Contribution of Riparian Vegetation to Trout Cover in Small Streams

Cover is an important trout habitat component resulting from the geomorphologic characteristics of a stream channel, the stream-bank interface with the riparian community, and the stream flow. By means of regression analysis, this study quantitatively describes the relative importance of three cover parameters (overhead bank cover, rubble-boulder-aquatic vegetation areas, and deepwater areas) and two cover models as indicators of trout standing stock in eight small streams in southeast Wyoming. Results indicated that overhead bank cover, provided primarily by riparian vegetation, is the cover parameter that explains the greatest amount of variation in trout population size.