4.1.12.A

=**Stream Order in a Watershed**=

Stream ordering is to compare or evaluate streams or other water systems. Stream order allows for the evaluation of the condition of an ecosystem, such as in evaluating its health. Another benefit of stream ordering is that through evaluation you can create policies to help protect and keep the streams and other waterways in good condition. Stream order starts in a first order of the individual small streams and moves up in orders of bigger streams until the stream of the highest order is joined. When two or more first order streams join, that creates a second order stream. When two or more second order streams join, that creates a third order stream and so on. First order streams are very prone to pollution because they are unable to disperse pollutants and are also challenged because they cannot rid of much base sedimentbecause they do not have the needed force(How are streams classifyed, Minnesota Shoreland Management) www.egr.msu.edu/ 4.1 Watersheds pd2