In order to monitor canopy cover, the surveyors use an instrument called a densiometer to measure the amount of sky visible in an area. Canopy cover measurements are used to document growth and stability of the vegetated areas along streams. The amount of canopy in an area can influence stream temperatures.

We conduct habitat typing surveys to identify current and potential habitat for aquatic species. Members of our science team track several variables that affect species survival, including the presence of spawning substrate, the type of habitat, the depth of the water, the width of the channel, streamside vegetation capable of providing shade, and in-stream structures such as woody debris.

In addition, we map some stream channels to help determine the presence of "refuge" areas that provide supportive summer habitat for fish and amphibians. Since pools can be of particular importance to the survival of fish, there is an emphasis on attributes associated with pools, such as: abundance, size, depth, and pool-to-pool spacing, and the number of pools associated with large woody debris.