The QHEI index is used to look at the physicals qualities of the River Habitat. This scale is used by the Ohio EPA, it helped us put a number on the quality of the structure of the river.

Is what is on the bottom of the river channel. Rocks, sand, slit, etc. There are good and bad substrate. For example Boulders are a very good substrate while silt is the lowest point. The area of origin also has some impact

This is what habitats fish, Bugs, and amphibians. The types of instream cover range from plants growing within the river channel to things growing above it on the banks.

How the river channel is formed. The curves, bends, and straight aways. The curvey the better. The term we use is Sinuosity. If a river is straight and all one big run it is most likely channelized by humans and means the quality of the river could be diminished.

How stable the bank is if there is little erosion it is a better score. The riparian zone, is the type of forest or vegetation surrounding the river channel. The more forest the better. There is also a flood plain category. If the river floods what type of of area will the water flow too.

The quality of the different types of of the water. A Pool is a deep pocket of standing or slow moving water. Pools are great for larger fish. Glide or Run is an area where the water is flowing but is deeper. A riffle is flowing water over shallow are such as rocks a riffle is in the image to the left.

Drainage area; where if the water goes if the river floods. It could be farmland, the woods, a wetland, or a parking lot. The more natural the better for the stability of the stream and the habitat around it.