The authors would like to acknowledge the Cleveland Metroparks, including J. Grieser, J. Markowitz, B. Garman, and supporting staff; Case Western Reserve University, Dr. J. Burns; and GLISTEN, the Great Lakes Innovative Stewardship through Education Network.

1. Streambank Identification
<ol>
	<li>Identify a uniform section of bank on one side of the stream. Differentiate this section by a drastically different slope of the bank, different bank material, or a break in vegetation. This section of streambank should be visibly different from the sections on either side. There is not a minimum or maximum length of bank. Separation of extremely long sections into smaller segments will simplify the assessment.</li>
</ol>
2. Pre-Screening BEHI Questionnaire (...

<ol>
	<li>Rosgen, D. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+Stream+Channel+Assessment+Methodology.">A Stream Channel Assessment Methodology.</a> Proceedings of 7th Federal Interagency Sedimentation Conference. , 26 (2001).</li><li>. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Upper Esopus Creek Management Plan. 1-3, (2007).</li><li>Karr, J. R., Dudley, D. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ecological+perspective+on+water+quality+goals.">Ecological perspective on water quality goals.</a> Environmental Management. 5 (1), 55-68 (1981).</li><li>Trimble, S. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Contribution+of+Stream+Channel+Erosion+to+Sediment+Yield+from+an+Urbanizing+Watershed.">Contribution of Stream Channel Erosion to Sediment Yield from an Urbanizing Watershed.</a> Science. 278 (1), 1442-1444 (1997).</li><li>Lee, J. G., Heaney, J. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Estimation+of+Urban+Imperviousness+and+its+Impacts+on+Storm+Water+Systems.">Estimation of Urban Imperviousness and its Impacts on Storm Water Systems.</a> Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management. 129 (5), 419-426 (2003).</li><li>Bilotta, G. S., Brazier, R. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Understanding+the+influence+of+suspended+solids+on+water+quality+and+aquatic+biota.">Understanding the influence of suspended solids on water quality and aquatic biota.</a> Water Research. 42 (12), 2849-2861 (2008).</li><li>Hansen, B., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Streambank+(RBS)+erosion+study+for+the+Minnesota+River+basin.">Streambank (RBS) erosion study for the Minnesota River basin.</a> Report prepared for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. , (2010).</li><li>Fox, N., Goodman, B., Teel, W. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Evaluating+Conservation+Reserve+Program+Impacts+on+Smith+Creek+Erosion+Rates+in+the+Shenendoah+Valley.">Evaluating Conservation Reserve Program Impacts on Smith Creek Erosion Rates in the Shenendoah Valley.</a> Virginia Water Research Symposium. , 103-113 (2004).</li><li>Rosgen, D. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+Practical+Method+of+Computing+Streambank+Erosion+Rate.">A Practical Method of Computing Streambank Erosion Rate.</a> , 15 (2001).</li><li>Simpson, A., Turner, I., Brantley, E., Helms, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Bank+erosion+hazard+index+as+an+indicator+of+near-bank+aquatic+habitat+and+community+structure+in+a+southeastern+Piedmont+stream.">Bank erosion hazard index as an indicator of near-bank aquatic habitat and community structure in a southeastern Piedmont stream.</a> Ecological Indicators. 43 (1), 19-28 (2014).</li><li>Rosgen, D. L., Frantila, D., Silvey, H. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=River+Stability:+Field+Guide.">River Stability: Field Guide.</a> Wildland Hydrology. , (2008).</li><li>Prosser, C. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+Huron+and+Cleveland+Shales+of+Northern+Ohio.">The Huron and Cleveland Shales of Northern Ohio.</a> The Journal of Geology. 21 (4), 323-362 (1913).</li><li>Rathbun, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Standard+operating+procedure:+assessing+bank+erosion+potential+using+Rosgen's+bank+erosion+hazard+index+(BEHI).">Standard operating procedure: assessing bank erosion potential using Rosgen's bank erosion hazard index (BEHI).</a> Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Water Bureau, Nonpoint Source Division. , (2008).</li></ol>

The most critical steps for accurate completion of the modified BEHI protocol are to: correctly identify a uniform section of streambank to assess, if the streambank length has too much variability it is best to separate and assess smaller segments to accurately capture the erodibility of the streambank; complete the Pre-Screening Questionnaire to confirm that a BEHI assessment should be completed on that streambank, if there is uncertainty in whether a bank passes the Pre-Screening Questionnaire, a BEHI assessment shoul...

