Forest Reference Streams

Forest Reference Streams are streams in protected, often undisturbed watersheds, surrounded by naturally occurring, older forests. The Virginia Department of Forestry is pioneering the collection and productive use of data describing these natural stream systems.

Forest Reference Streams exhibit:

• Natural landscapes and water flow patterns (Geomorphology).
• Naturally paced water flows (Hydrologic Regime).
• Naturally changing water width, depth, and velocity (Hydraulic Geometry).

Information describing the attributes and tendencies of these undisturbed stream systems is a useful benchmark indicating the reference conditions of the natural system. It is applicable to an array of questions and public policy decisions, including:

• Stream, river, and watershed restoration.
• Development and implementation of Total Maximum Daily Loading (TMDL) criteria.
• Development and implementation of in stream flow criteria.
• Implementation and evaluation of Best Management Practices (BMP).
• Understanding the normal range of stream water chemical, physical, and biological values including: turbidity, dissolved oxygen, pH, and suspended sediment load.
• Understanding watershed and ecosystem health.

Last modified: Monday, 10-Mar-2008 19:31:36 UTC