Data and Details 

Epifaunal Substrate/ Available Cover 

• Score: 17

• Description: Large amount of diversity present among substrate types. Large quantity of downed timber overlapping or entering the stream, possibly resultant of suburban tree felling, Arbory, or trailwork. Additionally, there is a large and varied quantity  of rocks in  channel, bifurcating flow, and adjacent. While the current water level of the river is quite low, the substrate is distributed in such a fashion that, in the event of raised water levels, habitat would still be sufficiently diverse for fauna. 

Embeddedness

• Score: 14

• Description: In the higher gradient portion (upstream portion of surveyed segment), sediment is somewhat consistently present in low levels between cobble. In the lower gradient portion of the stream,  areas of greater flow have clean cobbles and little visible sediment between rocks; slower pockets have sediment deposited on larger rocks consistently with visible but seminundated gaps between. It is difficult to distinguish sedminet from sabnd and small gravel, as much of the surface of the lower stream's stones are covered in both. 

Velocity/Depth Regime 

• Score: 17 

• Description: Some confusion over "fast deep" regime, as water levels are very low and high gradient segments with large channel depths are largely dry. Other than that, though, the river seems to have a good diversity of flow regimes relative to its current flow state. 

Sediment Deposition

• Score: 15

• Description:  There seems to be a consistent level of sand/gravel deposition in slower segments.  Aggradations of finer sediment are present on smaller mounds of gravel and sand in several locations where currents converge. 

Channel/Flow Status

• Score:  8

• Description: Is seems very evident that the river is flowing within a very small part of its channel. Many exposed channel segments along banks, in addition to islands in the midst of the channel. The time at which these channel segments became exposed seems variable, as some have been almost entirely colonized with plants while others only gave a few inches high seedlings. 

Channel Alteration 

• Score: 18

• Description: Little or no alteration to the channel seems to have taken place. Although the creek runs under roads on at least two different occasions, the water flowing from such culverts remains connected to the rest of the channel, with large meanders, bends, and waterfalls sculpting themselves around fallen branches and numerous stones. Little or no deepening, damming, or other channel modifications seem to have taken place, although the low water level might be indicative of diversions higher up in the water shed. 

Frequency of Riffles/Bends

• Score: 16 

• Description:  Bends seem consistently present both in the channel of the river and the current path within the channel that the river occupies. Furthermore, although the size of riffles is limits by flow, there seems to be at least 5 riffles within sight from my seated position, looking both upstream and down. 

Bank Stability 

• Score RB: 9

• Score LB: 9

• Description: Little evidence of significant erosion on either bank at the edge of the channel. The signs of erosion that seem consistent are the exposure of bankside tree roots. Perhaps this level of minimal erosion is resultant from consistently low stream flows. All walked-on banks were stable. save those composed of clay or mud. 

Vegetative Protection 

• Score RB: 5

• Score LB: 5

• Description: In the upper segment of the stream, vegetable cover is consistent and dense on both stream banks. However, vegetation is low to the ground and composed mainly of small plants with slim central stalks and single leaves  at the ends of slim branches, with the plant itself being between 5 and 18 inches in height Sparser segments of ferns and maple trees are also present. Downstream segments of the river have irregular bankside plant cover. There are patches of dense plant colonization interspersed with leaf litter covered earth. Plant diversity is much lower, but due to its irregularity I cannot discern if such a lack of vegetation is acutely problematic. No evidence of mowing but it is possible that, given the presence of a trail immediately next to the stream, much of the vegetation along the banks was cleared for convenience and tick protection. 

Riparian Vegetative Zone

• Score RB: 5

• Score LB: 5

• Description: Given the stream;s suburban placement, the riparaian zone is only a short distance from developed residences and the road. Of the area conserved, there is obvious disturbance in the form of trail clearing and occasional treee felling, in addition to such harmful vagaries as plastic pollution. However, there is a consistent presence of large, healthy looking trees in addition to abundant foliage. 

Total Score

• Accumulated Score: 143.