•May provide an immediate clue to a stream’s health.
•Clear water does not always equal clean water.
•Some colors you may see:
–Brown- usually due to sediment
–Green- indicates high algae levels
–Oily Sheen- can indicate a petroleum or chemical spill
–Reddish- or orange color, usually means iron oxides are present
–Blackish- usually caused by natural leaf decay in fall
–Chalky- can be caused by salts and detergents in water