DO Improvement Feasibility Study
Salt Creek 2.0 Existing Conditions
DRSCW 2-13 September 2009
Table 2-6 - Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index
QHEI Component Point Value
Substrate type and quality 20
In-stream cover type and amount 20
Channel morphology – sinuosity, development, channelization stability 20
Riparian zone – width, quality, bank erosion 10
Pool quality – maximum depth, morphology, current 12
Riffle quality – depth, substrate stability, substrate embeddedness 8
Map gradient 10
Table 2-7 - QHEI Scores by River Mile/km
River Mile
(km)
QHEI Score
27.0 (43.4) 67.5
25.0 (40.2) 58.5
22.8 (37.0) 46.5
18.3 (29.5) 84.0
16.5 (26.5) 71.5
13.7 (22.0) 47.5
12.7 (20.4) 40.5
11.0 (17.7) 39.5
The Ohio QHEI scores for similar river miles tend to rate the upriver segments higher than the
Illinois SHAP ratings, but the downriver segments are similar in their categorization
2.6 Dam Site Investigations
Removal or reconfiguration of dams can increase dissolved oxygen in waterways. The three
dams on Salt Creek were investigated to gain an understanding of their characteristics. The
names, locations, and river locations (based on the GIS model) of the three dams on Salt Creek
are listed in Table 2-8, and were depicted in Figure 1-1.
