The student team tested various aspects of water quality at River Monitoring Site #7, including habitat, macroinvertebrates, total solids, nitrates, phosphates, pH, and dissolved oxygen. The habitat scored poorly due to lack of pools and narrow riparian vegetation. Macroinvertebrate testing found the river's health to be poor. Total solids and phosphates were high, while nitrates and pH were acceptable. Dissolved oxygen was moderate. To improve the river's quality, the team proposes dredging sediment, establishing an "Adopt a River" program, and restricting certain fertilizers. Costs of dredging could be offset through beach fees, equipment rentals, and fertilizer sales

1. River Monitoring Site #7
By: Chris Frick, Derek Novotny, Hanna
Aukerman ,and Miranda Cotter

2. Hypothesis
Is there anything (chemical or natural) in the
water that we need to remove to make it clean so
it’s enjoyable for recreational purposes?
H

3. Tests
❏ Habitat Assessment
❏ Macroinvertebrates Test
❏ Total Solids
❏ Nitrate
❏ Total Phosphates
❏ pH
❏ Dissolved Oxygen
H

4. ❏ Soft bottom stream
❏ Little or no pools
❏ Lots of vegetation
❏ Lots of submerged logs for
macroinvertebrates
❏ The flow of the water was calm
Background On Our Habitat
D

5. After adding up all 10 parameters we got a total score of 40/52. Some main
things that caused a lower score is:
Pool Variability- Score: 1 which means there are small-shallow or no pools at
all. These pools can be used as an habitat for many different animals.on-
Riparian Vegetation- Right bank was fine left bank score- 1 meaning the
width of the riparian vegetation is less the 20 feet.
Sediment Deposition- Score: 2 meaning that more than half of the bottom
affected with major deposits; pools shallow, heavily silted; large deposits
may be present on both banks; sediment deposits are an obstruction to the
water flow.
Habitat Assessment
D

6. Background on Aquatic Macroinvertebrates
❏ Aquatic Macroinvertebrate means
“invertebrate that is big enough to see
without microscope” that live in water
❏ Usually are insect larvae or nymph stages
that need water to live then grow up and
live out of the water
C

7. ID Macroinvertebrates
C

8. Macroinvertebrates Data
Collected
❏ Group 1: Sensitive to pollutants, we found nothing (Multiplier of 4)
❏ Group 2: Semi - sensitive to pollutants, we found 11 macroinvertebrates
(Multiplier of 3)
❏ Group 3: Semi - tolerant to pollutants, we found 17 macroinvertebrates
(Multiplier of 2)
❏ Group 4: Tolerant to pollutants, we found 12 macroinvertebrates
(Multiplier of 1)
❏ Each group has different importance to the health of the river so they
each have different multipliers to get an index score to show the health
of the river
C

9. Health of River Based on
Macroinvertebrate Life
Number of Animals in
Group 1
0 (x4) 0
Number of Animals in
Group 2
11 ( x3) 33
Number of Animals in
Group 3
17 (x2) 34
Number of Animals in
Group 4
12 (x1) 12
Totals 40 79
❏ 79/40 = 1.975
❏ We had an index score of 1.975, which showed that the health of the river was poor
C

10. Background on Total Solids
❏ Total Solids is the amount of minerals in the water. (calcium, nitrogen,
iron, sulfur, etc.)
❏ High amount of total solids can lead to lower water quality and less
aquatic life.
❏ These minerals can get trapped in the sediment which is why we need to
dredge it.
❏ The safe amount for humans to consume is 500 mg/L according to U.S
EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). Ours was at 4000 mg/L which is
very unhealthy.
D

11. Date: 5/16/14
Water sample: Site #7
Time:10:15am
Weather: Indoors
Test: Weight of beaker w/ residue:1 11.5 grams
Weight of empty beaker: 111.1 grams
Weight of residue: .4 grams
Q value: 20
Official Reading: 4000 mg/liter
Total Solids
D

12. Background on Nitrates
Common Sources-
❏ Fertilizer/manure
❏ Some Animal Feeds
❏ Sludge/ Garbage
Effects That High Nitrates Have on Humans-
❏ High Nitrate levels can lead to Blue Baby Syndrome in
young infants (Bacteria Disease)
❏ High Nitrates can reduce oxygen supply to major organs
H

13. Nitrates
A safe amount- 10 mg/liter
Date: 5/16/14
Test Location: Site #7
Time:10:08am
Weather: Overcast
Tests: 1st (.4 mg/liter) 2nd (0 mg/liter)
Official reading: .2
Q value: 92
Since our reading was only.2 we do not need to remove any nitrates.
H

14. Background on Phosphates
❏ All living organisms that live in the water
need phosphates to make DNA
(Deoxyribonucleic acid) and ATP
(Adenosine triphosphate).
❏ Sources include- Human/animal waste,
fertilizers, industrial waste.
C

15. Total Phosphates
Date: 5/14/14
Test Location: Site #7
Time:10:45am
Weather: Inside, 70 degrees
Tests:1st(4) 2nd(4)
Official reading: 4
Q value: 18
C

16. Background on pH
❏ pH is the acidity in the water
❏ Water with a 7 pH is considered the middle and
neutral amount.
❏ Water with a 6-0 pH has more acidity.
❏ Water thats above a 7 pH has more alkaline or
chemicals.
❏ Ours was at an 7 which means its healthy.
❏ Most common source is human waste (oil, garbage,
etc.)
M

17. PH (Acidity)
Date: 5/14/14
Test Location: Site #7
Time: 10:08am
Weather: Overcast
Tests: 1st (7), 2nd (7), 3rd (7).
Official reading: 7
Q value: 88
M

18. Background on Dissolved Oxygen
❏ For drinking purposes, higher levels are better as it taste better
❏ Too much can cause a boost in photosynthesis, that can cause plant
overgrowth and eventually that could cause fertilizer run off
❏ Below 5 mg, aquatic life is put under stress
❏ Below 2 mg, could cause aquatic life death
❏ Oxygen enters the water either from photosynthesis from the plant or
from natural spreading from the atmosphere. ( NOAA. com)
❏ Fact: The colder the water
M

19. Dissolved Oxygen
Date: 5/14/14
Test Location: Site #7
Time:10:08 am
Weather: Overcast
Tests: 1) 8 mg/liter= 65% Saturation 2) 6.5 mg/liter= 55%
Saturation
Official reading: 7.25 mg/liter= 60% Saturation
Q value: 59
M

20. Water Quality
❏ Water Quality is the chemical, physical and biological
of any water.
❏ WQI Value: 32.11
❏ Fair Quality
❏ www.floridakeys.noaa.gov
M

21. Real Life Example of Solution (Model)
H

22. Solution
❏ Many of the things that we need to remove are
contained in the sediment therefore we need to
dredge the sediment.
❏ Develop an “Adopt A River” organization to help
keep the river clean.
❏ Restrict the use certain fertilizers to insure the
health of the river after dredging.
H

23. Covering the Cost
Since dredging can costs about 150,000 dollars we need to
find other ways that we could bring in money.
❏ Beaches (Charge Entry Fee)
❏ Rent non motorized vehicles (Canoes, Kayaks, Paddle
Boats, Etc.)
❏ The sediment contains minerals that benefit plants,
therefore we could package it and sell it as fertilizer
to local stores.
❏ Ask for donations
D

24. ❏ Source for nitrates- www.ext.colostate.edu
❏ Source for dissolved oxygen- www.ext.colostate.edu
❏ Source for the water quality- www.floridakeys.noaa.gov
Sources