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Visual Survey
Stream Location: Mill Creek
Date: 10/3/2011
Names: 4th Grade: Smith, Coene,
Burns
A. Watershed Walk SurveyCircle the condition that best describes
your stream segment for each category. Consider the 1-milearea
upstream of your stream segment as the watershed.
Category
Excellent
Condition
Fair/Good
Condition
Poor
ConditionLand use by the stream
Undisturbed, good cover
all year
Little to moderatecover, some bare
ground & some paved
Bare dirt or completelpaved, maximum
disturbance
Banks erosionNo erosion, dirt is
covered, no evidence of
soil loss
Moderate erosion, someexposed dirt & some
cover, slight evidence ofsoil loss, gentle slope
Severe erosion, exposedirt, obvious loss of so
steep slope
Banks vegetation Good vegetation cover
Moderate vegetation
problems at high flowtime
Little or no vegetationexposed dirt
Water surface No slick, film or foam Slight film or foamFilm or
foam is
pronounced
Water color/clarity Clear waterLittle color or slight loss
of clarityHighly colored or low
clarity
Water odor No odor Slight odor Severe odor
Stream bed siltation No silt, no erosion Slight silt, some
erosion Much silt, shows erosio
Algal growth in stream Moderate algal growth No
algaeOverabundant algal
growth
Animal life Abundant Few None
Litter None Small amount Very common
Human impacts instream
Little, seems naturalModerate, some
evidence of change
Major dams, pipes,
road culverts, etc.
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B. Weather ConditionsCheck one:
Clear
Cloudy
Overcast
Did it rain or snow within last 24-48 hours?
Yes
No
Air Temperature: 65 F
C. Stream BedDescribe the material on the bed of the stream.
Circle all materials you see on the bed of the stream.
Take clear pictures of the area so we can determine the
percentage of each back in the classroom.
Bedrock continuous rock that may be only partly exposedBoulders
separate, often embedded, over 25 cm across
Large cobbles 1225 cm acrossSmall cobbles 612 cm across
Gravels 0.26 cm acrossSand 0.010.2 cm
Mud/silt fine and smooth, not grittyMan-made structures covering
the natural stream bottom
Woody debris fallen trees, branches, twigs and entrapped
leavesWater plants leafy water plants rooted into the stream bottom
or the stream sides
D. Bank Vegetation
Describe the vegetation on the banks of the 10 meter stretch of
your site. Circle each type of
vegetation you see on each side of the stream. Take clear
pictures of the vegetation. Back in theclassroom we will use the
pictures to estimate the percentage cover on each bank for each
category.
Evergreen Trees (coniferous)
Deciduous Trees
Wetland Vegetation
Tall grasses
Scrub (weedy)
Rock, gravel
Grass and weeds
Bare ground
Building, yards, roads
Evergreen Trees (coniferous)
Deciduous Trees
Wetland Vegetation
Tall grasses
Scrub (weedy)
Rock, gravel
Grass and weeds
Bare ground
Building, yards, roads
