The Stream Tracker project seeks to improve our
understanding of intermittent streams - those which don't flow continuously but
rather are wet and dry after rain and snowmelt. Almost all stream monitoring
focuses on large streams with continuous flow, which results in limited data on
the small headwater streams that are the ultimate source of water for all
rivers. Stream Tracker addresses this information gap by motivating students
and volunteers to visit small streams and enter their observations on a website
or mobile phone.
Donations support Stream Tracker staff and students to
analyze the data collected and to develop outreach,training, and education
events. As Stream Tracker grows, we aim to release improved maps of stream types
that can be used for watershed management, including water supply planning,
water quality assessments, and aquatic habitat assessments.