The document summarizes a watershed research project conducted by high school students on Shell Creek and its tributaries. Over multiple years, the students tested water quality parameters like dissolved oxygen, bacteria, pH, nutrients, and flow. They calculated a Water Quality Index to rate the creek. While water quality has improved in recent years through lower nutrients and bacteria, more work remains. The students presented their findings and the importance of long-term watershed monitoring.

1. 2012 Shell Creek
Watershed Research
Group
Advisors: Mark Seier, Karen
Malmkar, and Kylie Sweeter
Researchers: Alisha Dunlap, Ciera
Afrank, Kendra Nelson, Darienne
Pokorny, Jason Kaufman, Demi
Edgell, Jacob Haase, John
O’Brien, Brock Donelson, Billy
O’Brien, Megan Nelson, Brooke
Pieke, Alex Wiese, Garrett
Flamme, Parker Wallin, Sadie
Wallin, Brett Weinman
1

2. Shell Creek and Loseke-Taylor Creek Watersheds
(with Township-Range Labels)
Lower Platte North Natural Resources District
South Branch North Branch
6
2

3. Below Newman Grove
Above Newman Grove
6
3

4. Below Lindsay
6
West Platte Center
4

5. W.Q.I.
• The Water Quality Index was developed by the
National Sanitation Foundation as a standard
system to compare different bodies of water.
• To determine the WQI, a series of nine tests
were performed. These tests were: dissolved
oxygen, fecal coliform, pH, Biological Oxygen
Demand (BOD), temperature, total phosphate,
nitrates, turbidity, and total solids. We also did
a water discharge test which we use to
measure the flow of the creek in cubic feet per
second. 5

6. • After the tests are completed, the WQI for each
section of the creek can be computed.
• To formulate the WQI, we first computed Q-
values.
• We multiply this number by a weighting factor,
which provides a measure of the relative
importance of each test to overall water quality.
• The water quality index ranges from zero to 100.
- 0 - 25 is very bad
- 25 - 50 is bad
- 50 - 70 is medium
- 70 - 90 is good
- 90 - 100 is excellent
• The bio-indicator tests are not part of the W.Q.I.,
but do give us a water quality rating.
6

7. Sample W.Q.I. Curve Chart
7

8. Sample W.Q.I. Form
Weighting
Test Results Q-value Factor Total
DO % sat. 0.17
Fecal Coliform col/100 mL 0.16
pH units 0.11
BOD mg/L 0.11
Temperature change in C 0.1
Total Phosphate mg/L 0.1
Nitrates mg/L 0.1
Turbidity JTU 0.08
Total Solids mg/L 0.07
Overall Water Quality Index ___ 8

9. 2012 Precipitation
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
Inches
1.5
1
0.5
0
May June July August
Date 9

10. pH
8.4
8.1
Site 1
7.8
Site 2
pH Level
7.5 Site 3
Site 4
7.2 Site 6
Site 5
6.9
6.6
6.3
May 22 June 25, 26 July 9, 10 August 2
10
Date

11. Change in Water Temperature
The higher the change, the worse the water quality.
4
3
2
Site 1
Degrees Celcius
1 Site 2
Site 3
0
Site 4
-1 Site 6
Site 5
-2
-3
-4
May 22 June 25, 26 July 9, 10 August 2 11
Date

12. Total Solids
The higher the concentration, the worse the water quality.
700
600
500 Site 1
Site 2
mg/L
400 Site 3
Site 4
300
Site 6
Site 5
200
100
0
May 22 June 25, 26 July 9,10 August 2 12
Date

13. Fecal Coliform
13

14. Fecal Coliform
4,000
3,500
3,000
Colonies/100 mL
Site 1
2,500
Site 2
2,000 Site 3
Site 4
1,500 Site 6
Site 5
1,000
500
0
May 22 June 25, 26 July 9, 10 August 2
14
Date

15. Fecal Coliform
1800
In 2006 In 2010 In 2012
Site 1- 21,418 Site 1- 11,387 Site 6- 4,000
1600 Site 5- 17,800
Site 6- 2,313
1400
Colonies/100 mL
1200 Site 1
Site 2
1000
Site 3
800 Site 4
Site 6
600
Site 5
400
200
0
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
15
Date

16. Flow
120
100
Cubic Feet Per Second
80 Site 1
Site 2
Site 3
60
Site 4
Site 6
40
Site 5
20
0
May 22 June 25, 26 July 9, 10 August 2 16
Date

