Habitat Surveys

CHaMP- Scientific Protocol for Salmonid Habitat Surveys within the Columbia Habitat Monitoring Program (CHaMP)

CHaMP is designed as a Columbia River basin-wide habitat status and trends monitoring program built around a single protocol with a programmatic approach to data collection and management (RM&E Workgroup 2010). CHaMP will result in the collection and analysis of systematic habitat status and trends information that will be used to assess basin-wide habitat conditions. When coupled with biological response indicators, this status and trends information will be used to evaluate habitat management strategies. This program will be integrated with ongoing Pacific Northwest Aquatic Monitoring Program (PNAMP) recovery planning efforts and will be part of the collaborative process across Columbia Basin fish management agencies and tribes and other state and federal agencies that are monitoring anadromous salmonids and/or their habitat. The implementation of CHaMP will characterize stream responses to watershed restoration and/or management actions in at least one population within each steelhead and spring Chinook Major Population Group (MPG) which have, or will have, “fish-in” and “fish-out” monitoring (identified in RPA 50.6), thereby meeting the requirements of RPA 56.3, RPA 57, and RPA 3. CHaMP was designed to deliver trends in habitat indicators and requires that monitoring occurs for three cycles of a sampling panel (see section 1.6), at least 9 years.

Spatial Design

 

Data Analysis Methodology

Note for Drift Invertebrate Method:

CHaMP recognizes that collaborators may also choose to optionally collect benthic macroinvertebrates. If benthic macroinvertebrates are collected, we recommend that collaborators implement sampling methods outlined in “Methods for the collection and analysis of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages in wadeable streams of the Pacific Northwest” (PNAMP 2007; https://www.monitoringmethods.org/Protocol/Details/44). In essence, the PNAMP protocol calls for sampling a total of 8 ft2 from riffle or fast water habitats throughout the reach, composited from eight individual 1 ft2 samples selected randomly or systematically using a D-frame kick net, Surber, or Hess sampler. 

 
While the basic methods outlined in the PNAMP protocol are recommended, we also suggest the following sampling and processing methods in order to insure consistency with existing CHaMP collaborators (e.g., CRITFC). These alternate methods include: 

i. Sample timing. 

a. Samples should be collected during base flow only (e.g., July 15 – September 30) compared to the recommended period from July 1 – October 15 in order to control for the effects of stream flow and seasonality of macroinvertebrate communities. 

ii. Laboratory processing. 

a. When subsampling is used, the recommended number of organisms sampled is 500 compared to the suggested minimum of 300 organisms. 

b. The taxonomic resolution of sampling to the “lowest practical level” should be determined by the research question or biotic index intended for use. 

c. If subsampling is used, processing should include a 10-min search for large and rare organisms, but organisms found during the search should be recorded separately from other data. 

Spatial Design

 

Data Analysis Methodology

Spatial Design

 

Data Analysis Methodology

Spatial Design

 

Data Analysis Methodology