For the 2003 sampling season, the IDNR made several changes to the habitat sampling protocol. All habitat sampling sessions prior to 2003 are considered part of the Legacy protocol, while habitat data collected from 2003 forward are part of the REMAP Enhanced protocol.

The major changes include:

• In-stream cover was no longer a generic category and a percentage value, the REMAP Enhanced protocol incorporated a larger array of in-stream cover types and a percentage value for each.
• No longer collecting Presence/Absence data of Large Woody Debris on each transect and 1/3 transect locations. Woody debris presence was broken into several categories and added to the in-stream cover variables, and given a percent value for stream coverage.
• Riparian data was greatly expanded from Vegetation Type/Width of Riparian to a detailed account of riparian impacts, both vegetative and human-influenced.