Base Field Kit

The FreshWater Catalogue field measurement base kit list below does not include our "standard kit" (eg buckets, rulers, timers, waterproof field note books etc), and an Oakton basic chemistry probe.  Basic equipment is distributed across the island to our volunteer groups, together with our Oakton's (via hosts or occasionally being shared).  For capturing our FWC data collection in the field digitally, we use smartphones (Apple or Android). If a personal smartphone device is not available/practicable for field use  we do have a small number of smartphones available for field loan.  

NB - a smartphone is not required for field data collection use (field note books are provided, and don't get mind getting wet...), nor is a smartphone required for uploading the collected field data to the cloud (this step can be done via access to our SSIFWC Field App via a desktop web browser).

Oakton "WD-35634-35 PCTS Testr 50" Waterproof Pocket pH, Cond, TDS, Salinity Tester

Standard FWC field kit, available with our project Oakton Hosts located across the island.  Used across the island to measure water temperature, electrical conductivity (EC) and pH - key freshwater (creek, lake, some wetlands) baseline data, providing insights into water quantity (groundwater "baseflow" components) and into possible anthropogenic controlled water quality variations.

Other Field Kit

Our collection of other field kit, often the result of kind ($$) donations in support of our project, or of useful field equipment, includes more exotic Secchi tubes (and more conventional Secchi disks).  And, as a part of our links into the local island schools, we also have a number of Water Rangers field sampling kits (these include a number of easy to use, though freshwater quality orientated, field measuring tools).

We now have our own FWC stream velocity board a locally made version of the newly developed BC Stream Velocity Board.  This creek velocity measuring instrument is a useful, cheap and practical field tool, that we can use to help determine more accurate flow velocity in some of our small creeks (if there is sufficient flow and if there is no culvert)!

We are investing in a field turbidity meter, for use in some our or more water quality oriented field areas.

Advanced field Kit

Targeting specific aspects of the island's FWC freshwater measurement work or locally refining routine in-field practices, in addition to the list below a turbidity measurement device may become available - TBA.

Marsh-McBirney Inc. Model 201 Portable Water Flow Meter

The Marsh-McBirney portable flow meter uses an electromagnetic sensor to measure the velocity in a conductive liquid such as water. The velocity is displayed on a digital display as feet per second (ft/s) or meters per second (m/s).  There are no mechanical parts for the device which means that it is a lot more reliable than the Swoffer, under a variety of conditions.  A useful site describing field conditions, and how to use this flow velocity meter, is located here.

Swoffer "Model 2100 Velocity Meter"

Non-standard FWC field kit.  Used (in conjunction with accurate cross-section stream profile measurements) to determine creek flow.  Only suitable for some (typically higher) creek flow conditions (fin does not spin in some conditions).  This velocity device is a backup as/when an the donated Marsh-McBirney equipment is not available.

YSI Dissolved Oxygen Logger "YSI PRO-ODO"

Non-standard FWC field kit.  Used to determine freshwater dissolved oxygen (DO) levels and aquatic ecosystem fish habitat health (creeks and lakes).  To-date this YSI Pro-ODO has been deployed to investigate dissolved oxygen variablity in selected creeks in the Xwaaqw'um watershed area and in Weston Lake.  The device is a high-end optical dissolved oxygen (and temperature) logger, with a probe and cable suitable for deployment in deeper water.  Unlike DO phial measurement systems this device does not generate chemical and glass waste!

YSI Conductivity Logger "YSI PRO-30"

Non-standard FWC field kit.  Used (like the Oakton) to determine freshwater chemistry and potential groundwater elements.  To-date this YSI Pro-30 has been deployed to investigate conductivity variability in Weston Lake - to identify scope for groundwater inflows in the lake (a consideration for any areal water budget).  The device is a high-end electrical conductivity (and temperature logger) with a probe and cable suitable for deployment in deeper water. 

Non-standard FWC field kit, "data loggers" can collect data 24/7 for several months at a time. Our loggers are being deployed in areas where the FWC project has moved from "Regional" (ie island-wide) measurements to "Local Detail" projects (ie a more in-depth investigation of flow, chmeistry, across multiple sites) driven by local project interest/support), the latter are currently taking place in the Weston Creek and Xwaaqw'um watersheds, the 2112, Madrona Creek and parts of the Fulford Creek watersheds.  

WPS HOBO Water Level Data Logger "U20L-04"

HOBO data loggers, and the very versatile HOBOware data logger download and interpretation software, allow us to collect and interpret a variety of SSI creek data, collected over months and years(!)

To-date the U20 water level data loggers have been deployed in field locations in the Weston Creek watershed.  Investigating  flow variability (year round flow volumes) in the Weston Lake area (a consideration for any areal water budget).  The device measures absolute pressure (a combination of water pressure and atmospheric pressure), and includes a temperature logger.  To determine actual flow volumes from the U20 data acquired, additional, volunteer acquired, seasonal "flow volumes" calibration data,  and school weather station atmospheric pressure data is required. 

WPS HOBO U24 Conductivity Logger "15070-F U24"

To-date the U24 conductivity data logger is deployed in a field location in the Weston Creek watershed.  The device is used to investigate groundwater inflow (baseflow) contributions to creek flow variability (and year round flow volumes) in the Weston Lake area (a consideration for any areal/lake water budget).  The device measures actual conductivity and includes a temperature logger.  This conductivity data can be used determine actual groundwater inflow flow volumes in creeks where a groundwater flow element has been confirmed.

WPS HOBO Temperature Logger "TidbiT® v2 Temp (UTBI-001)" and Temperature/Light Data Logger (UA-002)

To-date the Tidbit temperature loggers have been deployed in the Xwaaqw'um watersheds area.  These UTBI-001 Tidbits and UA-002 Pendants are monitoring seasonal variability in freshwater temperature and freshwater presence/absence (a key aspect of aquatic... ecosystem health...), in two key watershed creeks that may be (positively) impacted by the ongoing Quw'utsun & Stqeeye’ led watershed and wetland restoration project.

Staff Gauges

While not strictly speaking "specialist kit" these in-creek water level measuring rulers (aka staff gauges) are part of the equipment that allows us to move from using and recording from the more sophisticated kit  to "simply" measuring a ruler (level) number.  Knowing that this staff gage level equates to a certain flow - makes the information more visible and so much easier to record (after the gauge has been calibrated!).

Note - If you interested in knowing more about some of the devices we have available please have a look at our Field Device Manuals.  Interested in borrowing any of the above FWC field devices, and knowing where they are currently located?  Have a look at our current "FWC equipment (and Oaktons) hosts map" or contact the FWC Project Lead.

Donations

A big thank you to the SSI Foundation for the FWC project grants in 2019-2020 and 2020-2021, and to those who have donated some of our field equipment, or in-kind to our SSI FreshWater Catalogue Project. We are very grateful for the field equipment we now have, and for your continued support.

If you feel that you have something that might help move our FWC project forward please drop a note to the SSIFWC project lead.