Particle image velocimetry measurements were carried out on a backward facing step flow at a Reynolds number of Reh = U ∞h/ν = 4660 (based on step height and freestream velocity). In-plane velocity, out-of-plane vorticity, Reynolds stress and kinetic energy production measurements in the x-y and x-z are presented. Proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) was performed on both the fluctuating velocity and vorticity fields of the x-y plane PIV data using the method of snapshots (Sirovich, 1987). Low order representations of the instantaneous velocity fields were reconstructed using the velocity modes and provided some insight into the contribution the various length scales make to the spatial distribution of mean and turbulent flow quantities such as Reynolds stress and turbulent kinetic energy production.