The following is excerpted from text information supplied by MRC for use in KRIS:
During year 2000 field measurements of canopy closure over select stream channels were performed. The field measurements were taken during the stream channel assessments in the MRC property in Big River. The field measurements consisted of estimating canopy closure over a watercourse using a spherical densiometer. The densiometer estimates were taken at approximately 3-5 evenly spaced intervals along a channel sample segment, typically a length of 20-30 bankfull widths. The results of the densiometer readings were averaged across the channel to represent the percentage of canopy closure for the channel segment.
Canopy closure over watercourses in the Big River ranges from poor to very good but in general is fair. Mainstem, North Fork and South Fork Big River have less than ideal canopy cover values but this is to be expected from larger, mainstem type channels. East Branch North Fork Big River and Two Log Creek are two areas which have very good canopy cover. Mainstem Daugherty Creek is an area which has poor canopy cover.