Laserfiche WebLink
<br />TASK NO: 11 <br /> <br />Aquatic Resource Studies <br /> <br />SUBTASK NO: lIe <br /> <br />Fisheries Habitat Assessment <br /> <br />PURPOSE: <br /> <br />The purposes of this subtask are to: 1) characterize the existing <br />habitat within the project study area, 2) provide adequate <br />information to quantify changes in habitat which will occur with <br />project implementation, and 3) provide input for the internal <br />feasibility effects evaluation. <br /> <br />APPROACH: <br /> <br />Two methods will be used to quantify fish habitat within the <br />project study area: the Instream Flow Incremental Methodology <br />(IFIM) and the Habitat Quality Index (HQI). For the IFIM study, <br />rivers in the study area will be divided into homogeneous stream <br />segments based on flow regime, channel stability, water quality, <br />temperature, sinuosity, and gradient. River segments determined by <br />these criteria will then be analyzed for segment duplication. If <br />duplication occurs, segments will be consolidated and study sites <br />will be placed in all remaining river segments. Study sites will <br />be selected by dividing the segment into smaller reaches. Five <br />randomly selected reaches will be examined to determine how well <br />each reach represents the overall habitat characteristics of the <br />segment. Professional judgment will be used to select the reach <br />which best characterizes habitat within the segment. <br /> <br />6162a <br /> <br />11-11 <br />