R-5’s FISH HABITAT RELATIONSHIPS TECHNICAL BULLETIN

Introduction The objective of this bulletin is to describe a stream habitat inventory procedure that will classify and quantify fish habitat in terms of channel features. The procedure is based on information gathered in gravel and boulder-bed streams in the western Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington and in the Kla-math Mountains of California (Bisson et al., 1981; Sullivan, 1986, Grant et al., in review; Decker et al., in progress). A stream habitat inventory as outlined here can give information on the sequence, distribution , and availability of pool, riffle and run habitat units, and yields a graphic picture of the stream channel (Figure 1). Areas which may be limited in terms of specific habitat (spawning, rearing, etc.) can be identified. CALIFORNIA The Fish Habitat Relationships (FHR) Program of R-5 USFS has been established to research and develop information on fish ecology and to coordinate effective applications of this knowledge in managing and protecting our fisheries. By relating life stage requirements of specific species to physical habitat parameters, we are aiming at our main objective: developing a methodology to manage fisheries through the management of habitat.