What determines how much load a stream can carry?
The ability of streams to carry a load is determined by 2 factors: Competence and Capacity. Competence of a stream measures the largest PARTICLES it can transport. A stream’s competence increases with it velocity. The competence of a stream increases 4 times-when the velocity doubles.
What is the measure of the largest particles a stream can carry?
In hydrology stream competency, also known as stream competence, is a measure of the maximum size of particles a stream can transport. The particles are made up of grain sizes ranging from large to small and include boulders, rocks, pebbles, sand, silt, and clay. These particles make up the bed load of the stream.
What factors increase stream load?
As discharge increases, generally width, depth, and velocity of the stream also increase. A stream’s velocity depends on position in the stream channel, irregularities in the stream channel caused by resistant rock, and stream gradient. Friction slows water along channel edges.
What are the components of stream load?
The total load (quantity of sediment) of a stream can be described as consisting of three components:
- the bed load – materials bounced along the stream bottom.
- the suspended load – material carried in suspension in the stream water.
- the dissolved load – material carried as dissolved solids in the stream water.
What is a gradient and what is its effect on a stream’s velocity?
Gradient is the slope or steepness of a stream channel. It affects the stream’s velocity because the steeper the gradient is, the greater the velocity, due to gravity. Velocity affects capacity through discharge, since the greater the volume of water in a stream is, the greater its capacity is for carrying sediment.
How can you tell if a stream is unhealthy?
Green water is generally a sign of excessive algae and poor water quality. A rainbow or oily sheen on the water is an indicator of poor water quality. Algae growth. Scattered algae indicate a healthy waterway, whereas, matted or hairy algae can mean poor health.
What makes a stream healthy?
A healthy stream is one that supports various native species of insects, crustaceans, and fish. The ability to support these species depends both on water quality and habitat availability.
Can a stream look polluted and still be healthy?
Tougher species, like blackflies or midges, can tolerate unhealthy stream conditions. But others, like mayflies, are much pickier. They cannot survive in polluted, high-energy streams that eat away at the banks.
What are signs of a healthy stream ecosystem?
People commonly mistake water clarity as a sign of a healthy stream; but, clear water is only one indicator of good health. Other signs include biological indicators like the presence of certain macroinvertebrate species or chemical signals like pH and dissolved oxygen levels.
How do I make my stream flow faster?
If a stream is flowing along straight, the strongest, fastest flow will be in the center of the stream well above the bottom of the bed or channel but below the surface. Friction with the bottom and sides of the channel acts to slow the water against it, and that in turn slows the adjacent water, but not as much.
Can you get sick from stream water?
According to Hart, swimming in a natural lake or stream won’t make you sick unless you drink the water. Just skip the dip if you have an open wound.
What can affect pH in streams?
pH levels can fluctuate daily due to photosynthesis and respiration in the water. The degree of change depends on the alkalinity of the water. Carbon dioxide is the most common cause of acidity in water ¹⁵.