Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index

SUBSTRATE METRIC:

The substance, base, or nutrient on which, or the medium in which, a fixed organism is attached. Substrate types include soil, rocks, water, and leaf tissues.

SUBSTRATE ORIGIN

(refers to the parent material that the stream substrate is derived from)






LIMESTONE [1]

A sedimentary rock composed chiefly of the mineral calcite (Calcium Carbonate). This rock forms most commonly as a result of biochemical processes, although it can also form inorganically. The biochemical form of the rock includes the shells or other hard parts of animals and plants that inhabited seas that formerly occupied areas now found on the continent.

Substrate Origin

TILLS [1]

A mixture of clay, sand, gravel, and boulders deposited by glaciers.

Substrate Origin

WETLANDS [0]

Land areas of poor surface drainage, such as marshes and swamps. Wetlands include some of the most valuable breeding grounds for wildlife, and they can help to control some of the damaging effects of floods.

Substrate Origin

HARDPAN [0]

A hard, impervious, often clayey layer of soil at or just below the surface, produced by the cementation of soil particles.

Substrate Origin

SANDSTONE [0]

A sedimentary rock composed of grains of sand which is more or less firmly united by a cementing material. Sandstone commonly is a very hard rock that forms steep banks or rapids.

Substrate Origin

RIP-RAP [0]

Large fragments of broken rock, concrete, or other artificial materials. These fragments are thrown together irregularly or fitted together. The purpose of rip-rap is to prevent erosion by waves or currents and thereby preserve the embankments.

Substrate Origin

LACUSTRINE [0]

Pertaining to, produced by, or inhabiting a lake or lakes. The photo above is the lake floor of Glacial Lake Dakota, which used to be a lake 105mi. long. The most significant area of lacustrine origin in northern Ohio is the bed of Glacial Lake Maumee, which is the predecessor of Lake Erie. This lake occupied a basin which extends from the western bounds of Lake Erie to Fort Wayne, Indiana.

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Substrate Origin

SHALE [-1]

A fine-grained sedimentary rock formed by the compaction of clay, silt, or mud. This rock splits easily into thin flat layers and often easy to break.

Substrate Origin

COAL FINES [-2]

Finely crushed coal fragments. Coal fines are most often the result of coal mining, but they may be the result of glacial activity.

Substrate Origin