Stream Monitoring Resources

Monitoring Macroinvertebrates - high school instructions

Includes a simple data sheet for scoring results.

Stream Invertebrates by Pollution Tolerance Group

Two-page, black-and-white document to photocopy. With clear drawings of stream invertebrates grouped by pollution tolerance: Groups 1, 2 and 3.

Watersheds by Basin

TN Dept. of Environment and Conservation. Find your watershed on a map! Read the Water Quality Management Plan for your watershed. Find out about land use, pollutants, water quality, and restoration strategies for you local area.

U.S. EPA: How's My Waterway?

Locate and learn about the condition of streams, rivers, and lakes near you.

U.S. EPA: Learn about Water

Start here to access both general and technical information in this extensive web site.

Izaak Walton League Save Our Streams

Save Our Streams Program from the Izaac Walton League

Find the Data Forms for Stream Monitoring

Monitoring 101, equipment information, and

What does a healthy stream LOOK like?

Stream Visual Assessment for Volunteers from Georgia

Extensive information, but easy to understand (for adults or high school students). This document is from Georgia but applicable to most wadeable streams in Tennessee.

We suggest completing p. 24-25 to practice collecting data and learn what a healthy stream looks like. Doing this does not require entering the water.

USDA Stream Visual Assessment Protocol

From the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Use the scoring rubrics that start on p. 7 to see what a healthy stream should look like, including the size of the riparian zone, erosion/stability of the banks, and water clarity.

Page 19-20 provides printable images and descriptions of stream invertebrates: Group One (pollution sensitive), Group Two (somewhat pollution tolerant) and Group Three (pollution tolerant).