Watershed Health Report

Root River Watershed

HUC 8: 07040008  DNR Major: 43
Major River Basin: Lower Mississippi

Area: 1,659 square miles
Stream Length: 3,627 miles
Lakes Area: 1,525 acres

Watershed Mean Health Score: 54

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Overall Watershed Score
Mean Watershed Score:
|
54
Minimum Index Score:
|
8
Hydrology Health Scores
Mean Watershed Score:
|
79
Minimum Index Score:
|
53
Index:
Perennial Cover:
|
53
Impervious Surface:
|
97
Water Withdrawal:
|
97
Hydrologic Storage:
|
73
Flow Variability:
|
74
Geomorphology Health Scores
Mean Watershed Score:
|
40
Minimum Index Score:
|
18
Index:
Soil Erodability:
|
48
Groundwater Contamination:
|
18
Climate Vulnerability:
|
53
Biology Health Scores
Mean Watershed Score:
|
45
Minimum Index Score:
|
21
Index:
Terrestrial Habitat Quality:
|
21
Stream Species:
|
67
Species Richness:
|
49
At-Risk Species:
|
42
Connectivity Health Scores
Mean Watershed Score:
|
38
Minimum Index Score:
|
8
Index:
Terrestrial Habitat Connectivity:
|
30
Aquatic Connectivity:
|
8
Riparian Connectivity:
|
77
Water Quality Health Scores
Mean Watershed Score:
|
70
Minimum Index Score:
|
63
Index:
Non-Point Source:
|
63
Point Source:
|
81
Water Quality Assessment:
|
68

WAT Score
The Watershed Assessment Tool measures five components of watershed health. These components are: Hydrology, Geomorphology, Biology, Connectivity and Water Quality. Each component contains 3-5 health index scores. The index scores are combined to create a component score. The component scores are also combined into an overall mean (average) watershed health score; and the index identified with lowest score is the watershed minimum health score.
 
Please go to the Watershed Health Assessment Results page for more information.