1. 1
Introduction
The study area is about 2.5 miles east of River Falls Wisconsin and just south of Wisconsin
highway 29. The study area encompasses an area of “Boiling Springs” that are situated in and
near the channel of the small meandering south fork of the Kinnickinnic River (South Fork). It is
part of the “South Fork Kinnickinnic River Fish and Wildlife Area”; an area that recently (mid
2005) underwent physical channel reshaping and restoration. This site was chosen because of
the multiple springs located in a stream system. This site will be referred to as the South Fork
Spring site or simply site.
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to asses field water quality patterns of spring and stream water in
the South Fork of the Kinnickinnic River (South Fork) east of River Falls Wisconsin during the fall
season 2011. Specifically how does water discharge in the Spring affect field water quality
parameters in the Stream?
Background
This site has been studied before with similar parameters being measured. One study named
“Hydrogeological Relationship of the South Fork River and Three Boiling Springs” was
conducted in the spring of 2011. The Kinnickinnic River Land Trust also works on the
restoration of the river. It works cooperatively with landowners and the community to protect
clean water, wildlife, family recreation, natural areas, wild trout, and farms (What We Do).”
Setting
The South Fork is a meandering Class A cold-water trout stream. The stream is small with depth
never more than 2.5 feet deep and the width less than 15 feet wide in the study area. The
topography in the area is mostly flat South of the South Fork, but there is a slight increase in
elevation North of the South Fork. Figure 4 part of a Topographic Map of the study area. A
majority of the land use in the area is Agricultural. 15,720 acres of the total 25757 acrea in
River Falls were used for Agriculture in 2004 (The Town). The vegetation is tall grasses among a
variety of other plant life. There are a few clusters of trees (Figure 19). The Average maximum
and minimum temperatures were 64.9 0F and 45.8 0F for the Twin Cities in Minnesota for
2. 2
October (WFO). The precipitation was 0.7 inches (WFO). The rock unit beneath the study area
is the Prairie du Chien Group, which is a dolomite. The parent material for the soils are
outwash sand and gravel, till and organic material. The soil is highly permeable, 2.5-5 inches
per hour, and the water table is within 4 feet of the land surface over much of the low lands
(Young).
Figure 1
4. 4
Figure 3
The GPS data was questionable, so field measurements were used to reconstruct spring and stream sampling
locations. The stream was outlined from a map and accurate sampling locations were placed using field
measurements.
Stream
Spring
1
2 3
4
5 6
7
8
9
10 11
12
13
100 ft0 ft
6. 6
Methodology
There were 13 fixed Spring and Stream locations in the South Fork (Figure 2 and 3). There was
one location at each of the three Springs. One location was located both 50 and 100 feet
downstream from each of the springs. One location was located 50 feet upstream from each of
the springs. The locations both upstream and downstream from the isolated pool were
measured from the nearest bank at the confluence of the pool and the South Fork. An
additional location was added on the right bank of the South Fork just past the confluence. All
distances were measured along the South Fork. Two additional points were located in the
isolated pool, one Northeast and one South of the Spring. Measurments were not taken due to
safety concerns about the instability of the ground in the isolated pool. 49 feet separated the
confluence and location 8, the second Spring. One location was taken at the half way point,
24.5 feet. Location 5, 8 and 12 were Spring locations. Location 4, 5 and 6 were in the isolated
pool. Locations 1, 2, 3,7,9,10,11, and 13 were the Stream locations. The data was collected
every Friday from September 16th until October 21st. The time the data was collected varied
slightly, however all data was collected between 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. The instruments
that were used for this study are the YSI-85, YSI-2030, Kestrel 3000 and the Garmin GPS 60. The
YSI-85 and the YSI-2030 are both water sampling and monitoring meters. The Kestrel 3000 is a
wind meter. The Garmin GPS 60 is a global positioning system used to collect accurate location.
Kestrel measurements were taken before and after the water (YSI) measurements each day.
The measurements were taken 6 feet above the water at locations 1, 2 and 4; a closer proximity
to the Stream. They were taken 6 feet above the land at locations 3, 5 and 6; a farther
proximity from the Stream. The measurement parameters for the YSI instruments were: Water
Temperature (Celsius), Dissolved Oxygen (%), Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L), Conductivity (micro
Siemens)(µS) and Specific Conductance (micro Siemens)(µS). “Conductivity is the ability of a
material to conduct electrical current” (YSI Incorporated). “Cell geometry affects conductivity
values, standardized measurements are expressed in specific conductivity units (S/cm) to
compensate for variations in electrode dimensions” (YSI Incorporated). The parameters for the
Kestrel 3000 are Air Temperature (Celsius), Relative Humidity, Dew point, Maximum wind
velocity (mph) and Average wind velocity (mph). There were several equations used in this
study. A Speific conductance formula, Equation 1, [Specific Conductance (25°C) =
Conductivity/(1 + TC * (T - 25))], was used for quality. The variables for this equation are: T=
Temperature and TC=0.0191. “Unless the solution being measured consists of pure KCl in
water, this temperature compensated value will be somewhat inaccurate, but the equation
with a value of TC = 0.0191 will provide a close approximation for solutions of many common
salts such as NaCl and NH4Cl and for seawater” (YSI 85). This equation, Equation 1, was also
algebraically manipulated to solve for Conductivity, Equation 2. The measured results were
7. 7
compared to the results from the equation. An equation was also used to solve for Celsius
using Fahrenheit as the input, Equation 3, [Celsius= (5/9)*(Fahrenheit-32)].
