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Streamwalk Tips
Please consider the following precautionary tips:
- Get the permission of landowners to cross any private land, posted
or not. Do Not Enter Areas Without Permission. It is recommended
that you use public access points (such as city/county/state parks and
campgrounds).
- Only record what you see, not what you have previously seen. For example
if you think fish are present but you can't see them, mark your sheet
"no fish present."
- Always work with someone.
- Do not put yourself in danger to gather survey information.
- Be careful of ticks, poison oak, nettles, insects. Bring repellent.
Wear long pants and boots: wind breakers help to block nettles.
- Watch out for dogs.
- Do not drink the water -- it is unsafe.
- Do not walk on unstable banks; your footsteps could speed erosion.
- Be alert for spawning areas (redds) in the stream. Do not walk on
them. They will look like a round or elliptical area of clean gravel
about 1-3 feet long. During fall through spring, when redds are evident,
try not to walk in the stream. In the summer, if you are careful, the
stream bed might be the easiest route for conducting your streamwalk.
Be aware that the stream bed can be very slippery, uneven, and unpredictable.
- Do not attempt to walk across streams that are swift and above
the knee in depth. You can be swept away in an instant!
- Be careful of streamside vegetation - disturb it as little as possible.
- If for any reason you feel uncomfortable about the stream conditions or surroundings, please stop your Streamwalk. You and your safety are much more valuable than the Streamwalk!
Recommended list of items to take along: Photocopies of topo map of stream to be walked |
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