Water
We deploy natural channel design.
Water Quality Monitoring
One of the services that we offer at FlatLand Resources includes water quality monitoring. One of our current contracts with the Soil and Water Conservation District is the White River Watershed. This plan monitors 33 sites along the White River where we test for a variety of chemical levels to give greater insight into fertilizer and chemical runoff. Our monitoring services also involve turbidity tests, water samples, water pH and temperature, fish, macroinvertebrate, and micro invertebrate testing. The resulting data is shared with our partners and IDEM to help create a more comprehensive view on our river’s health. This service is typically offered under contract as part of grant fulfillment, under which we create a Quality Assurance Project Plan. All plans are officially submitted to IDEM for review to outline the kind and frequency of water quality monitoring that we perform.
Pebble Counts
At FLR we are involved in every step of natural channel design. One of the aspects of natural channel design is determining the state of the river and how it changes year after year. Some of our current contracts, post-dam removal, measure the way that sediment and suspended particles move in the river without the presence of a dam or barricade. The size of the rocks and sediment can give us better insight into the way that the river will evolve and ways that we can help the river follow its natural course. Pictured is some of the process involved in pebble counting. We walk across the channel multiple times, randomly sampling rocks and pebbles to ensure an accurate picture of sediment. We then chart the state of the river and compare it with data from past counts. We perform this service as part of our holistic approach to natural channel design.
River Cross-Sections
Oftentimes, in addition to pebble counts, we monitor stream changes after the removal of dams or after the addition of riffles. We approach riffle installation with natural materials and rocks, instead of the industry approach that often uses crushed concrete. To measure stream bed changes we collect data by surveying the stream once a year, walking bank to bank 5-6 times upstream and downstream to get the most data. Surveying using this method shows how riffle installation holds up over the course of 5 years, and allows us to adjust our methods if necessary in future projects. At FLR, we are fully committed to natural channel design: from permitting, to design, build, and management--we ensure that our work is implemented to the highest standard every step of the way.
We currently are monitoring 33 sites within the White River Watershed for a Quality Assurance Program Plan. Follow allow on the White River Watershed website.
