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Mid-Continent Resources'Stream Impairment Study 12 <br /> appeared to be characteristic of first order streams of the region (Cooperrider el al 1986; Ward <br /> 1989). Embeddedness and bottom substrate rated excellent to fair with little indication of loss of <br /> habitat due to deposition. During low flow in September, deposition rates had increased with 30 to <br /> 50% of bottom substrate being filled with sediment. This produced a loss of habitat due to <br /> embeddedness. During both sampling periods, streamside cover and vegetation was non-existent <br /> and it appears this reach has high erosion potential. <br /> At Site 2, a large portion of the substrate composition was found to be gravel and sand, silt <br /> and clay. This contributed to 50% embeddedness. Low flow periods were characterized by an <br /> increase in fine sediment which raised embeddedness to 75%. Grasses and forbs were dominant <br /> along banks which resulted in high marks for bank stability and lack of erosion. <br /> There was a large increase of blue-green algae at Site 2 between the high and low flow <br /> periods. Temperature was between 18 and 19 °C and pH ranged from 8.6 to 9.0. These were both <br /> uncharacteristic of the region (Cooperrider et al 1986). The high temperature would be conducive <br /> to enhanced algal growth. <br /> At Site 2, a white precipitate was observed along the banks. This was thought to be due to <br /> calcium sulfate which could have formed as a result of the high sulfate concentrations in the <br /> discharge. <br /> Bottom substrate and embeddedness ranked poor at Site 3. Fine sediment, which was <br /> possibly due to coal fines, was responsible for reducing available habitat for macrobenthos and <br /> periphyton. As at Site 2, there was an increase in blue-green algal growth and embeddedness during <br /> the low flow period. Temperature and pH values were also similar to Site 2 indicating poor water <br /> quality for clean water species(Cooperrider el al 1986). Sulfate precipitate was found on the banks <br /> of Site 3. Vegetation was primarily grasses and forbs with an occasional willow. Bank stability was <br /> excellent showing little erosion. <br /> At Site 4, available cover due to bottom composition was found to be good and <br /> embeddedness was between 25 and 50%. During the low flow period, the bottom substrate was <br /> cohesive which restricted free movement of cobble and gravel. This may reflect the results of <br /> precipitation. Streamside cover was available, providing 50% of the stream with shade and a <br /> moderately stable bank. Some erosion was evident. Water temperature was 15.5 °C in June and <br /> increased to 19.2 ° C in September. The pH was between 8.8 and 9.0. No precipitate was observed <br /> in low flow but was seen at high flow. <br /> The bottom substrate at Site 5 was primarily boulders. This provided greater than 50% of <br /> the reach with permanent habitat. Embeddedness ranked good. Due to high flows in the spring, little <br /> influence of sedimentation was observed. The pH values were lower than those recorded at sites <br /> 2, 3, and 4. Water temperatures were nearly 40% lower than at these three stations. As in Site 4 <br /> The SeaCrest Group <br />