Caveats of Stream Classification
Should only be applied to first to third order streams and not to larger rivers or lakes
Streams with good riparian cover tend to score higher than streams where this cover is absent
Streams with less than 10% impervious cover are not necessarily high quality streams
Notes:
Several caveats need to be considered when using this impervious cover model. To begin with, this model should only be applied to first to third order streams and not to larger rivers or lakes. Secondly, the model indicates that streams with good riparian cover tend to score higher than streams where this is absent. Thirdly, the mere fact that a stream has less than 10% impervious cover does not necessarily mean that it will be a high quality stream, since many of our streams have been historically altered by agriculture, engineering and other impacts such as sedimentation.