The document summarizes the 2013 research of the Shell Creek Watershed group. It includes a list of 17 student researchers and 3 advisors. It then summarizes the group's findings over multiple years which included water quality testing at 6 sites along Shell Creek measuring factors like dissolved oxygen, pH, E. coli, nitrates, and phosphates. The group calculated water quality indexes for each site and year, finding some decreases in nitrates and E. coli in recent years but an overall decrease in water quality since 2012. They also compared Shell Creek results to a nearby Beaver Creek. The document outlines the group's conclusions and provides information on accessing their full report and data online.

1. 2013 Shell Creek Watershed
Research Group
Advisors: Mark Seier, Kylie Sweeter, and Danielle Amen
Researchers: Demi Edgell, Jacob Haase, John O’Brien, Billy
O’Brien, Megan Nelson, Brooke Pieke, Brett Weinman, Alex
Wiese, Mariely Estrada, Garrett Flamme, Parker Wallin, Sadie
Wallin, Esmeralda Arreguin, Celine Dunlap, Destiny Johnson, Joe
O’Brien, and Nolan Wondercheck
1

2. Shell Creek and Loseke-Taylor Creek Watersheds
(with Township-Range Labels)
Lower Platte North Natural Resources District
South Branch
6
North Branch
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 Qvalues.
• 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
W e ig hting
Te s t R e s ults Q -value
Fac tor
DO
% s at.
0 .1 7
Fe c al C olifor m
c ol/1 0 0 mL
0 .1 6
pH
units
0 .1 1
BOD
mg /L
0 .1 1
Te mpe r atur e
c hang e in C
0 .1
Total P hos phate
mg /L
0 .1
N itr ate s
mg /L
0 .1
Tur bidity
J TU
0 .0 8
Total S olids
mg /L
T o ta l
0 .0 7
Overall Water Quality Index ___
8

9. 2013 Precipitation
3.5
3
2.5
Inches
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
May
June
July
Date
August
9

10. pH
8.4
8.1
Site 1
pH Level
7.8
Site 2
Site 3
7.5
Site 4
Site 6
7.2
Site 5
6.9
6.6
6.3
May 24
June 26/27
July 16/17
Date
August 2
10

11. Change in Water Temperature
2
The higher the change, the worse the water quality.
1.5
Degrees Celcius
1
0.5
Site 1
0
Site 2
-0.5
Site 3
Site 4
-1
Site 6
-1.5
Site 5
-2
-2.5
-3
May 24
June 26
July 16/17
Date
August 2
11

12. Total Solids
The higher the concentration, the worse the water quality.
1600
1400
mg/L
1200
Site 1
Site 2
1000
Site 3
800
Site 4
Site 6
600
Site 5
400
200
0
May 24
June 26/27 July 16/17
Date
August 2
12

13. Fecal Coliform
13

14. Fecal Coliform
4,000
Site 5- 5,400
Site 6- 28,000
Colonies/100 mL
3,500
3,000
Site 1
2,500
Site 2
Site 3
2,000
Site 4
1,500
Site 6
Site 5
1,000
500
0
May 24
June 26/27 July 16/17
Date
August 2
14

15. Fecal Coliform
1800
1600
Colonies/100 mL
1400
1200
In 2006
Site 1- 21,418
Site 5- 17,800
In 2010
In 2012
Site 1- 11,387 Site 6- 4,000
Site 6- 2,313
In 2013
Site 4- 1,887.5
Site 5- 8,100
Site 6- 2,662.5
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 2013
Date
15

16. Flow
9
Cubic Feet Per Second
8
7
Site 1
6
Site 2
5
Site 3
Site 4
4
Site 6
3
Site 5
2
1
0
May 22
June 26/27
July 16/17
Date
August 2
16

17. Turbidity
1200
1000
Site 1
800
JTU's
Site 2
Site 3
600
Site 4
Site 6
400
Site 5
200
0
May 24
June 26/27 July 16/17
Date
August 2
17

18. Dissolved Oxygen
100
90
80
% Saturation
70
Site 1
60
Site 2
Site 3
50
Site 4
40
Site 6
30
Site 5
20
10
0
May 24
June 26/27
July 16/17
Date
August 2
18

19. 5 Day Biological Oxygen Demand
5
The higher the change, the worse the water quality.
4.5
4
Site 1
PPM
3.5
Site 2
3
Site 3
2.5
Site 4
2
Site 6
Site 5
1.5
1
0.5
0
May 24
June 26/27
July 16/17
Date
August 2
19

