Biological Monitoring and Assessment of Watersheds in Rockdale County, Georgia, May–August 2003

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Biological Monitoring and Assessment of Watersheds in Rockdale County, Georgia, May–August 2003 Open-File Report 2005-1214 Prepared in cooperation with the Rockdale County Department of Water Resources U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Cover photographs: Left photograph and top right photograph: Yellow River at hydroelectric dam (about 1,000 feet downstream of Georgia Highway 20) in Milstead, Georgia. Photographs by Lester J. Williams, U.S. Geological Survey. Bottom right photograph: U.S. Geological Survey personnel collecting fishes at Little Haynes Creek at Dial Mill Road. Photograph by Alan Cressler, U.S. Geological Survey. Biological Monitoring and Assessment of Watersheds in Rockdale County, Georgia, May–August 2003 By M. Brian Gregory Prepared in cooperation with the Rockdale County Department of Water Resources Open-File Report 2005-1214 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior Gale A. Norton, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Charles G. Groat, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2005 This report is a Web-only publication: http://pubs.water.usgs.gov/ofr2005-1214/ For more information about the USGS and its products: Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov/ Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report. Suggested citation: Gregory, M. Brian, 2005, Biological monitoring and assessment of watersheds in Rockdale County, Georgia, May–August 2003: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2005-1214, 64 p. iii Contents Abstract. 1 Introduction . 1 Purpose and Scope . 3 Description of Study Area . 3 Methods of Investigation . 3 Site Selection . 3 Habitat Characterization. 4 Invertebrate Community Characterization . 4 Fish Community Characterization. 5 Stream Use Classification and Integrity Classes . 6 Results . 6 Big Haynes Creek Watershed . 6 Fixed Site (Reference Site) — Little Haynes Creek at Dial Mill Road . 7 Habitat Scores. 7 Invertebrate Community . 7 Fish Community . 7 Random Site — Big Haynes Creek at Pleasant Hill Road. 7 Habitat Scores . 7 Invertebrate Community . 7 Fish Community . 7 Yellow River Watershed. 14 Fixed Site — Tributary to Yellow River at County Road 411. 14 Habitat Scores. 14 Invertebrate Community. 14 Fish Community . 15 Random Site — Tributary to Yellow River at Dennard Road. 15 Habitat Scores. 15 Invertebrate Community. 15 Fish Community . 15 Snapping Shoals Creek Watershed . 16 Fixed Site — Snapping Shoals Creek at Honey Creek Road. 16 Habitat Scores. 16 Invertebrate Community. 16 Fish Community . 16 Random Site — Snapping Shoals Creek at Flat Shoals Road. 17 Habitat Scores. 17 Invertebrate Community . 17 Fish Community . 17 Honey Creek Watershed . 18 Fixed Site — Honey Creek at Flat Shoals Road. 18 Habitat Scores. 18 Invertebrate Community . 18 Fish Community . 18 Random Site — Honey Creek at Honey Creek Road . 19 Habitat Scores. 19 Invertebrate Community . ..

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