| Characteristic | Streams | Lakes |
| Type of waterbody | Fast-moving current | Standing bodies of water |
| Water flow | One direction of flow, upstream to downstream | Various flows, no particular direction |
| Oxygen content | Normally oxygen rich because of the constant mixing | Oxygen depletion exists at times in deeper water or older lakes |
| General depth | Shallower on average | Deeper than average |
| Size description | Narrower and longer | Wider and shorter |
| Riparian zone description | Various effects from different terrestrial environments along the stream’s course; the shoreline has more potential to affect water quality because a larger portion of the waterbody is near shore | Terrestrial environment similar all around the lake shore; a smaller portion of the water is in close proximity to the shore |
| Changes in shape / depth over time | Stream continually cuts into the channel, making it longer, wider and deeper | Lakes become shallower over time from depositing sediments |
| Age progression | Age progression of a stream goes from young, narrow and shallow stream to mature, wider and deeper stream | Age progression of a lake or pond goes from lake to marsh or swamp to land |
| Water retention time (how long it holds water) | Shorter retention time for water as it is always flowing | Longer retention time for water because it stores water |
| Temperature characteristics | Top and bottom waters generally have the same temperature because of the constant mixing | May have different temperatures from the top to bottom because it has layers based on density |