Methodology

A trip was made to the swift river in Portland on the three stops were taken. We stopped at hope bay Chelsea swift river community and at each stop we collected data which was further analysed .we ascertained the velocity of each stop by the first measuring 15m in the river. One person stood at one end and another at the other end. The float was dropped at one end to travel in the direction of the flow. The stopwatch was stopwatch was started as soon as the float hit the water. As soon the float was exactly beside the person at the other end the stopwatch was would be stop. This was repeated twice. This experiment was done in the middle of the river. We measured the channel slope using clinometers. We held a meter ruler flat on the surface of the water and then we placed the clinometers on the meter rule and took the readings. The channel profile was obtained by first stretching a tape measure across the river from one bank to the next. A meter rule was then used to measure the depth of the channel in cm at 1 meter intervals. We then used this data to plot a graph to create a visual of the cross profile. Rock samples were collected at each stop by talking two steps backward and picking up the first rock our fingers touches to eliminate bias. We recorded the long axis, short axis, shape and rock type of each sample and further used it to create tables as will be seen in the data presentation. The proper random sample method could not be done as it would be difficult for 35 samples at each stop .we would have to assign a reference number to each rock. We also took pictures of the channel and rivers valises

Data presentation
Rock shape Well rounded Sub angular Sub rounded Rounded angular Percentage 14.4 16.33 15.55 25.4 17.7

Recommendations
We could have used the velocity meter to measure the depth of velocity, not surface so that the velocity readings could be as close as possible. the intervals as which we measured the depth of the channel could not have been lowered to quarter m interval as this would have given us a more detailed visual of the bed in the cross profile. Instead of using the clinometers we could use the pentameter as the clinometers might not be very accurate due to the moving surface of the water

Conclusion

The velocity of the river at any point is not necessarily dependent only on the point along its long profile but significantly on the local factors the velocities of the river at each stop show a trend. Stop1 had the lowest velocity as this was there the waves from the sea met the river and caused friction. Features found here were a central bar and deltas. Stop2 had an increase in velocity due to the tributary that joined the main stream. Stop3 was well interrupted by the widening of the river by human means to reduce the risk of flooding. There were many factors that contribute to the velocity of any point on a river and not just its point along its long profile. If its characteristics of the channel change, its velocity will indeed change also