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Unit 1 - Assessment of a Stream I. Importance of Water Water Properties Polarity (adhesion, cohesion, capillary action, surface tension, group nonpolar substances) Universal Solvent Expands when Freezes High Specific Heat Water Statistics The earth is made up of 65-75 % of water 97.2% of that water is saltwater 2.2% is locked up as ice 0.6% is ground water .001% is lakes .0001% is rivers Bottom Line- fresh water is a valuable and limited resource Not only the quantity of water is important, but the quality as well. Of that small amount of freshwater we do have a lot of it is of poor quality We will be measuring the water quality streams from Jackson Pass to Rexburg (Teton Watershed) II. Water Pathways A. Surface Water Hydrological Cycle Watersheds Rain and snow falls and runs downstream from mountain springs- creeks - small river - large rivers –ocean (hydrological cycle) Teton-Snake-Columbia Watershed B. Ground Water Most of the available freshwater is in the form of groundwater ¾ of this ground water does takes centuries to recharge There is a relationship between ground water and surface water Snake River Aquifer III. Parts of a Stream Run Riffle (riff) Bed Pool Flood Plain Wetted perimeter Headwater IV. Monitoring Water Quality Biological - Macro-invertebrates (indicator species)-presences indicates health of stream o o o Plecoptera (stonefly) Trichoptera (Caddisfly) Ephemeroptera (mayfly) Plecoptera Stonefly nymph Six legs Unusually two tailed Swims in side to side Very sensitive and will only be found in high quality water Good indicator species Trichoptera Caddiesflies Caterpillar-like body; abdomen usually enclosed in a case made of stones, leaves, twigs, or other natural materials. Head capsule well-developed with chewing mouthparts Thread-like abdominal gills usually present in case-makers One pair of hooked prolegs often present at tip of abdomen Ephemoptera Mayfly Six legs Usually three tailed Up and down swimming motion Others Anything besides these three category we record as others and high number of others will indicate an unhealthy stream. Chemicals Temperature Nitrates Turbidity Hardness Dissolved Oxygen Phosphates Total Dissolved Solid Alkalinity Sulfates pH Turbidity - This is a general measurement of how cloudy the water is. This measurement is important to look at the following: o Erosion o Stable or Not o Algae blooms o Other problems Turbidity in water is caused by suspended matter such as clay, silt, and organic matter and by plankton and other microscopic organisms that interfere with the passage of light through the water Turbidity itself is not a major health concern, but high turbidity can interfere with disinfection and provide a medium for microbial growth. Factors that Influence Turbidity o High Flow Rates o Decaying Plants and Animals o Soil Erosion o Bottom-Feeding Fish o Urban Runoff o Algal Blooms o Wastewater and Septic System o Flooding Effluent It is measured using a turbimeter and will record in NTU (nephalometric turbidity units). Testing Methods Titration Measures unknown amount of a chemical by reacting it with a known amount of another chemical Dissolved Oxygen, Alkalinity, and Hardness are measured using this technique Dissolved Oxygen Oxygen enters the water by absorption directly from the atmosphere or by aquatic plant and algae photosynthesis. Oxygen is removed from the water by respiration and decomposition of organic matter. Factors influencing DO o Volume and velocity of water flowing in the water body o o o o Climate/Season The type and number of organisms in the water body Dissolved or suspended solids Amount of nutrients in the water Alkalinity Alkalinity is a measure of the buffering capacity of water, or the capacity of bases to neutralize acids. Alkalinity does not refer to pH, but instead refers to the ability of water to resist change in pH. The presence of buffering materials help neutralize acids as they are added to the water. Factors: o Geology and Soils o Changes in pH o Sewage Outflow o Hardness Hardness - is measure of polyvalent cat ions (ions with a charge greater than +1) in water. Hardness generally represents the concentration of calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+) ions. Other ions, such as iron (Fe2+) and manganese (Mn2+), may also contribute to the hardness of water, but are generally present in much lower concentrations. Waters with high hardness values are referred to as "hard," while those with low hardness values are "soft". Factors Affecting Hardness Geology Mining Industrial Discharge Sewage Outflow Spectrophotometer (DR2400) Measures concentration of an element by measuring amounts of light absorbed or transmitted through sample Wavelength of light determines type of chemical in solution Amount of light absorbed or transmitted determines concentration of chemical in solution Nitrate, Phosphate, and Sulfate will be measured with the DR2400 Nitrate Inorganic forms include nitrate (NO3), nitrite (NO2), ammonia (NH3), and nitrogen gas (N2). Organic nitrogen is found in the cells of all living things and is a component of proteins, peptides, and amino acids. Nitrogen is most abundant in Earth’s environment as N2 gas, which makes up about 78 percent of the air we breathe. methemoglobinemia or "blue baby" syndrome (because the nose and tips of ears can appear blue from lack of oxygen "brown blood disease" in fish Factors for Nitrate o Wastewater and Septic System Effluent o Fertilizer Runoff o Animal Waste o o o o Fossil Fuels Industrial Discharge Eutrophication Phosphorus Phosphorus - is a natural element found in rocks, soils and organic material. Phosphorus clings tightly to soil particles and is used by plants, so its concentrations in clean waters is generally very low. Factors: Wastewater and Septic System Detergents Fertilizers Animal Waste Development/Paved Surfaces Temperature Measures average kinetic energy of a substance Measured in Celsius, Fahrenheit, or Kalvin Measured using a thermometer pH Measure of acid or base Acid - dissolved hydrogen H+ ions in solution Base - dissolved hydroxide OH- ions in solution Measured with pH meter pH scale o Below 7 = acid (lower = more acidic) o Above 7 = base (higher = more basic) o 7 = neutral Factors Affecting pH: o The concentration of carbon dioxide in the water o Geology and Soils of the watershed o Drainage from Mine Sites o Air Pollution Industrial Discharge Phosphate Mining Forest Fires Synthetic Materials TDS This is a general measurement of the concentration of all dissolved metals within a sample Use a TDS meter to calculate Factors: o High Flow Rates o Wastewater and Septic System o Soil Erosion Effluent o Urban Runoff o Decaying Plants and Animals o Bottom-Feeding Fish V. Expected Range for Teton Watershed Turbidity: less than 5 NTU Nitrate: 0.5-4.5 mg/L Phosphate: less than 1 mg/L Sulfate: 1-18 mg/L pH: 8-9 Physical Assessment DO: 9-13 mg/L Hardness: 90-175 mg/L Alkalinity: 75-155 mg/L TDS: 90-160 mg/L Shape, volume, substrate, and vegetation Scientific Process-Record and Analysis of Tests Computer o Excel-Ms. Ross will teach you make sure all numbers are entered correctly Use graph to analyze Use statistical test to analyze Computer is only as useful as the person entering the data What does all this mean?? A healthy stream needs to have a chemical balance to support its ecosystem and the need of us humans Because fresh water is such a limited resource it is important to monitor its quality and support measures to keep the streams healthier for all