Basinwide Visual Estimation Technique BVET 2015

What is BVET? Stream habitat inventory method A two-stage technique Hankin and Reeves (1988) Dolloff et al. (1993) A two-stage technique visual estimates & measurements Products calibrated estimate of stream area inventory of habitat attributes

BVET Basics Visual estimates in every habitat unit Pool Riffle Visual estimates in every habitat unit Measurements at pre-determined intervals

BVET Habitat: 5 Steps Complete ‘header information’ Select random number & measurement interval Walk upstream, stopping to record estimates at upstream end of each habitat unit At randomly selected unit perform visual estimates, then measurements (paired sample unit) Proceed upstream estimating in every unit and measuring at pre-determined interval Repeat steps 4 and 5 until stream end is reached

Step 1: Header Information Stream: Full stream name per USGS quad map District: Forest Service District name Quad: Name of USGS 1:24,000 quadrangle on which survey start point is located Date: Record start date of survey Recorder & Observer: Full names – no ab. DO NOT change mid-survey Start GPS: Map datum = NAD83 CONUS Coordinate System = UTM Start location: Detailed written description of starting point Notes: Signs of human activity, water condition, weather, hazards, etc.

Header Information on iPad

Step 2: Random Number & Interval Stream < 1.0 km Measure every 5th unit Random # 1-5 ex) random number = 3 Paired sample at 3, 8, 13, 18, 23, etc. Stream > 1.0 km Measure every 10th unit Random # 1-10 ex) random number = 3 Paired sample at 3, 13, 23, 33, 43, etc. Need a minimum of 3 fast water, 3 slow water pairs More paired samples = smaller confidence intervals

Step 3: Estimates for all units Habitat Type & Number Distance Estimated Width Depth Substrate Percent Fines Large Wood Hemlock Large Wood

1. Five Habitat Unit Types Fast water Turbulent 1. Riffle: <12% gradient 2. Cascade: >12% gradient flat to convex bottom Non-Turbulent 3. Run <12% gradient flat bottom Slow water Turbulent or Non-Turbulent 4. Pool concave bottom Non-Turbulent 5. Glide flat bottom Special situation Underground: dry channel

Fast Water Riffle Run Cascade

Fast Water

Slow Water Pools Glides

Slow Water

Unit breaks - clear Riffle Pool Riffle Pool

Unit breaks - fuzzy Riffle Glide

Unit Number Group slow water: (pools & glides) Group fast water: (riffles, runs, & cascades) riffle run cascade pool glide P1 G2 P3 P4 G5 G6 P7 R1 R5 C4 R2 RN3 R6 Quick quiz: Random number is 5: Where are 1st fast water and slow water paired samples?

2. Distance Meters from start of survey to upstream end of unit Measured with a hipchain P2: 29.3 P1: 10.2 R1: 22.3

Hipchain

3. Estimated Width Average Wetted Width Take entire unit into account P2: 3.0 P1: 2.5 R1: 1.5

4. Depths Maximum Depth Average Depth Deepest point Average of several points Change to units

Riffle Crest Depth Measure at upstream end of FAST leading into SLOW; record in FAST data

Measuring crest depth Add rc line

5. Substrate Dominant Subdominant 9 size classes Covers most surface area in unit Subdominant Covers second most surface area in unit 9 size classes

Substrate Size Classes 1. Organic dead organics 2. Clay sticky 3. Silt slippery 4. Sand silt- 2mm gritty 5. Small Gravel 3-16mm sand to fingernail 6. Large Gravel 17-64mm fingernail to fist 7. Cobble 65-256mm fist to head 8. Boulder >256mm bigger than head 9. Bedrock solid rock

How to measure substrate Substrate size classifications are based on the b-axis or the second longest axis A A= longest axis C= shortest axis B C Quick quiz: Identify the three axis positions

6. Percent Fines Percent of total area covered by sand, silt, or clay

7. Large Wood (LW) Dead, down, and within bankfull channel >1.0 m long, >10 cm diameter Four size classes 1. <5 m long, 10-55 cm diameter 2. <5 m long, >55 cm diameter 3. >5 m long, 10-55 cm diameter 4. >5 m long, >55 cm diameter Rootwad – count separately from attached LW

8. Hemlock Large Wood (LW) Identifiable as hemlock Already counted in LW Data; this is a separate count of only Hemlock Dead, down, and within bankfull channel >1.0 m long, >10 cm diameter Combine all 4 size classes

LW quick quiz:

Congratulations! You know what to estimate in every unit What’s next?? Paired Samples

Step 4: Paired samples Every paired pool Every paired riffle Actual wetted width Every paired riffle Hemlock abundance Hemlock condition Measured Widths Bankfull channel width (& Avg. bankfull depth) Riparian width (left & right) Gradient Rosgen Water temperature Photo

1. Hemlock Abundance Estimate the total number of standing hemlocks (live or dead with DBH >10 cm) in the riparian zone (water’s edge to 30 m up the streambank; visually estimated) as you walk between paired sample units None = no hemlocks Few = 1-10 Some = 1-50 Many = >50 hemlocks

2. Hemlock Condition Estimate the condition of standing hemlock trees in the riparian zone as you walk between paired sample units Healthy/Light Infestation (0-25% needle loss) Infested (25-75% needle loss) Dead (>75% needle loss)

3a. Actual (measured) Width Average wetted width Measure with a tape measure Measure in at least three locations

3b&c. Bankfull Channel & Riparian Widths Bankfull channel width bankfull to bankfull Riparian Width 2-times maximum bankfull depth to landform (flood depth)

3b&c. Channel and Riparian Widths Left Riparian Width Bankfull Channel Width Right Riparian Width 2X Max Bankfull Depth

Riparian width measurement

4. Gradient Percent slope of the water surface Measure with a clinometer Riffles, runs, cascades

Be careful measuring gradient

5. Rosgen

6. Water Temperature Place thermometer in flowing water Out of direct sunlight if possible Record at measured riffles

BVET review Visual estimates in every habitat unit Measurements at pre-determined intervals

Stream Features Waterfalls, Dams, Roads, Trails, etc. Serve as landmarks Record distance, GPS, DETAILED description See features in manual for details

7. Photos Face upstream Use wading rod for scale Get a wide angle Take at paired fast water units and features/crossings BAD – can’t see channel GOOD – can see channel

GPS Waypoint Labels S## Start location P## Pause location   S## Start location P## Pause location E## End location T##b Tributary with name shown on quad map W##b Waterfall B##b Bridge Fd##b Ford D##b Dam V##b Culvert O##b Other ## = digits of stream ID b = use b, c, d, etc to create unique labels when additional waypoints on the same stream are needed

Ending the Survey Stop when you reach Record At home base Property boundary Dry stream for > 500 m Channel < 1.0 m wide for > 500 m Record Time and date Reason for stopping GPS coordinates and written description Be sure header info completed At home base Back-up data Record on master list/map that survey is complete Download GPS