Streambank erosion is a natural process; however excessive erosion can contribute a significant amount of non-point source pollution in the form of suspended sediment2. Increased suspended sediment affects water quality, physical, and biological functions of a stream3. Human influences can greatly affect streambank erosion, and significantly increase sediment loads4, particularly in urban systems where there is an increase in storm water runoff and impervious surfaces5. Higher sediment loads can negatively affect water quality and the ecosystems of streams6. Watershed management practices throughout the Cleveland Metroparks attempt to locate and inventory the source and rate the risk of potential streambank erosion to assist in effective management strategies, as well as in stream, riparian, and habitat restoration.
David Rosgen, with Wildland Hydrology, developed the Bank Erosion Hazard Index (BEHI), which evaluates the susceptibility of streambank erosion on a stream reach based on a combination of several erodibility variables7. BEHI uses a variety of indicators to rank the severity and probability of streambank erosion, including the bank material, stratification, root depth and density, bank angle, the bankfull height to bank height ratio, and the amount of surface protection present. The BEHI assessment assigns a numerical value which corresponds to an overall BEHI rating (very low, low, moderate, high, very high, or extreme), for a particular streambank. This protocol has been effective in assessing potential streambank erosion8-10 and can be used in conjunction with other water quality and habitat assessments. Streambanks exhibiting a high BEHI rating have been shown to correspond to less diverse and less stable macroinvertebrate communities, consisting mainly of opportunistic species11. Though the original BEHI method is useful, it can be extremely time consuming, difficult for non-professionals, and confined to specific geomorphic regions, specifically tailored for alluvial stream conditions12.
Modifications to this protocol were necessary in order to address these constraints. A &#8220;Pre-Screening Questionnaire&#8221; (Figure 1) was developed to identify and eliminate streambanks that are likely to rank very low or low, thus focusing the assessment on higher erosion areas, and decreasing the amount of time and resources required to perform a BEHI assessment on an entire stream. The questionnaire also addresses geologic differences between alluvial and non-alluvial stream conditions seen in Northeastern Ohio, such as extremely erodible shale bedrock13, which would not be assessed as an erodible material based on the original BEHI protocol. Elimination of the Study Bank-Height Ratio metric including the bankfull stage, which can be very difficult to determine, allowed for a faster streambank assessment and for non-professionals to complete the assessment with introductory training. This elimination of the Study Bank-Height Ratio was based on a modified BEHI procedure developed by Joe Rathbun at the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality14. To eliminate the necessity for additional calculations in the field, all other metrics are expressed as percentages except for bank angle, and stratification and bank material adjustments. Root density was initially expressed as the percent of soil composed of roots where the roots are extended. This was multiplied by the root depth to account for the entire bank height; however we replaced this with a simple estimate of the density of roots in the entire bank. Score adjustments were made to the original BEHI scoring system in order to account for the elimination of the Study Bank-Height Ratio metric and estimated percentages. As described in the original BEHI protocol the measured metrics were converted to a risk rating of 1-10 (10 being the highest level of risk). The risk ratings from 1 to 10 correspond to risk ratings of very low, low, moderate, high, very high, and extreme potential erosion. These relationships were established based on a catalog of field observations10. In the modified BEHI protocol, scores for the Study Bank-Height Ratio metric were subtracted from the original BEHI scoring system to reflect new total scores and risk ratings (Figure 2). These modifications address the limitations of the original BEHI protocol in Northeastern Ohio and assisted in maintaining consistency and reducing user bias.
The modified BEHI protocol was used to assess several high priority streams within the Cleveland Metroparks. The original BEHI assessment was performed by trained Cleveland Metropark personnel, on a length of stream to confirm the effectiveness of the modifications in identifying streambanks with higher rates of erosion. The modified BEHI protocol is used by professionals, volunteers, staff, and students to evaluate streambank erosion throughout the Cleveland Metroparks.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="745">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Name of Material/ Equipment</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Company</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Catalog Number</td>
			<td style="width:339px;">Comments/Description</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">200&#39; reel tape measure</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Any</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">N/A</td>
			<td style="width:339px;">Tape measure can be used to measure bank length and height</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Inclinometer</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Any</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">N/A</td>
			<td style="width:339px;">Inclinometer may be used to measure bank angle.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="62">
			<td height="62" style="height:62px;width:216px;">GPS</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Any</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">N/A</td>
			<td style="width:339px;">GPS is used to take points along the stream, make sure for mapping purposes to use a GPS that takes accurate readings.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="43">
			<td height="43" style="height:43px;width:216px;">Camera</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Any</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">N/A</td>
			<td style="width:339px;">Camera is used to take photos of the banks under assessment and of any major stream features.</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

