The traditional method of collecting water samples at a few locations in a stream corridor may indicate a problem exists but does not tell you why. The HDSS technique can collect samples at any frequency required over entire corridor stretches while simultaneously recording video and many other types of data. The ability to tie visual stream features with water quality trends makes it much easier and faster to identify areas where Best Management Practices (BMPs) can and should be applied to enhance stream health.
Trutta’s HDSS methodology provides not only a much more thorough analysis of water quality (100% of the survey area, not randomly selected or just easily accessible spots), but also enables root cause analysis of water quality issues throughout a stream system. In short, HDSS can reveal changes in water quality that would likely not be revealed by relying on traditional sampling methods. For example, the algae blooms in Figure 2 below are an indication of too much nutrient runoff, as compared to healthy conditions just upstream (Figure 1). Traditional water quality samples taken short distances above or below this algae bloom would miss the fact that a dry swale (Figure 1, bottom right panel ) is obviously washing nutrients into the stream at high flow.