Kansas StreamLink
...a watershed exploration
StreamLink Collaborator
Baileyville - St. Benedict High School
Black Vermillion River

Date: April 25, 2002
Time: 12:15 PM
Air Temperature: 55 F
Water Temperature: 49 F

Stream Walk Survey

Does the stream flow in a straight line or does it curve?
Curve
What is the stream bed made of? Boulders, Cobbles, Gravel, Sand, Silt
What Color is the water?
Greenish-brown
Is there foam on the surface?
No
Is the stream the same color, or does it change? Changes
Do you see trash? Yes - Aluminum cans, paper products, iron, plastic, glass
Do you smell any unusual smells? No
What do you see on the streambanks?
Soil, Vegetation/Roots
What types of vegetation is growing on the streambanks? Shrubs, Grasses and Vines
What is the land along the stream like? Fields
What are the land uses along the stream? Roads, Crop Fields, Discharge Pipes
Do you see animal tracks? No
Do you see animal homes? No
Describe the wildlife you see: Rabbits, Frogs, Fish
Do you see fish? Yes - many, 1" long
Do you see or hear insects? No
What other observations can you make? Deeper in some places.

Stream Quality Survey

Location: 2 mi W of Baileyville

Weather Conditions (last 72 hours):
Rained night before

Average stream width: 7 ft.
Average stream depth: 8 in.
Flow Rate: Normal

Macroinvertebrate Count:
Sensitive Species: Caddisfly Larvae, Mayfly Nymphs, Gilled Snail, Stonefly Nymphs
Somewhat Sensitive Species: Cranefly Larvae, Damelfly Nymphs, Scuds, Alderfly Larvae
Tolerant Species: Aquatic Worms, Blackfly Larvae
Water Quality Rating (as calculated from number and abundance of species present): 22
Scale: Excellent (>22), Good (17-22), Fair (11-16), Poor (<11)

Fish water quality indicators: Scattered individuals, scattered schools
Barriers to fish movement: Other

Surface water appearance: Greenish-brown

Stream bed deposit: Brown, Silt, Sand
Odor:
Musky
Stability of stream bed: Bed sinks beneath your feet in a few spots

% Bank covered by plants, rocks and logs:
Stream banks (sides):
30-70% Fair
Top banks (slope and floodplain):
<30% Poor

Algae color: dark green
Algae located:
in spots, 45% of bed cover

Stream channel shade:
<20% Almost none
Stream bank composition: 10% trees, 10% shrubs, 50% grass, 20% bare soil, 10% rocks
Stream bank erosion:
20-49% Moderate
Riffle composition: 5% silt, 30% sand, 40% gravel, 20% cobbles, 5% boulders

Muddy bottom - describe the habitat: Rock/gravel/sand substrates

Land uses in the watershed: Urban houses, Cropland-wheat/unplanted
Are there any discharge pipes? Yes - 6
Whay types of pipes are they? Runoff from field

Describe litter in and around stream: 5% - plastic and glass

Comments: Needs more vegetation to prevent further erosion.


StreamLink Collaborators are in no way conducting professional water quality sampling. The information gathered is for educational purposes only. Students across Kansas share their creek experiences via the internet. If you have concerns about your water, please contact your local drinking water supplier or the KS Dept. of Health & Environment.