|
Item
|
Excellent
|
Good
|
Fair
|
Poor
|
|
Watershed Erosion
|
8 No evidence of significant erosion. Stable forest
or grass land. Little potential for future erosion
|
10 Some erosion. No significant "raw" areas.
Good land mgmt. practices in area. Low potential for significant
erosion.
|
14 Moderate erosion evident. Erosion from heavy
storm events obvious. Some significant erosion.
|
16 Heavy erosion evident. Probable erosion from any
runoff.
|
|
Watershed non-point pollution
|
8 No evidence of significant source. Little
potential for future problem.
|
10 Some potential sources (roads, urban area, farm
fields).
|
14 Moderate sources (small wetlands, tile fields,
urban area, intense agriculture).
|
16 Obvious sources (major wetland drainage, high-use
urban/industrial area, feed lots, impoundment).
|
|
Bank erosion, failure
|
4 No evidence of significant erosion or bank failure.
Little potential for future problem.
|
8 Infrequent, small areas, mostly healed over.
Some potential in extreme floods.
|
16 Moderate frequency and size. Some "raw"
spots. Erosion potential during high flow.
|
20 Many eroded areas. "Raw" areas frequent
on straight sections and bends. |
|
Bank vegetation
|
6 90% plant density. Diverse trees, shrubs, grass.
Plants healthy with apparently good root systems. Varied ages indicate
good reproduction.
|
9 70-90% density. Fewer plant species. A few barren/thin
areas. Vegetation generally healthy. Reproduction may be sparse.
|
15 50-70% density. Dominated by grass, sparse
trees and shrubs. Plant types and conditions suggest poorer soil
binding. No reproduction in some species.
|
18 Less than 50% density. Many "raw" areas.
Thin grass, few if any trees and shrubs.
|
|
Sediment deposits on lower bank
|
6 Little or no enlargement of channel or point bars.
|
9 Some new increase in bar formation, mostly from
coarse gravel.
|
15 Moderate depositing of new gravel and coarse sand
on old and some new bars.
|
18 Heavy deposits of fine material, increased bar
development.
|
|
Bottom material/cover for aquatic organisms
|
2 More than 50% rubble, gravel or other stable habitat
(rocks, logs).
|
7 30-50% rubble, gravel or other stable habitat.
Adequate habitat.
|
17 10-30% rubble, gravel or other stable habitat.
May have little variety. Availability less than desirable.
|
22 Less than 10% rubble, gravel or other stable habitat.
Lack of habitat is obvious.
|
Avg. riffle depth-
-Cold (<72 F. summer high)
-Warm (72-84 F)
|
0 over one foot
0 Over 1.5 feet
|
6 6 in.-1foot
6 10 in.-1.5 feet
|
18 3in.-6in
18 6in.-10in.
|
24 less than 3 in.
24 less than 6 in.
|
Avg. pool depth-
-Cold
-Warm
|
0 Over 4 feet
0 Over 5 feet
|
6 3-4 feet
6 4-5 feet
|
18 2-3 feet
18 3-4 feet
|
24 Less than 2 feet
24 Less than 3 feet
|
|
Esthetics
|
8 Wilderness characteristics, outstanding natural
beauty. Usually wooded or grassy unpastured corridor.
|
10 High natural beauty. Trees, historic site.
Some development may be visible.
|
14 Common setting, not offensive. Developed
but uncluttered area.
|
15 Stream does not enhance esthetics. Condition of
stream is offensive
|