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Stream Flow
INTRODUCTION

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Stream flow or discharge is the volume of water that moves through a specific point in a stream
during a given period of time. Discharge is usually measured in units of cubic feet per
second (cfs). To determine discharge, a cross-sectional area of the stream or river is measured.
Then, the velocity of the stream is measured using a Flow Rate Sensor. The discharge can then
be calculated by multiplying the cross-sectional area by the flow velocity.

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Stream flow is an important factor in the stream ecosystem and is responsible for many of the
physical characteristics of a stream. Stream flow can also modify the chemical and biological
aspects of a stream. Aquatic plants and animals depend upon stream flow to bring vital food and
nutrients from upstream, or remove wastes downstream.
Stream flow has two components. The first is flow velocity, and the second is the volume of
water in the stream.

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Flow velocity is influenced by the slope of the

surrounding terrain, the depth of the stream, the width
Factors Influencing Flow Velocity
of the stream, and the roughness of the substrate or
Depth of stream channel
stream bottom. If the surrounding terrain is steep,
then rain water and snow melt will have less time to
Width of stream channel
soak into the ground and runoff will be greater. In an
Roughness of stream bottom
area with level terrain, such as farm land, the rain
water has plenty of time to soak into the ground and
Slope or incline of surrounding terrain
there is less runoff. The flow velocity will also vary
as the width or depth of a stream changes. For
instance, if you squeeze a water hose with your hand, the flow velocity of the water increases.
This is because you have reduced the area that the water must flow through, while the volume of
water passing through the hose remained constant. The same thing happens in a stream when the
stream channel changes in its width or depth. The substrate of the stream bottom also affects the
flow velocity since water moves faster over a smooth surface than a rough surface. Flow velocity
is greater when the stream bottom is comprised of sand and clay and lower when it is cobble,
rock, and boulders.

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The volume of water in the stream is affected by the

Factors Influencing Stream Volume
climate of the region. Areas with more rain and snow
Weather or climate
will have more water draining into surrounding
streams and rivers. Seasonal changes affect stream
Seasonal changes
volume as well. In the summer there will be less
water in the stream compared to the winter. The
Merging tributaries
number of tributaries that merge with a stream or
Human impact
river contribute more water to the system, increasing
the stream volume. Humans are also responsible for
altering the volume of water in streams. Water is removed for consumption, industry, and
irrigation. Roads and parking lots cover vast areas, preventing rain-water from soaking into the
ground. Instead, the water is forced to run off into surrounding streams and rivers.

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Expected Levels
Through careful monitoring, the typical discharge of many of our streams and rivers has been
determined by using historical stream flow data. Much of this data is available from the USGS in
printed form, or over the internet at the USGS website:
http://water.usgs.gov/realtime.html
Below is sample data from a station monitored by the USGS.

Stream flow data of the Missouri River at Hermann, MO

Table 1: Stream Flow Statistics at Various Locations
Location

Min (cfs)

Mean (cfs)

Max (cfs)

Mississippi River at Thebes, IL

85,500

310,000

725,000

Missouri River at Hermann, MO

28,500

107,000

382,000

2,800

18,000

46,900

593

1,300

3,160

Colorado River at Cisco, UT

Hood River at Hood River, OR

Summary of Methods
The cross-sectional area will be determined for a stream site using a tape measure and meter
stick. Measurements will be made at equal intervals across the stream cross-section. Flow
velocity will be measured using the Vernier Flow Rate Sensor at each of the intervals along the
cross section. Using these measurements, the stream flow will be calculated.

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Stream Flow

STREAM FLOW
Materials Checklist
___ computer
___ Vernier computer interface
___ Logger Pro

___ Vernier Flow Rate Sensor

___ measuring tape (15 m or 50 ft)
___ meter stick

Site Selection
1. CAUTION: Always follow safety precautions when entering the stream. If the water is too
deep or swift, select another site. Never venture out into the stream alone without another
person available to assist you in case of emergency.
2. Within a 50 meter stretch of the stream, select two sites that are as far apart as possible and
are representative of the stream as a whole.
Avoid sites with bends or breaks in the stream
caused by rocks or sandbars. Try to choose a site
where some flow can be observed. It is not
necessary for both sites to be the same. One site
Avoid
stream-bends
Avoid
can have a swift flow similar to that found near
logs and rocks
a riffle. The second site can have a moderate or
slow flow like that found after a pool.
3. At each site, you are going to take a cross
section of the stream and measure its width and
depth. Try to select a cross section that is
shallow enough to measure depth with a meter
stick and easy to cross. To measure stream flow
using the Flow Rate Sensor, avoid sites where
the stream depth is less than 10 cm (4 in).

