Comment:

A modified Streambank Soil Alteration Ratings from Platts et al. (1983) is used here; check one box for each side of the stream and average the scores. False banks are used in the sense of Platts et al. (1983) to mean banks that are no longer adjacent to the normal flow of the channel but have been moved back into the floodplain most commonly as a result of livestock trampling. 1) None - streambanks are stable and not being altered by water flows or animals (e.g. livestock) - Score 3. 2) Little - streambanks are stable, but are being lightly altered along the transect line; less than 25% of the streambank is receiving any kind of stress, and if stress is being received it is very light; less than 25% of the streambank is false, broken down or eroding - Score 3. 3) Moderate - streambanks are receiving moderate alteration along the transect line; at least 50 percent of the streambank is in a natural stable condition; less than 50% of the streambank is false, broken down or eroding; false banks are rated as altered - Score 2. 4) Heavy - streambanks have received major alterations along the transect line; less than 50% of the streambank is in a stable condition; over 50% of the streambank is false, broken down, or eroding - Score 1. 5) Severe - streambanks along the transect line are severely altered; less than 25% of the streambank is in a stable condition; over 75% of the streambank is false, broken down, or eroding - Score 1