Monitoring of our Streams

Streams in a sub watershed are walked yearly to get a true picture of stream health. Visual stream assessments gauge the quality of a stream and the progression of erosion. Bank erosion is mapped and flow is measured.

• Bear Branch Watershed Study with the US Army Corps of Engineers
• East Fork Stones River Watershed Visual Stream Assessment
• Lytle Creek Watershed Visual Stream Assessment 2013
• Middle Fork Stones River Visual Stream Assessment 2015
• Overall Creek Watershed Visual Stream Assessment 2016
• Sinking Creek Stream Assessment and Visual Data 2014 
• Upper West Fork Stones Visual Stream Assessment Watershed Characterization
• Upper West Fork Stones River monitoring sectors

Stream Assessments Map
Check our interactive map of Stream Assessments in your area.

Sampling

Stormwater outfalls are sampled during all seasons. Sampling during a rain event can provide information about the upstream basin and possible sources of pollution.

Dry Weather Screening

Illicit Discharge Detection Elimination

Sampling and screening activities during dry times are designed to find illicit discharges and pollution sources to our streams. In addition to screening stormwater outfalls to local streams, staff also screens hot spots or areas that have a higher probability for illicit discharges.

Biological Sampling

Sampling for small aquatic bugs called macro invertebrates helps to understand the general quality of a stream.

Some species survive in clear water streams and are sensitive to pollution while others can survive in polluted water.

Stoneflies need clear water with plenty of organic input into the stream while caddisflies need adequate substrate material to build casing in which they live. Both are very sensitive to pollution. Neither of these species will be found in a stream with no vegetation and covered in sediment.

Ailing streams support pollution tolerant species such as midges and worms.

Cursory sampling

Sampling is conducted by MWRD annually to determine a water quality baseline. Organisms are identified and counted to determine whether species are rare, common, abundant or dominant.

Professional Sampling

Sampling is hired out biannually to a professional biologist lab to analyze using the official standard operating procedures to keep a baseline of TMI scores. Tennessee Macroinvertebrate Index (TMI) is a score generated by professional biologists to indicate the health of a stream.