Abstract

The development of methods that allow us to evaluate quickly and efficiently a freshwater system has been of high interest in the last time. This work evaluated the ecological condition of the headwater of the Nonguén stream (first five kilometers) during two seasonal periods, evaluating 5 transect of 100 m. separate by one kilometers each other. Two indexes development to mediterranean climate in the Iberian Peninsula was appliqued: the QBR (to evaluate riparian quality) and IHF (to evaluate physical habitat) index. The results shows the efficiency of these indexes like rapid assessments of environmental quality to shows a first trustworthy approximation of the hydrological system. The application of these indexes to freshwater system in general are discuss.