Authors: L.A. Helfrich, Extension specialist and professor, Virginia Tech; D.L. Weigmann, director, Office of Science and Technology, State of Nevada; R.J. Neves, leader, Virginia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Publication Number 420-141, posted December 1998
| Stream Watchers Guidelines | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Observation | Causes | Things To Do | |||
| Muddy streambank | Flooding & erosion Farming & livestock Logging & dredging Construction activity | Investigate upstream. Use fences & filter strips. Replant vegetation. Use soil erosion barriers. Phone soil conservation agency. | |||
| Fish kills | Suffocation Decaying water weeds Temperature stress Pesticides & toxins Diseases & parasites | Investigate upstream. Estimate number of dead fish. Large fish, small, both? Freeze dying fish for agency. Phone fish & game agency. | |||
| Oil slick | Accidental spill Leaking storage tank Illegal dumping | Investigate upstream. Man or natural causes? Phone water resource agency. | |||
| Gravel dredging | Permits required Illegal dredging | Note vehicle license number. Phone water resource authority. | |||
| Muddy water | Soil erosion Decaying plants Livestock, mining | Investigate upstream. Man or natural causes? Phone water resource agency. | |||
| Odor & gas | Decaying vegetation Decaying animals Sewage pollution | Follow your nose to source. Man or natural causes? Report manmade pollution. Phone water resource agency. | |||
| Abnormal flows | Heavy rainfall Drought Dams and log jams Irrigation | Investigate upstream. Man or natural causes? Remove log jams & old dams. Phone water resource agency. | |||
| Foaming | Decaying plants Detergents & soap | Check odor of foam. Manmade soap has perfume smell. | |||
| Trash & litter | Illegal dumping | Erect anti-litter signs. Organize a stream clean-up day. Phone litter control agency. | |||
| Algae & weeds | Fertilizer runoff Animal waste Sewage pollution | Investigate upstream. Estimate area covered. Collect plant sample. Phone soil conservation agency. | |||
| Green water | Algae Industrial dye | Investigate upstream. Estimate area covered. Collect water sample. Phone water resource agency. | |||
| Milky water | Sewage pollution Decaying plants Investigate upstream. | Collect water sample. Phone water resource agency. Red-yellow water | Mining wastes | Industrial waste Algae Investigate upstream. | Collect water sample. Phone water resource agency. |
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