20. Nitrates
50
45
40
Site 1
30
PPM
35
Site 2
Site 3
25
Site 4
20
Site 6
15
Site 5
10
5
0
May 24
June 26/27
July 16/17
Date
August 2
20

21. Nitrates
60
50
Site 1
PPM
40
Site 2
Site 3
30
Site 4
Site 6
20
Site 5
10
0
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Date
21

22. Phosphates
3.5
3
PPM
2.5
Site 1
Site 2
2
Site 3
1.5
Site 4
Site 6
1
Site 5
0.5
0
May 24
June 26/27
July 16/17
Date
August 2
22

23. WQI Averages by Site
Good
70
65
60
Medium
WQI
55
50
Bad
45
40
35
30
Site 1
Site 2
2003 Averages
2007 Averages
2011 Average
Site 3
2004 Averages
2008 Averages
2012 Averages
Site 4
Site 6
2005 Averages
2009 Averages
2013 Average
Site 5
2006 Averages
2010 Average
23

24. Total WQI Averages by Year
Good
70
65
WQI
60
Medium
55
Bad
50
45
40
35
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
WQI
2011
2012 2013
24

25. 2003 - 2013 Chemical Test Average Comparisons
30
2003 Averages
2004 Averages
2005 Averages
2006 Averages
2007 Averages
2008 Averages
2009 Averages
2010 Averages
2011 Averages
2012 Averages
2013 Averages
25
20
15
10
5
0
Total Rainfall Inches
Discharge CFS
Nitrates PPM
pH
25

26. 3
2003 - 2013 Chemical Test Average
Comparisons
2003 Averages
2004 Averages
2.5
2005 Averages
2006 Averages
2007 Averages
2
2008 Averages
2009 Averages
1.5
2010 Average
2011 Average
1
2012 Averages
2013 Averages
0.5
0
Phosphates ppm
B.O.D. ppm
Change in Temp. Celcius
26

27. 2003 - 2013 Chemical Test Average Comparisons
1200
~ 2006 Fecal Coliform Average
8,058 Col/100 mL
1000
~ 2010 Fecal Coliform
Average 3,648 Col/100 mL
800
~ 2013 Fecal Coliform
Average 2,481 Col/100 mL
600
400
2003 Averages
2004 Averages
2005 Averages
2006 Averages
2007 Averages
2008 Averages
2009 Averages
2010 Averages
2011 Averages
2012 Averages
2013 Averages
200
0
D.O. % Sat.
Turbidity JTU
Fecal Coliform Total Solids mg/L
Colonies/100 mL
27

28. Chemical Test Conclusions
• Nitrates have decreased or remained the
same in the past year with the exception
of Site 3
• Significant increase in fecal count in
comparison to 2012 data
• Overall water quality decreased since
2012 testing
• Correlation between rainfall and WQI
(2009 and 2013)
28

29. Macro Invertebrates
Sensiti
ve
Somewhat
Sensitive
Tolera
nt
29

30. Beaver-Shell Creek Comparison
2013
8
7
6
Beaver Creek
5
Shell Creek
4
3
2
1
0
pH
Nitrates
Phosphates
B.O.D
30

31. Beaver-Shell Creek Comparison
2013
700
Shell Creek Fecal
Coliform- 2,481.25
600
500
Beaver Creek
Shell Creek
400
300
200
100
0
Turbidity
Fecal
Coliform
Total Solids D.O. % Sat.
31

32. Beaver-Shell Creek WQI Comparison
Good
70
60
Medium 50
WQI
40
Bad 30
20
10
0
Summer Summer Summer Summer Summer Summer
Average Average Average Average Average Average
08
09
10
11
12
13
Beaver Creek Average WQI
Shell Creek Average WQI
May
June
July
August
32

33. 33

34. 34

35. 35

36. 36

37. 37

38. Website
• Go to http://www.newman.esu8.org/
• Click the “Shell Creek Watershed” icon
on the right hand column
• You can access our data and further
information concerning this
project, including pictures
38

39. Thank You To:
• Lower Platte North Natural
Resource District
• PrairieLand RC&D
• Natural Resource Conservation
Service
• Nebraska Department of
Environmental Quality
• Shell Creek Watershed
Improvement Group
39