Refers to the quality of the land which buffers the stream from human development. The riparian zone runs from the edge of the water to some artificial structure (roads, fences, housing, etc.), and the quality of the riparian zone includes the nature of the floodplain vegetation.
Describes the degree of erosion present on each bank in the sampling area.
Stream banks only slightly affected by erosion, either from flowing water or from living organisms. If any erosion is present, it usually affects less than 25% of the reach.
Between 25% and 50% of the stream bank is affected, broken, falling down, false or eroded.
Greater than 50% of the stream bank is eroded, broken, falling down, or false.