Subsections

• Lab2 Parameters to be Measured
• Lab2 Tasks
• Writeup Suggestions
• Lab2 Makeup Lab

Lab2 Activities

Things to bring:

• a good coat, gloves and hat (if the weather is cold or wet)
• wading shoes or boots, shorts or fast-drying pants (only needed if the ground is wet or creek is high)
• a field notebook and pen or pencil

Lab equipment: (all equipment except your lab notebook) will be supplied by the TA)

• General
  • timer (stopwatch, watch with second hand, etc.)
  • floats (for velocity determination)
  • field notebook
• High Discharge Conditions
  • impeller flowmeter
  • measuring tapes and/or taglines
  • anchors for taglines (stakes or nails)
  • surveyor's tape or marker for marking tag line
  • graduated pole or weighted measuring tape (for depth measurement)

• Low Discharge Conditions
  • yardsticks (a substitute for tagline)
  • rulers (for depth measurement)

Lab2 Parameters to be Measured

Please refer to the textbook (Chapter 3, Sanders, 1998) for a detailed description of the measurement of each parameter listed below. In the field, we will break up into 3-4 groups, each group will be responsible for measuring the parameters listed below at a station assigned by the TA or professor. We will then move to the picnic area in the park to discuss data analysis, and compare results. At this time or later you will write up your laboratory procedures and results (due at the beginning of the next lab). In your discussion you will describe your group's results, compare them to those of the other groups, and explain any observed variation.

Parameters to be measured:

Stream Cross-Section

measured directly using simple surveying techniques (Fig. 3.3). Used to determine the cross-sectional area of the stream, also hydraulic radius and wetted perimeter (see text p. 53-55).

Stream Velocity

determined by float method (Fig. 3.7) and direct measurement when possible (impeller velocity meter, Fig. 3.10 and Section 3.1.3). Used to compute discharge (see also text p. 73-74).

Parameters to be calculated:

Discharge

given cross-section and stream velocity measurements described above

Lab2 Tasks

1. At 3 or 4 places along the stream, we will install a tag line (either a distance-marked string or chalk-mark on the concrete) approximately perpendicular to the stream. In your notes, identify these stations using roman numerals, starting with I at the upstream-most line.
2. Each group will use yardsticks or rulers provided by the TA to measure the vertical distance from the tagline to the water surface, and to the stream bed at suitable intervals along the line. These intervals must be spaced closely enough to allow accurate determination of the stream cross-section (see Figs. 3.2-3.3).
3. A second line will be installed an appropriate distance downstream from the tag line, to allow velocity determination by the float method
4. Each group will measure the surface velocity at several points along the tag line, and determine an average surface velocity (Figs. 3.7-3.8).
5. If there is sufficient water depth, each group will also utilize the impeller flowmeter to determine the variation of velocity with depth, and to compare to their float-method velocity values. The flowmeter can be used to measure an average velocity across small stream cross-sections
6. If low water conditions are present, use the blue tub to measure the discharge from the stream. Time how many seconds it takes to fill the tub to the indentation mid-way up the side (which is the 15 liter volume mark). Divide the volume by the time to get the discharge.
7. Calculate your discharge values and report them to the other groups (preferably via WebCT) within one week after the lab.

Suggested form for recording stream cross section data:

Stream Cross Section Measurements
Name:			Date:
Team Members:
Location:
Tag line endpoints (lat, long, elev):
Point Number	Horizontal Position	Distance to Water Surface	Distance to Stream Bottom	Notes

Suggested form for recording stream velocity data, float method (after p. 63, Sanders, 1998)):

Stream Velocity Measurements (float method)
Name:					Date:
Team Members:
Location:
Stream Section Number	Section Width	Downstream Distance	Trial Number	Time	Surface Velocity	Average Surface Velocity in Section	Notes

See page 67, Sanders (1998) for a suggested form for recording stream velocity data, velocity meter method.

Writeup Suggestions

In your lab writeup, please pay attention to the grading criteria (section 1.2). In your discussion, you may want to consider the following factors that can affect stream discharge (after p. 50 Sanders, 1998):

1. General topographic setting
2. Site-specific topography and relief (a sketch or profile may be helpful.
3. Character of the floodplain and floodplain development.
4. Description of the stream banks and bed.
5. Sediment and rock exposed in cuts and in the stream bed.
6. Soils on the bank and washover deposits.
7. Vegetation: plant species, density and condition
8. Evidence of animal activity in the stream
9. Field observation of moisture content of the floodplain soils.
10. Depositional features
11. Erosional features
12. Human development
13. Evidence of flooding events
14. Bank stability

Lab2 Makeup Lab

For those who missed the field portion of this lab, do the following.

1. set up a lab notebook
   1. begin with table of contents (i.e. one entry, plus a few blank pages). Notebook should produce carbon copies, or be prepared to photocopy each lab report to turn in for grading.
   2. start a lab report for Stream Gauging (title, date, purpose sections)
   3. write a procedures section. This will be difficult, since you weren't at the field lab. See the Stream Gauging Parameters for a description of the measurements made. For detailed explanation of procedures, use the textbook Chap. 3; or the USGS National Handbook of Recommended Methods for Water-Data Acquisition, UTD Library call # I 19.15/3:W4S/2/Chap1-4, pages 1-20 to 1-29.
2. Reference the Class Results, pretend you were a member of one of the three groups (A-C) and analyze their data for you Discussion section. Compare your adopted group's results to the other group's results for the remainder of your Discussion.
3. Turn you lab notebook copies in at the beginning of the next lab