mapping $16+)
p USGS Topographic Maps (7.5 minute quad, 1:24,000 scale, 11 inches = 4 miles
required for each stream segment. These maps show buildings, elevations,
waterways, and roads. USGS maps are often available at local sporting goods
stores. Road map coverage by county or fire district, or basin maps from
Oregon Water Resources Department are also useful.)
Aquatic Habitat Inventory Training Materials - Introduction A-5