Stream+Order5

Stream Order There are four different kinds of streams, first-order, second-order, third-order, and fourth-order. Streams can hold many different kinds of wildlife, depending on what order they are. First-order streams hold many insect species and few, if any fish.

A second order stream also has many insects and a few more fish than the first-order stream.

Third-order streams have many plants and game fish.

Fourth-order streams have many plants and more game fish than the third-order stream.

First-order stream combine and turn into second-order stream. Second-order streams combine and turn into third-order streams. Third-order streams combine and turn into fourth-order streams. Eventually, fourth order streams run off into a river.

Humans affect the stream order by damming streams and changing the water flow.