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How Healthy Streams Work 



Now that you know about the features and characteristics of 

 streams, let's think about how a healthy stream works: 



• What is it trying to accomplish? 



• How does it maintain a balance of water and sediment? 



• How does it form a shape? 



Streams begin zvhen water 

 accumulates and moves through 

 a ivatershed. To simulate this 

 action, pile dirt into a hill. Begin 

 squirting water on the hill; you'll 

 see that a stream soon forms. 

 You've eroded a channel in the 

 dirt and created a stream full of 

 energy. Based on the stream's 

 characteristics (see pages 8-9), 

 the stream will use that energy 

 to accomplish two tasks: 



• move water 



• carry sediment 



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