Evaluation

• width method appropriate

  yes as we found the width clearly
• width method effective

  yes as we were able to see that width increased with distance downstream overall, as the bradshaw model suggested
• width method problems

  human error and inconsistency means that it was difficult to judge where the edge of the river bank was in places
• width method improvements

  make sure the tape was tight and that we decided in advance what counted as the edge to be more consistent
• depth method appropriate

  yes, it found the depth
• depth method effective

  yes, we were able to see that depth largely increased with distance downstream as the bradshaw model suggested
• depth method problems

  sometimes the ruler sank in the mud at the bottom of the river, measurements may have been inaccurate due to water splashing
• depth method improvement

  ensure the same person did the measurements so they were always measured on the same basis and make sure the ruler was firm on the river bed
• velocity method appropriate

  yes, it found the speed of the river
• velocity method effective

  yes, i was able to see that velocity mostly increased, aside from the human intervention sites
• velocity method problems

  leaves may have got in the way, people stood upstream in the river may have slowed the velocity down, the impeller may get stuck, particularly in shallow areas where there was a lot of debris
• velocity method improvement

  used a float on the surface of the river and measured distance and time to calculate the velocity, which would have reduced the problems with more sophisticated equipment
• how to develop further

  • clast size
  • gradient
  • wetted perimeter