Snorkeling Rivers and Streams: An Aquatic Guide to Underwater Discovery and Adventure

by Keith Williams

Overview

Snorkeling Rivers and Streams takes readers on an underwater nature hike and chronicle adventures and discoveries in our amazing freshwaters. This how-to-do-it book is a perfect introduction to the growing sport of river snorkeling. Readers will experience the thrills, excitement, and discoveries that can be found underwater and learn about the aquatic life of fish, insects, snakes, frogs, and turtles that live below the surface. We often perceive that there isn’t much to see beneath the surface of our rivers and streams, but once we look underwater an amazing world appears. Fish of all colors, shapes, and behaviors live in our freshwater ecosystems and we can experience incredible ecological feats as we witness thousand-mile fish migrations and intricate spawning behavior. The streams themselves create other worldly streamscapes. You don’t need to travel to exotic places for underwater discoveries. You just need to don a mask and snorkel and explore the local stream.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780811738453
Publisher:	Stackpole Books
Publication date:	02/20/2020
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	494,406
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Keith Williams is executive director of NorthBay, an outdoor education program based in northeastern Maryland. Keith has a BS in environmental biology and MS in ecological teaching from Lesley University Audubon Expedition Institute. He worked as an environmental biologist for the U.S. Army before starting his career in education. He has snorkeled extensively in rivers across the United States, has developed river snorkeling–based science curriculum, and works with the U.S. Forest Service to develop river snorkeling programs in a growing number of states including Vermont, Virginia, Alabama, Florida, Colorado, Oregon, South Carolina, and Puerto Rico. He lives in northeastern Maryland, near the lower Susquehanna River.

Table of Contents

Introduction vi

Chapter 1 Trout 1

Chapter 2 Salmon 37

Chapter 3 Lamprey 59

Chapter 4 Eels 74

Chapter 5 Darters 82

Chapter 6 Minnows 96

Chapter 7 Tomcod 109

Chapter 8 Sculpin 117

Chapter 9 Herring, Quillback, and Shad 130

Chapter 10 Sunnies and Bass 149

Chapter 11 Toads, Frogs, Turtles, Snakes, Gators, and Benders 163

Chapter 12 Benthic Macroinvertebrates 182

Editorial Reviews

Keith Williams has given us an offer we should not refuse: come and see what lies beneath the shimmering surface of America's rivers and streams. Enticing us toward the little-known life beyond our normal vision, he shares remarkable sights and insights, and he guides us to wonders of the underwater world that are fabulous, beautiful, and essential.”—Tim Palmer, author of America's Great River Journeys, Wild and Scenic Rivers, and Field Guide to Oregon Rivers

“Snorkeling in rivers and streams? You mean not in the sea? Yes, indeed! Flowing freshwaters are another dimension with a mystique and a magic all their own. Trout and salmon and others are wonders to behold eye to eye. This wonderful book tells us what we need to know to get wet where water runs downhill.”—Carl Safina, ecologist, author of Becoming Wild

“Keith Williams is the most dedicated river snorkeler I know, and Snorkeling Rivers and Streams is a thoughtful record and reflection of his time spent in waters throughout North America. This book traces a rich journey through some of this continent’s most wonderful and watchable rivers. Each chapter provides the aspiring river snorkeler with useful geographic and ecological guideposts to discovery, along with the ethical and moral interpretation of the value of these ecosystems and our responsibility to take care of them as recreationalists and citizens. This book will be an indispensable inspiration and reference for anyone interested in getting deeper into our backyard creeks and rivers.”—Jeremy Monroe, Director of Freshwaters Illustrated

From the Publisher