Sontek handheld ADP

Note (from Rickley's): The standard metric rod marked in centimeter increments with a length of 1.2 meters. The anodized aluminum handle has an integral scale to indicate the correct setting of the current meter at the 0.2, 0.6 and 0.8- depth settings, which corresponds to the conventional two- position method. This unit permits convenient setting of the current meter at the proper depth. It allows the hydrologist to quickly set the meter at the correct depth without bringing the meter out of the water. The depth of the water is read on the graduated hex main rod. When the round setting rod is adjusted to the depth of the water, the current meter is automatically positioned for the 0.6-depth method (0.4-depth position up from the streambed). Setting the unit to half the water depth will place the meter at the 0.2-depth up from the streambed. Conversely, setting the unit to twice the water depth will place the meter at the 0.8-depth position up from the streambed. The latter two positions correspond to the conventional two-position method.

Rough Sontek Flowtracker Procedure for measuring Velocity

1. Turn on the unit
2. Press Enter for the main menu
3. Set the units in the Setup parameters menu
4. To start the measurements select 'Start Data Run' from the main menu
5. Enter a junk name of some sort. The name isn't important since we won't be logging the data to the computer. To enter alphabet characters do the following:
   1. press a number button
   2. use the 'ABC+' and 'ABC-' keys to find the letter you want
   3. press a number button to move to the next character in the name
   4. repeat
   5. press the 'Enter' key when you're done.
6. You don't need to worry about the next screen which prompts for staff and gauge heights. So, you're ready to begin the measurements by selecting the 'Next Station' button.
7. Specify starting from the left bank or the right bank by pushing the 'LEW/REW' key.
8. Now, you're ready to begin making measurements so hit the 'Next Station' button
9. At this point, if you'd like the unit to calculate discharge for you, you should enter the station number and depth by using the 'Set Location' key and the 'Set Depth' key.
10. Select 'Measure' to begin measuring.
11. At the end of the measurement period the flowtracker will ask you to accept or repeat the measurement. If you accept you can move to the next station and repeat.
12. When you've come to the far bank you're done measuring. To tell the meter this, press the 'End Selection' button twice.
13. Next, you need to specify the station value for this bank. Toggle left and right bank as before by pressing the 'LEW/REW' key.
14. Press 'Calc. Disch.' twice to let the meter calculate the discharge.
15. You can see the discharge from this display point. When you're done looking press '9' to exit and go back to the main menu.

Other good items:

• Battery Voltage accessible from the System Functions Menu. To get there select the 'System Functions Menu' and then choose on the second page option 5 'Battery Data'
• User should check signal to noise ratio (SNR) and note this value. A low SNR means there are too few particles in the water for the signal to reflect reliably. Sontek recommends against using measurements with a SNR < 10. Dirt can be added upstream of your measurements if needed to increase the SNR of the measurements, but care should be taken to not disturb the cross section itself once measurements begin.

Further Background Information on making streamflow measurements with a wading rod type setup

http://wwwrcamnl.wr.usgs.gov/sws/SWTraining/WRIR004036/Index.html