7.8. Survey Procedures
If you're responsible for a group, have people do the work in pairs. For safety reasons, do not conduct a stream survey alone or during thunder and lightning storms. You should always try to conduct a survey when water levels are as normal as possible. You can start at the mouth of the stream and work upstream until the source is located. However, if the source can easily be identified (e.g. a lake), it may be easier to start there and work downstream. Please see these sections Before You Begin Restoration and Enhancing a Watercourse for important legal, safety, and ecological considerations when you are working on a site.
1. As you walk along the watercourse, stop at the following places:

- Where another brook or stream joins the watercourse

- Where drainpipes go into the watercourse

- Where there are bridges/culverts over the watercourse

- Where farm animals use the water

- Where land has been ploughed or forest cut right up to the water's edge

- Where you see a lot of garbage

- Any other place where you suspect there is a "problem"

- Where your maps (past and present) indicate potential problem areas

2. On your map, number the places where you stopped. Then write this number on the top of a survey form. Start a new form for each place you stop. Master survey forms for the different watercourses are included in the following pages; make numerous copies of the one you need.

3. In stream surveys, mark every pool in the river with a "P" at the appropriate place on your map. Record the maximum depth of each pool using a metre stick. Make an estimate of depth if it is deeper than your measuring stick.

4. At each stop, take a water sample. Make sure the number on the bottle corresponds to the number on the stream survey sheet. Always pre-rinse the bottle with the water you are collecting before you take the sample.

5. Take the temperature of the water. Be sure to hold the thermometer in the water long enough. It takes at least two minutes for the instrument to adjust to the water.

6. Test the pH if you have a testing kit.

7. Answer the remaining questions on the survey form.
Stream Survey Form

Recorder's Name ____________________
Stream Name ____________________

Group Name ____________________
Location # on map ____________________

Date____________________
County____________________

Please describe weather conditions eg. rain, snow or sleet, approximate air temperature, cloudy, sunny, windy?


Stream Section # Water Bottle #
PH Water Temperature
Grid Reference (on topographic map)

Map # 		Stream depth

1. Deepest part of pool

2. Crest of riffle
Why did you stop here?

If there is a drainpipe, where it is coming from?
Is there a water intake?

If there is another watercourse, do you know its name?

Do you know the landowner's name?

How much of the following can be seen on the bottom?

% Boulder = the size of a dinner plate or larger (approx.25 cm)

% Cobble = the length of an index finger up to a dinner plate (6.4-25 cm)

% Gravel = the size of a thumbnail up to the size of an index finger (2-6.4 cm)

% Pebble = the size of a baby fingernail up to a thumbnail (0.6 2 cm)

% Sand = less than 6 mm

% Silt = less than 1 mm
Yes No
Pick up a rock - are there insects on it?
Yes No
Look closely - are the insects moving?

Count the insects on a softball-sized rock.

Count the casings from caddisflies.

Name the kinds of insects if you know what they are.

Yes No
Is the rock muddy?

Was it set in sand or silt?

How far down (approx.) do you have to go through mud/silt until you reach rock or gravel?

Check what the shoreline or edge of the area is like.
Yes No
Streamside vegetation?

Please indicate the percentage of each type:
Yes No
% Hardwood trees (deciduous) % Softwood trees (coniferous)
% Alders % Shrubs
% Grasses % Manicured grass
% Farm Field % Swamp
% Marsh x

Is there human development evident e.g. houses/factories, etc.? What? 		 
Is there any evidence of bank erosion?

Please mark these areas on the map using a code in the same way that you mark pools.

Other important physical features to note?

Evidence of wildlife? Name them if you can.
Yes No
Fish Birds Animal tracks
 
Evidence of farm animals?
Yes No
In the water?
Yes No
On the banks?
Yes No
Evidence of farm drainage?

Describe the general water movement:
Yes No
Shallow and slow Shallow and fast
Deep and slow Deep and fast

Any obstructions or barriers? 		 
Logs Trees Other?

Any garbage? 		 
Paper/cardboard Plastic Tires
Glass Metal   Other?


Comments:





  
Lake/Wetland Survey Form

Recorder's Name ____________________
Lake/ Wetland name ________________

Group Name ____________________
Location # on map ____________________

Date____________________
County____________________

Please describe weather conditions eg. rain, snow or sleet, approximate air temperature, cloudy, sunny, windy?


Type of Wetland?
Lake Pond Fen
Bog Swamp Marsh
Do you know the source of water for the wetland?

Please indicate (spring, name of river/stream)

If it is a lake, what is the bottom like?

Draw a sketch and indicate the following:
Yes No
Silty Muddy Rocky Lots of plants

If it is a lake, take the water temperature near places where water flows into the lake.
Water temperature (location)
Are there any drainpipes coming into the wetland?
Yes No
Do you know where it is coming from?

Where?

Do you know the landowners name?

Check what the shoreline or edge of the area is like. Mark these on your sketch.
Yes No
Streamside vegetation?

Please indicate a checkmark in the box(s):
Yes No
Hardwood trees (deciduous) Softwood trees (coniferous)
Alders Shrubs
Grasses Manicured grass
Farmland Field
Marsh Swamp

Human development e.g. houses/factories, etc.? Please name what kind



  
Evidence of bank erosion?

Other important physical features to note?



Evidence of wildlife? Name them if you can.
Yes No
Fish Birds Animal tracks
Do you see any evidence of farm animals or farm drainage in the watercourse?

Any garbage?
Yes No
Paper/cardboard Plastic Tires
Glass Metal   Other?
Estuary Survey Form

Recorder's Name ____________________
Estuary name ____________________

Group Name ____________________
Location # on map ____________________

Date____________________
County____________________

Please describe weather conditions eg. rain, snow or sleet, approximate air temperature, cloudy, sunny, windy?


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Name(s) of river(s) flowing into the estuary?

Saltmarshes present?
Yes No
Kelp beds present?
Yes No
Are there any drainpipes coming into the estuary?
Yes No
Do you know where they are coming from?
Yes No
Where?  


Do you know the landowner's name?
Yes No
Are there wharves?
Yes No
Causeways?
Yes No


Check what the shoreline or edge of the area is like.		  
Shoreline vegetation?

Please indicate a checkmark in the box(s):
Yes No
Hardwood trees (deciduous) Softwood trees (coniferous)
Alders Shrubs
Grasses Manicured grass
Farmland Field
Marsh Swamp

Human development e.g. houses/factories, etc.? Please name what kind.
Evidence of bank erosion?

Other important physical features to note?




Evidence of wildlife? Name them if you can
Yes No
Fish Birds Animal tracks
Do you see any evidences of farm animals or farm drainage in the watercourse?
Yes No
Any garbage?
Paper/cardboard Plastic Tires
Glass Metal   Other?