Primary Headwater Primary Headwater Habitats (PHWH)Habitats (PHWH)

The Basics - What is a PrimaryThe Basics - What is a PrimaryHeadwater Stream?Headwater Stream?

Characteristics:Characteristics: A WatercourseA Watercourse11 with: with:

A defined A defined BEDBED22 and and BANKBANK33

Either continuousEither continuous44 or periodic or periodic55 FLOWING waterFLOWING water

A drainageA drainage66 generally generally lessless than one square mile than one square mile

Deepest poolsDeepest pools77 < 40cm < 40cmWidely divergentWidely divergent88 communities communities

based upon in- stream based upon in- stream BiologyBiology

Why Classify PHWH Streams?Why Classify PHWH Streams?

To provide standardized To provide standardized information for making information for making decisions affecting water decisions affecting water quality in primary quality in primary headwater streamsheadwater streams

To help maintain the To help maintain the quality of water and quality of water and biological communities in biological communities in larger streams, lakes and larger streams, lakes and wetlandswetlands

The turbid PHWH stream at the top flows into the clear PHWH stream below degrading downstream waters to the left

A traditional stream classification system:A traditional stream classification system: Classification by the Stream Continuum ConceptClassification by the Stream Continuum Concept

Ohio EPA’s Ohio EPA’s Classes of PHWH StreamsClasses of PHWH Streams

Class I – EPHEMERALClass I – EPHEMERAL11 stream, stream, normally dry channel with little to no aquatic life; normally dry channel with little to no aquatic life;

native fauna when flowingnative fauna when flowing

Class II – INTERSTITIALClass II – INTERSTITIAL22 to to PERENNIALPERENNIAL33 moderately diverse moderately diverse

aquatic life with native faunaaquatic life with native fauna44 adapted to adapted to warm waterwarm water

Class III –diverse aquatic life adapted to Class III –diverse aquatic life adapted to cool/cold PERENNIAL flowing watercool/cold PERENNIAL flowing water

Stream Flow TypesStream Flow Types

Ephemeral flow = Channel Ephemeral flow = Channel

dry phase present annually, flow during rain or snow melt , dry phase present annually, flow during rain or snow melt , permanent pools absentpermanent pools absent

Class IClass I PHWH StreamsPHWH Streams

CharacteristicsCharacteristics Flow - ephemeralFlow - ephemeral ChannelChannel11 - dry phase present annually, - dry phase present annually,

flow during rain or snow meltflow during rain or snow melt Permanent pools - absentPermanent pools - absent Aquatic life - absent or present seasonally Aquatic life - absent or present seasonally Aquatic life - diversity lowAquatic life - diversity low

Class I PHWH Stream - ExampleClass I PHWH Stream - Example

Natural channel, Geauga Co

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Class IIClass II PHWH StreamsPHWH Streams

CharacteristicsCharacteristics Flow – intermittent Flow – intermittent Channel – no continuous channel - only Channel – no continuous channel - only

shallow groundwater connection between shallow groundwater connection between poolspools

Permanent pools - present most yearsPermanent pools - present most years Aquatic life - abundance highAquatic life - abundance high Aquatic life diversity - moderate and warm Aquatic life diversity - moderate and warm

water adaptedwater adapted

Class II PHWH Stream - ExampleClass II PHWH Stream - Example

Natural channel, Geauga Co.

More Examples of Class II (click)

Class IIIClass III PHWH StreamsPHWH Streams

CharacteristicsCharacteristics Flow - perennial, deep groundwaterFlow - perennial, deep groundwater Channel - presentChannel - present Permanent pools - presentPermanent pools - present Aquatic life diversityAquatic life diversity11 & abundance - & abundance -

Presence of one or more of the following at all times:Presence of one or more of the following at all times: ObligateObligate22 aquatic salamanders aquatic salamanders Cold water or pioneering fish speciesCold water or pioneering fish species Cool water adapted benthicCool water adapted benthic33 macro-invertebrates macro-invertebrates

Class III PHWH Stream - ExampleClass III PHWH Stream - Example

Delaware Co.

More Examples of Class III (click)

Quick QuizQuick Quiz

What class PHWH What class PHWH stream is this?stream is this?

What characteristics What characteristics did you use to classify did you use to classify the stream?the stream?

Quiz Question 2Quiz Question 2

What PHWH Stream What PHWH Stream Class is shown here?Class is shown here?

How do you know you How do you know you have chosen the have chosen the correct class of correct class of PHWH stream?PHWH stream?

GlossaryTerms as used for PHWH streams

Bank- The lateral confines of a stream.Bed- The bottom of the stream. The physical boundary of normal water flow.Benthic- Organisms that live on the bed (bottom) of the stream.Channel- The course of the bed of a stream, river, or waterway.Continuous- Uninterrupted flow.Continuum-.Divergent-.Diverse- Different kinds, characters, or forms.Drainage- Water flowing off and from an area.Ephemeral- Usually flowing for only a short amount of time, dry at some time annually.Fauna- Animals of a given area.Intermittent- Flow that stops or ceases for a period of time.Interstitial- Flow interrupted by dry channel (sub-surface between pools).Obligate- Able to exist or survive only in a particular environment.Perennial- Flowing year round.Periodic- Happening over regular intervals.Pioneering - Pools- A relatively deep, slow flowing or still place in a stream.Watercourse- Channel.Watershed- Region or area that drains into a given stream, river, or water body.