modifying the bank erosion hazard index (behi) protocol for rapid assessment of streambank erosion in northeastern ohio

Understanding the source of pollution in a stream is vital to preserving, restoring, and maintaining the stream&#8217;s function and habitat it provides. Sediments from highly eroding streambanks are a major source of pollution in a stream system and have the potential to jeopardize habitat, infrastructure, and stream function. Watershed management practices throughout the Cleveland Metroparks attempt to locate and inventory the source and rate the risk of potential streambank erosion to assist in formulating effect stream, riparian, and habitat management recommendations. The Bank Erosion Hazard Index (BEHI), developed by David Rosgen of Wildland Hydrology is a fluvial geomorphic assessment procedure used to evaluate the susceptibility of potential streambank erosion based on a combination of several variables that are sensitive to various processes of erosion. This protocol can be time consuming, difficult for non-professionals, and confined to specific geomorphic regions. To address these constraints and assist in maintaining consistency and reducing user bias, modifications to this protocol include a &#8220;Pre-Screening Questionnaire&#8221;, elimination of the Study Bank-Height Ratio metric including the bankfull determination, and an adjusted scoring system. This modified protocol was used to assess several high priority streams within the Cleveland Metroparks. The original BEHI protocol was also used to confirm the results of the modified BEHI protocol. After using the modified assessment in the field, and comparing it to the original BEHI method, the two were found to produce comparable BEHI ratings of the streambanks, while significantly reducing the amount of time and resources needed to complete the modified protocol.

Streambanks that did not pass the Pre-Screening Questionnaire and were not assessed with the modified BEHI protocol, ranked low or very low when assessed with the original BEHI protocol (Figure 10). This supports the use of the Pre-Screening Questionnaire as a way to quickly identify streambanks that are experiencing moderate to extreme rates of erosion. See Figure 10&#160;below.
In general, streambanks assessed were placed in the same final B...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Modifying the Bank Erosion Hazard Index BEHI Protocol for Rapid Assessment of Streambank Erosion in Northeastern Ohio at JoVE.com

Modifying the Bank Erosion Hazard Index BEHI Protocol for Rapid Assessment of Streambank Erosion in Northeastern Ohio

Streambank erosion potential can be evaluated and ranked using David Rosgen&#8217;s Bank Erosion Hazard Index (BEHI), however this protocol has significant limitations. Here we present protocol modifications to address time constraints, allow nonprofessionals to complete accurate assessments, and account for non-alluvial stream conditions in Northeast Ohio.

Modifying the Bank Erosion Hazard Index (BEHI) Protocol for Rapid Assessment of Streambank Erosion in Northeastern Ohio

Understanding the source of pollution in a stream is vital to preserving, restoring, and maintaining the stream&#8217;s function and habitat it provides. ...

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9.0K visualizações.  Cleveland Metroparks. Streambank erosion potential can be evaluated and ranked using David Rosgen’s Bank Erosion Hazard Index (BEHI), however this protocol has significant limitations. Here we present protocol modifications to address time constraints, allow nonprofessionals to complete accurate assessments, and account for non-alluvial stream conditions in Northeast Ohio.