Ohio Stream Assessment Method Review

This summer MAD, in partnership with Ecosystem Planning & Restoration (EPR), and the Ohio EPA, has been working on surveying reference quality streams across Ohio’s six major ecoregions. The team has been evaluating metrics such as bank erosion, riffle and pool lengths and depths, substrate size, stream slope, floodplain connectivity and riparian vegetation quality to characterize key geomorphological and habitat features of the streams. This data in Ohio is being collected for the purpose of verifying regional curves as well as establishing and verifying reference curves in Ohio and applied to the Ohio Stream Assessment Method (OSAM). OSAM is intended to be used as the states’ updated stream functionality assessment as part of the effort for calculating mitigation credits and debits. Refinement of the OSAM tool will continue based on findings from streams of various drainage areas and conditions in all six ecoregions.

As assessment work continues into the summer of 2026, our team is excited to keep exploring and surveying high quality streams in all nooks and crannies of the state!

Taking morphological measurements

Rocky bank showing stratification