Hydro morphological assessment using the habitat survey method of Pandurucan River in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro
Keywords:
habitat modification scores, habitat quality assessment, hydro morphological, morphometric, river habitat surveyAbstract
Describing the physical characteristics and natural processes of a river system required field investigation and site survey. The River Habitat Survey (RHS) was developed to guide water managers to provide technical descriptions of the river ecosystem useful in the conservation and rehabilitation of the riverside habitats. The survey was conducted to assess the hydro morphological features of the river to provide substantial evidence for the corrective measures applicable to the river. This study employed the procedures suggested by RHS to present the habitat quality assessment and habitat modification scores that describe the present diversity and ecology of Pandurucan River in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. The Habitat Quality Assessment (HQA) scores reflected that the river has poor diversity and naturalness, as shown by the physical features of the channel, bed, and riverbank. The high value of the Habitat Modification Score showed that the river is severely modified by the existing land use, structures, and development in the river, describing the present ecology in the river. The study further proved that rehabilitation strategies must be prioritized in the objective of reviving the Pandurucan River.
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