Quantification of Fluvial Trout Habitat in Wyoming

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Abstract
A Habitat Quality Index (HQI) was developed to predict trout standing crop in Wyoming streams. Measurements of trout habitat were collected from 36 streams ranging in elevation from 1146-3042 m. Average late summer stream width varied from 1.4-44 m, while average daily flow was between 0.6-1.46 m3/s. Stream gradient ranged from 0.1%-10%. A multiple regression analysis indicated those habitat measurements best related to trout standing crop in the study streams. Predictive models were built from these measurements. The best HQI model explained 96% of the variation in trout standing crop (multiple regression correlation coefficient r = 0.983), suggesting a close relationship between HQI predictions and measured trout stocks. The 9 habitat attributes used in this model were late summer stream flows, annual stream flow variation, water velocity, trout cover, stream width, eroding stream banks, stream substrate, nitrate N concentration and maximum summer stream temperature.

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