Chapter 3

Observations of the environment through which a stream flows

Water quality is dependent on local weather conditions

Conducted twice per year• Once with foliage

present• Once with foliage absent

▪ No negative impact on water quality

▪ Stair-stepped floodplain due to normal high water

events

▪ Riparian corridor is vegetated

▪ Gently sloping banks

▪ Streambed is narrow with varying water depths

Unimpacted

Upland Floodplain and Land Use

▪ Increased possibility of nutrient (N & P) and

sediment loading

▪ Functional riparian corridor prevents erosion and

takes up access nutrients

▪ Streambank still has a gentle slope

▪ Streambed remains unaltered

▪ Activities of economic value could be lost during a

flood event

▪ Riparian corridor is absent. Nutrients and sediment

now directly enter the stream

▪ Streambanks are now degraded

▪ Wider, shallower streambed

Floodplain Land Use

▪ Floodplain development threatened by flood events

▪ No riparian corridor

▪ Streambanks are steep and vertical

▪ Streambed is downcut and requires erosion control

Urban Land Use

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Construction Sites

Sediment runoff rate of 20-150

tons/ac/yr

(Ag. Fields – 5 tons/acre)

Single largest cause of impaired

water quality in rivers

Third largest cause of impaired

water quality in lakes

Locust Creek at Grove CA