How to Identify the Upstream and Downstream Locations in a River

Upstream and downstream identification of a river is valuable for river navigation, resource management and residential and commercial planning in a river corridor. The direction of flow is easy to identify in fast-moving rivers, but slow-moving waters are difficult to distinguish without physically testing the water or observing it from an elevated advantage.

Things You'll Need

• Stick
• Topographical map

Show More

Instructions

• 1

  Hold a stick or pole in a vertical position in the main river channel. Use a boat to access the central channel on large rivers. Observe the point where the water meets the object. A pocket forms on the downstream side and pressure builds against the upstream side.

• 2

  Follow the river for a long distance and observe the changes in the sediment. The sediment becomes increasingly large as you travel upstream and smaller as you travel downstream.

• 3

  Observe the elevation on a topographical map to differentiate between upstream and downstream. The upstream direction follows an increasing grade and the downstream follows a decreasing grade.

• 4

  Observe the direction and course of the river. The upstream direction follows a straighter course than the downstream direction. The downstream, low elevation section of a river deposits fine sediment and meanders. The upstream, early stages of a river must cut through large rock and the channel is fast and narrow.

• 5

  Observe the size of the river. The river becomes smaller as you travel upstream and larger as you travel downstream. The downstream section is larger because streams and other rivers combine as the river travels towards the ocean.