Watershed and Stream Study Activity

A notebook and pencil

A stopwatch or phone timer

A small white object (plate, jar lid) for clarity testing

Rubber boots or water shoes

Collection containers for examining specimens

Measuring tape

A local area map

Find a local stream, creek, or drainage channel. Even a small urban creek counts — all water systems tell a story.

**Flow speed**: Drop a leaf in the current and time how long it takes to travel a measured 10-foot distance. Calculate speed (distance divided by time). Is the stream fast or slow? Record it.

**Clarity test**: Lower a white object into the water. How deep is it before you can't see it anymore? Clear water = healthy ecosystem. Murky water may mean erosion upstream or pollution.

**Life survey**: Carefully turn over rocks in shallow water. Look for aquatic insects, caddisfly larvae (in tiny pebble tubes), tadpoles, crayfish, or freshwater snails. The presence of certain species indicates water quality — mayfly and stonefly larvae mean clean water.

**Bank assessment**: Walk the stream bank. Is it eroded? Are tree roots exposed? Are plants holding the soil? Is there trash? Healthy streams have vegetated banks.

**Map the watershed**: Trace the stream on a local map. Where does it start? Where does it go? When it rains on your street, where does that water end up? Everything is connected.

This is real environmental monitoring. Many water quality organizations use these exact methods (called bioassessment) to track stream health.

Visit the same stream after a heavy rain. Flow speed, clarity, and water level all change dramatically — that's the hydrological cycle in action.

If you find macroinvertebrates (aquatic insects), look up a biotic index. Different species indicate different water quality levels. Your child can rate their stream's health scientifically.

Report any serious pollution (chemical smells, unusual colors, dead fish) to your local environmental agency. Environmental stewardship is real-world impact.