Site 1

Avoid
Sandbars

4. The Flow Rate Sensor is equipped with a

5 meter cable. This enables you to take
measurements up to 4 meters away from the
shore without carrying the computer out into the
stream. If the stream is wider than 4 meters, first
monitor flow from one bank, then have the
person holding the computer switch to the other
bank of the stream. This should reduce the
chances of dropping the equipment into the
water and damaging it.

Site 2

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Testing Procedure
Measuring a Stream Cross Section

1. Using the measuring tape, determine the width of the stream cross section in meters and
record that measurement on your Data & Calculations sheet (round to the nearest 0.01 m).
Divide the cross section into six equally spaced sections.
1

Initial
distance = 0

Final
distance = Stream width
Final
depth = 0

Initial
depth = 0

1
distance out

depth

2. Using the meter stick, measure the depth of the stream in meters at
each of the equally spaced points along the cross section. Record
the depth and the distance out from one shore edge, in meters, on
the Data & Calculations sheet. Always measure from the same
shore. Be sure to include both the initial distance and depth, and
the final distance and depth.
Measuring Flow Velocity

3. Position the computer safely away from the water. Keep water away from the computer at all
times.
4. Plug the Flow Rate Sensor into Channel 1 of the Vernier interface.
5. Prepare the computer for data collection by opening the file 16a Stream Flow from the
Water Quality with Vernier folder of LoggerPro.
6. You are now ready to monitor flow rate.
a. Place the Flow Rate Sensor at the same points the depth measurements were made in
Step 2 (e.g., 1, 2, 3). Since points 1 and 7 are on the shore edge where there is no flow,
skip these points and perform flow measurements at the remaining five points.
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b. Submerge the impeller of the Flow Rate Sensor to about 40% of the depth measured at
each section. If the section is shallow enough, use the plastic risers that are included with
the flow rate sensor to support the sensor on the stream bed. The risers make it easier to
keep the impeller of the sensor in the same spot and oriented in the same direction.

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Stream Flow
c. Point the impeller of the sensor upstream (as shown
below) and directly into the flow. Click
to begin
to begin a 10 s sampling run.
data collection Click
Important: Leave the probe tip submerged for the
10 seconds that data is being collected. When the sampling
run is complete, stop data collection and record the flow
rate value on the Data & Calculations sheet.

40%

risers
optional

Flow

7. Repeat Step 6 for each of the remaining four sections.

8. Repeat Steps 17 for the cross section at Site 2.
Calculating Stream Flow

9. To calculate the stream flow, open the file 16b Stream Flow from the Water Quality with
Vernier folder of LoggerPro. Enter the distance out values in the first column and the depth
in the second column:
a. To enter a number in a column click in the first cell of the first column, labeled Distance
Out. Type the distance out values recorded on the Data & Calculations sheet pressing the
down arrow key after typing each value until you have entered all the distance out data.
b. When the distance out data has been entered, click on the first cell in the second column,
labeled Depth. Enter the depth values that were recorded on the Data & Calculations sheet
by typing in the value and pressing the down arrow key after typing each value until you
have entered all the depth data.
10. You are now ready to obtain the integral for the data you entered in Step 9. To do this, click
on the Integrate button, . The integral value is displayed in the statistics box on the graph.
Record this value on the Data & Calculations sheet.
11. Repeat Steps 910 for Site 2.

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DATA & CALCULATIONS

Stream Flow
Stream: ___________________________________

Time of day: ____________________________

Site name: _________________________________

Student name: __________________________

Site number: _______________________________

Student name: __________________________

Date: _____________________________________

Student name: __________________________

Site 1
A

Width

(m)

Distance

(m)

Depth

(m)

Cross-sectional area

(m )

Flow velocity

(m/s)

Average velocity

(m/s)

Stream flow

(m /s)

Site 2

(Optional) Convert Stream flow to cubic feet per second

H

Stream flow

(ft /s)

Row Procedure:
A. Record width of stream using a measuring tape.
B. Record the distances out from the shore line.
C. Record depth of stream using meter stick.
D. Record calculated cross-sectional area from Step 10.
E. Record flow velocity of each column measured with Flow Rate Sensor.
F. Average velocity = SUM E 5
G. Stream flow = D X F
H. Cubic feet per second = G X 35.32
Field Observations (e.g., weather, geography, vegetation along stream) ___________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Test Completed: ________________ Date: ______

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Vernier Lab Safety Instructions Disclaimer

THIS IS AN EVALUATION COPY OF THE VERNIER STUDENT LAB.

This copy does not include:

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Safety information

Essential instructor background information

Directions for preparing solutions

Important tips for successfully doing these labs

The complete Water Quality with Vernier lab manual includes 16 water quality tests and
essential teacher information. The full lab book is available for purchase at:
http://www.vernier.com/cmat/wqv.html

Vernier Software & Technology

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Toll Free (888) 837-6437 (503) 277-2299 FAX (503) 277-2440
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