17. Turbidity
200
180
160
140
Site 1
120 Site 2
JTU's
Site 3
100
Site 4
80
Site 6
60 Site 5
40
20
0
May 22 June 25, 26 July 9,10 August 2 17
Date

18. Dissolved Oxygen
100
90
80
70 Site 1
% Saturation
60 Site 2
Site 3
50
Site 4
40
Site 6
30 Site 5
20
10
0
May 22 June 25, 26 July 9, 10 August 2
18
Date

19. 5 Day Biological Oxygen Demand
The higher the change, the worse the water quality.
6
5
Site 1
4 Site 2
PPM
Site 3
3 Site 4
Site 6
2 Site 5
1
0
May 22 June 25, 26 July 9,10 August 2 19
Date

20. Nitrates
50
45
40
35 Site 1
30 Site 2
PPM
Site 3
25
Site 4
20
Site 6
15 Site 5
10
5
0
May 22 June 25, 26 July 9, 10 August 2
20
Date

21. Nitrates
60
50
40 Site 1
Site 2
PPM
30 Site 3
Site 4
Site 6
20
Site 5
10
0
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
21
Date

22. Phosphates
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2 Site 1
Site 2
1
PPM
Site 3
0.8 Site 4
0.6 Site 6
Site 5
0.4
0.2
0
May 22 June 25, 26 July 9, 10 August 2
22
Date

23. WQI Averages by Site
70 Good
65
60
Medium
WQI
55
50
Bad
45
Site 1 Site 2 Site 3 Site 4 Site 6 Site 5
2003 Averages 2004 Averages 2005 Averages
2006 Averages 2007 Averages 2008 Averages 23
2009 Averages 2010 Average 2011 Average
2012 Averages

24. Total WQI Averages by Year
Good
70
65
60
Medium
WQI
55
50
Bad
45
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
WQI 24

25. 2003 - 2012 Chemical Test Average Comparisons
30
2003 Averages
2004 Averages
25 2005 Averages
2006 Averages
2007 Averages
20
2008 Averages
2009 Averages
15 2010 Average
2011 Average
2012 Averages
10
5
0
Total Rainfall Inches Discharge CFS Nitrates PPM pH 25

26. 2003 - 2012 Chemical Test Average
Comparisons
3 2003
Averages
2004
2.5
Averages
2005
2 Averages
2006
Averages
1.5 2007
Averages
1
0.5
0
Phosphates ppm B.O.D. ppm Change in Temp. Celcius
26

27. 2003 - 2012 Chemical Test Average Comparisons
1200 2003 Averages
~ 2006 Fecal Coliform Average
2004 Averages
8,058 Col/100 mL
2005 Averages
1000
~ 2010 Fecal Coliform 2006 Averages
Average 3,648 Col/100 mL 2007 Averages
800 2008 Averages
2009 Averages
2010 Average
600 2011 Average
2012 Averages
400
200
0
D.O. % Sat. Turbidity JTU Fecal Coliform Total Solids mg/L
27
Colonies/100 mL

28. Chemical Test Conclusions
• Nitrates down this year (lowest in 6
years)
• Total solids on a downward trend since
2004
• BOD has been decreasing since 2003
• Overall water quality improved over last
few years
• Correlation between rainfall and WQI
(2009 and 2012) 28

29. Macro Invertebrates
Somewhat
Sensiti Sensitive Tolera
ve nt
29

30. Beaver-Shell Creek Comparison
2012
8
7
6
5 Beaver Creek
Shell Creek
4
3
2
1
0 30
pH Nitrates Phosphates B.O.D

31. Beaver-Shell Creek Comparison
2012
700
600
500
400 Beaver Creek
Shell Creek
300
200
100
0
Turbidity Fecal Total Solids D.O. % Sat.
31
Coliform

32. Beaver-Shell Creek WQI Comparison
70
Good
60
Medium 50
40
Bad 30
WQI
20
10
0
Summer Summer Summer Summer Summer May June July August
Average Average Average Average Average
08 09 10 11 12
Beaver Creek Average WQI 32
Shell Creek Average WQI

33. Student Scientists in Action
33

34. 34

35. 35

36. 36

37. 37

38. Website
• http://www.newman.esu8.org/
• Click “Activities”
• Click “Watershed Project”
• Click “Watershed Homepage”
• You can see our data and further
information concerning this
project, including pictures.
38

39. Thank You To:
• Lower Platte North Natural
Resource District
• PrairieLand RC&D
• Dan Gillespie
• Natural Resource Conservation
Service
• Nebraska Department of
Environmental Quality 39