Getting started

So you want to do a stream study…

If you have never done it before, take it easy on yourself. Don't do it alone. There are resources to help you.

First of all…make the right contacts

You'll need to contact your local community advisor from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (Federal Government). You can find this person by:

1. phoning Fisheries & Oceans Canada (phone # found in the phone book blue pages: Government of Canada) or
2. going to the website page that has the advisors' phone numbers and emails listed. The URL is: http://www-heb.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/english/community/advisor.htm

The community advisor:

• has a streamkeeper kit (The equipment is expensive and it would take a lot of energy and expense to gather)
• has a streamkeeper handbook and other handy literature
• will consult with you and answer questions you or your students may have
• will come into your class, show slides, and give a talk
• will guide you and your class on a field trip
• will put you in contact with trained person if he/she can't do it

The community advisor works closely with people from a group called the Pacific Streamkeepers Federation. These are individuals who are interested in streamkeeping and also have taken training to lead groups in a field study. The community advisor may ask one of these people to work with you. They also have a website whose URL is: http://www.pskf.ca/

You will be able to access the Streamkeepers Handbook from whomever you will be in contact with. If you wish to have your very own copy, mail a cheque for $30.00 to:

The Pacific Streamkeepers Federation
720 Orwell Street
North Vancouver, B.C., Canada
V7J 2G3

Second step…steep your students in the necessary knowledge

Once you have been in contact with the advisor and have established a date and place where you will do the study, you'll need to do some preliminary lessons. If this is done, students will be able to do more in depth study when on the trip. The lessons are designed to make students:

• familiar with what they'll find in the stream (organisms)
• understand features of stream habitat and their purposes
• know what they need to look at to determine the health of a stream (types of organisms, oxygen level, pH, turbidity)

Third step…prepare for the trip

On the trip the students will be taken to a stream. The streamkeeper guide will give a review of the habitat features of the stream. Then the invertebrates from a section of the stream bottom (about 30cm x 30cm) will be directed into a net. The students will sort the invertebrates and record what they find. Water testing (temperature, oxygen, pH, and turbidity) will follow. After this the health of the stream will be determined.

Note: the students will not go into the stream themselves

What should be brought?

• your guide should have most of what you need. However you may be able to help out with things such as ice cube trays (for sorting critters), ice cream buckets, and magnifying glasses. Organize any extra materials only after consulting your guide
• clothing to handle the weather, the muck and the grime that you might encounter
• boots if possible
• backpacks, lunches, pencils, clipboards, pencils, and good manners
• a whistle for the teacher to signal students if they need to gather around, stop, listen, etc.

Of course you'll need to send home field trip forms and organize parent volunteer drivers.

Final note… Stream side etiquette

Twenty to thirty excited students at a streamside can create a lot of damage quickly. Some guidelines:

• Stick to designated paths and areas
• Stay out of the stream
• Let the leaders get the samples
• Stay within designated areas. Avoid trampling growth
• Leave branches, twigs and wild plants alone
• Respond to whistle signals immediately
• Take all litter out with you