1. Water pollution

There are signs of pollution, including odors, trash, chemical sheens, or soap bubbles

There is evidence that manure or sewage may be entering the stream

2. Algae

The water is green

There is green scum or thick forms of hair-like algae

A heavy, dirty-brownish slimy material is coating rocks and other underwater objects

3. Muddy water

My stream becomes muddy after storms, and takes a long time to clear up

My stream is muddier or cloudier after it leaves my property than it was when it entered

4. Barriers to fish or water flow

There are culverts, dams, or other artificial structures in my stream that might block fish passage

The bridges or in-stream culverts are too small to carry flood flows

5. Ditches and drainage

There are irrigation ditches, tile lines, drainage ditches, storm sewers or other artificial waterways connected to the stream

6. Water management

Upstream dams or irrigation ditches remove so much water that flows are very low or suddenly drop

Upstream dams or irrigation ditches keep flows high for extended periods, causing erosion

7. Watershed

The watershed of my stream has been greatly altered by roads, urbanization, agriculture, logging, fire, fire control, weeds, etc.

The upstream or downstream riparian areas have been altered so that floods rarely cover the floodplain

The upstream or downstream riparian vegetation is too weak or sparse to withstand a 25- to 30-year flood without excessive erosion

8. Flood and erosion-control structures

There are dikes, levees, berms or riprap along the stream

The stream has been straightened

9. Floodplain

There are buildings, elevated roads, or other artificial structures that deflect flood flows

Hazardous materials, junkyards or heavy equipment are stored within the 100-year flood plain

10. Channel condition

The channel is much wider and shallower in areas with weakened vegetation or poor floodplain access than it was in the past

Meanders have cut downstream, or the channel has been straightened

There is a headcut (a waterfall or rapid in erodible bed material) below an upstream area that is in good condition

There are deposits of gravel, sand or silt that keep getting larger, are not revegetating, or are in the middle of the channel

There are areas where the banks are high, vertical, and rarely wet by streamflows

11. Changes after high flow events

After high flow events, there are dramatic changes to the stream, such as pools that have filled in, streambank erosion, or a change in the location of the channel

12. Floodplain protection

There are areas of bare soil along the stream that may come into contact with water during high flows

13. Vegetation

The permanent vegetation within the riparian area has been disturbed by heavy grazing, landscaping, building, tilling, etc.

The streamside area has very little plant cover and a lot of bare soil

There are very few trees or shrubs along the stream, even though similar areas have many trees or shrubs

Trees or shrubs are not reproducing, and only old ones remain

14. Type of streamside plants

There are areas invaded by weedy plants such as thistle, cheatgrass, scotch broom, purple loosestrife, etc.

Streamside vegetation is primarily one or only a few species, or is composed of plants that grow away from moist streamside soils

Streambank plants have root systems that are too weak to withstand high stream flows

15. Beavers

Beavers or beaver dams have been removed from areas that traditionally sustained them

The supply of trees and/or willows etc. needed by beavers at a dam have been lost or diminished

16. Other concerns

List other concerns here