Deep Creek is a tributary of the Raging River, which in turn is a tributary of the Snoqualmie River,
one of western Washington's largest rivers.  Deep Creek and Raging River are located about
30 miles east of Seattle in the Cascade foothills and are typical mountain streams with step and pool structure.
Stream profiles (width, depths, velocities) were measured by groups of 4 or 5 students to quantify streamflow,
and relate streamflow to habitat for plants and animals such as spawning salmon (both are salmon streams).

Robert, Raimol, Ahn and Kevin measure Deep Creek while Joe (background) seems amused.
Note the coarse bed load of this typical mountain stream.
Water-loving willow trees to the right background, red alders on the left.
 

Lia measures current velocity in Deep Creek while Noah and April run the electronic interface, and Michelle records.
Western red cedar and hemlock behind the field team.  Note absence of suspended load in stream.
 

Christian holds the current meter while Raven runs the electronics, Tim monitors distance across Deep Creek and Martin records.
Salmon berry thickets behind the group.  Vegetation often grows right up to the gravel bars.

Closeup of the electronics.  A TI-83+ calculator sits atop a Vernier CBL data interface, attached to a current meter.
Lunchbox for protection of the electronics; the lid can be closed but still view the calculator
 

Beth strikes a pose, using the measuring tape to locate her velocity sample points.  Alder in front of Piper.  Raging River.

Tammy and Adam work the velocity meter in Deep Creek; Colin, Kirk and Caitlin start their transect.  Ski poles for stability on slick rocks.
Note the turbulence just in front of Adam, created by the high roughness of the bed load.
 

Jonathan and Tomo on one of Deep Creek's mid-channel bars,
after collecting 240 measurements of velocity at a single point.
Meter stick attached to velocity meter adds stability and allows for depth checking.
Dense cedars, hemlocks and alders.
 

Lindell and Laura are working in tandem, carrying the electronics package across Deep Creek to access the far shore.
Vine maple behind Lin.
 

Kim, Aly, Autumn and Ed start their velocity traverse across Deep Creek.
The white case protects the velocity meters during transport.  A small ephemeral stream is behind Kim.
A spruce (?) behind Autumn, with sword ferns beneath.

Shawn plays out the cord while Ilona measures velocity in Deep Creek.  Jonathan tackles the big water in the background.
Large boulders derived from erosion of glacial deposits give this stream a high roughness coefficient.

Emi calls out the depth measurement along the Raging River.

Wednesday after the weekend field trip:  students working in their field groups, analyzing and interpreting the data.
Field group Beth, Asta, Piper and Jennifer checking the mean depth with Joe (instructor).
In the background, our teaching assistant Laura (back to camera) helps another field group.
The TI-83+ calculator was required for all students; rentals were available.

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