In-stream monitoring equipment

This photo shows various water-quality monitoring equipment installed in a stream.

The staff plate (top left) is a physical ruler installed in the stream that is used to check the accuracy of other methods of measuring stream stage. This staff plate is easy to read and compare to other measurements when scientists visit the site.

The in-situ water quality monitors (center) are instruments that are submerged in the stream and secured to the streambed. These instruments collect continuous data about the stream's water chemistry and transmit this data via satellite in near real time.

The water level meter (bottom) takes continuous measures of water depth by measuring the pressure needed to force an air bubble through a length of orofice line. The higher the water level, the more pressure is needed.