NWDTW 2026

The salt dilution method is a technique for measuring streamflow by injecting a trace pulse of sodium chloride (NaCl) into a stream, allowing it to fully mix, and tracking the downstream dilution through changes in specific conductance. Because salt dilution performs well in turbulent or irregular flow conditions where velocity–area methods often fail, it is a practical option for difficult‑to‑measure sites. This presentation introduces the salt dilution method, including how to identify suitable site conditions, the core field procedures for making salt dilution measurements, and the principles behind salt dilution discharge calculations.