Summer 2025 Flow Regatta -

The Community Flow Monitoring Network’s 2025 Flow Regatta was held on September 12^th at Rosewall Creek Provincial Park in Fanny Bay.

In total, 14 participants attended from 8 organizations. Attendees ranged in experience from brand new to flow monitoring, to veteran flow volunteers who have been conducting flow measurements for over a decade. This workshop was an opportunity for everyone involved in the Network, as well as folks interested in getting started to meet in-person, share knowledge, ask questions, and connect over all things flow related.

After opening remarks and introductions, the morning was spent getting hands-on practice conducting discharge measurements with a Flowtracker2. Participants were grouped according to experience level.

BCCF Project Lead Ally Wall leads a group discharge measurement with experienced volunteers

Provincial hydrometric specialist Jon Jeffery leads a Flow Tracker2 practice session for new volunteers

In the afternoon, the group took part in a small demonstration on the topic of a hydrometric control – the sum of features that control the height of the water and the. Discussion included how changes to the control affect the stage in a gauge pool, and best practices regarding cleaning controls, and order of operations at site visits.

Some discussion points and questions that came up throughout the day included:

The probabilistic nature of hydrometrics – we are always dealing with some level of uncertainty when conducting flow measurements.
– Low flow = higher uncertainty

Control features have a direct effect on the rating curve equation and its ability to reliably produce discharge from stage.
– Over the long term, changes to the control can lead to changes to the rating curve

Signal to Noise Ration (SNR) warnings on the Flowtracker2
– SNR is a measure of the strength of the acoustic reflection from particles in the water
– Low SNR indicates a lack of suspended materials in the water. Seeding (i.e., stirring up sediment upstream) may be necessary when measuring in very clear water
– SNR Threshold Variation refers to when the SNR for a new panel differs from completed panels
**See our SOP for more information about SNR and Flowtracker2 warnings.

We wrapped up the day with a tour of the newly installed Provincial hydrometric monitoring station on Rosewall Creek.

Attendees learn about the equipment used in a Provincial hydrometric monitoring station..

Attendees take part in a demonstration on control changes.

A big thank you to everyone who came out and participated in this workshop, and many thanks to all of the people who helped to put it all together! This was our second Flow Regatta and we hope to continue this on as an annual event.