Getting the big picture....Where is your town located on the river's whole watershed? Is it near the source; near the mouth; near the junction of tributaries; near major lakes on the river system? Is the river near you fast flowing; slow and meandering; wide and deep? What are the important sources of water flowing into the river near you: other rivers, creeks, underground streams or springs?

The river during the seasons....How does the river change as the year passes? Winter - is the river frozen? Spring - what happens when the snow melts or the spring rains come? Summer - does the river every dry up or become a trickle? Fall - do spawning fish migrate in the river or spawn in it?