Explore and Restore Maryland Streams

Stream Study Activities


​Click here for Overall Student Data Sheet for All Stream Activities


NEW - Coastal Overall Student Data Sheet

Students engaged in stream study investigation

Stream study can be done in a variety of ways, looking at different indicators of health, discovering potential sources of water pollution, and other pressures on streams​. Three common activities include the following, and all are recommended for a complete field investigation:

  1. Conduct a biological assessment
  2. Analyze water chemistry
  3. Conduct a stream corridor assessment.
  4. Determine geomorphic properties – Shape, Volume, and Flow​

Biological, chemical and physical factors can all indicate the quality of the water. Geomorphology measurements indicate how a stream functions over time.