Stream Habitat Assessment Methods in the United States and Europe: A Comparative Review and Case Study

Abstract

River habitats are spatially and temporally complex. Therefore, many methods of stream habitat assessment have been created to meet different objectives. However, the long-term assessment of stream habitat at the national level has lacked a standardized method. Attempts have been made to create a standardized approach at the national level to assess stream habitat, including in the United States and Europe. To understand these approaches, a review of stream habitat assessments in the US and Europe was carried out to identify if gaps in their approach existed. A case study was then carried out using the US Environmental Protection Agencyâs National Rivers and Streams Assessment (NRSA) and Michiganâs Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energyâs (EGLE) Procedure-51 (P-51) wadeable stream habitat assessment on the same section of Buck Creek, Michigan. The EPAâs NRSA was more precise and provided more detail, but was more time-consuming, while EGLEâs P-51 was carried out quickly but results were not as precise. Recommendations to improve stream habitat assessment in the US were then made. They included, legally requiring the states to carry out their stream habitat assessment and report the findings to the EPA. It is recommended to use a rapid bioassessment, similar to EGLEâ P-51 due to its efficiency. As well as creating habitat quality standards for each state to be able to use the same methodology but address the changing landscape across the US.