.
Results
YSI Data Table
The results of the YSI measurements are shown below in Table 1. The items recorded were
Date, Spring locations, all locations, Time, Temperature, Dissolved Oxygen (both Percent and
milligrams per liter), Conductivity and Specific Conductance. Additional locations were added
after week 1, 9/16/2011. The week of 9/23/2011 there was disturbance in the water at Spring
1 (locations 4, 5 and 6). Duplicate samples were taken to provide quality control. Springs are
indicated by SP and a, b, and c following SP 1 (Isolated pool) indicated the sampling locations.
Point “a” is South of the Spring, “b” is at the Spring and “c” is Northeast of the Spring. Figure 2
and 3 show the sampling locations.
9/16/2011
Springs Location Time P.M.
Temp.
Celsius % DO Mg/L DO
Conductivity
(µS)
*Specific
Conductance
(µS)
F1 12:28 10.3 71.6 7.78 373.2 0.37
F2 12:42 10.2 69.2 7.53 372.9 0.37
F3 12:46 10.3 73.9 8.26 373.5 0.37
SP 1 F4 12:51 9 48.4 5.61 *100.9 0.1
F5 12:56 10.4 72.9 8.11 374.8 0.37
SP 2 F6 13:02 9 46.8 5.4 *120.2 0.12
F7 13:23 10.9 76.2 8.35 380.1 0.38
F8 13:28 10.9 75.1 8.3 380.3 0.38
F9 13:35 10.9 73.6 8.14 380.5 0.38
19. 19
Figure 11
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
MaximumWindVelocity(mph)
Location
Maximum Wind Velocity vs. Location
9/30/11/
before
9/30/11 after
10/7/11 before
10/7/11 after
10/14/11
before
20. 20
Figure 12
The figure above (figure 11) is a general model for a variety of parameters in a ground water system.
Temperature, Specific Conductivity and Dissolved Oxygen will vary depending on the source of the water as
indicated.
Discussion
The data collected for each of the parameters gave an accurate representation of what would
be expected in a spring-stream system such as this with the exception of Conductivity. The
isolated pool (locations 4, 5 and 6) with the spring had very constant numbers for all of the
parameters. The springs in the stream were less consistent from week to week, most likely,
because of the flow from the stream, however those data still showed the overall trend that
was indicated in the isolated pool. The parameter that was unusual was Conductivity. This
data showed that the Conductivity was lower in the springs than in the stream. “Conductivity is
also affected by temperature: the warmer the water, the higher the conductivity (5.9
Conductivity).” When this data was corrected for temperature, using Equation 1 and 2 the
21. 21
results were similar. Figure 13 and 14 show results of Conductivity using Equation 1 and 2.
Figure 9 and 10 show measured results of Conductivity and Specific Conductance. These results
may be a result of seasonal variation in water source. Figure 16 and 17 show the results of a
previous study conducted earlier in the year. Both studies show lower Conductivity in the
springs rather than the streams closer to the warmer season, spring or summer. However
during the colder season, winter, the Conductivity is higher in the springs rather than the
stream. “In a USGS study in Colorado, USA, specific conductance was found to vary during the
year as a result of the temporal variability of streamflow. As this chart (figure 18) shows,
specific conductance generally was lowest in the Arkansas River near Avondale, Colorado, in
May to August, when streamflow generally was largest, and increased with decreasing
streamflow in the fall, winter, and spring (Common Water Measurements).” Streamflow may
have influenced the Specific conductance data for this study. K. R. Grote wrote a paper called
“Identification and Characterization of Springs in West-Central Wisconsin.” He looked at
Conductivity levels in a variety of springs at various locations. The springs in the Prairie du
Chien group are most pertinent for a comparison to this study because this group is the
uppermost bedrock group at this study location. His numbers ranged from 272 µS to 564 µS.
This is consistent with measurements from this study. Figure 8 shows the spring and stream
temperature at each location. Spring locations had a lower temperature than the stream
locations. Figure 8 and 15 also indicates a decline in water temperature downstream from the
springs. This is important to note because this is a cold water, class 1, trout stream (Wisconsin
Trout Streams). Dissolved Oxygen measurements, both mg/L and %, were consistently lower at
the spring locations than at the spring locations. Dissolved Oxygen data was reasonably
consistency, however minor inconsistencies may be explained by variations in Streamflow.
The more flow there is the more likely Dissolved Oxygen Data will be higher due to more
interaction with the atmosphere. Measurement error occurred at the Spring locations on the
date 9/23/2011. The YSI-85 probe was held too close to the sediment (slightly submerged in
the sediment). As a result, the numbers at the Spring locations on that date were significantly
off for both Conductivity and Specific Conductance as shown in figures 8, 9 and 12. Because of
this error, a more accurate representation of the spring temperature can be seen in figure 7.
The reason for this is that Stream Flow did not interfere with the data as much as a result of this
slight submergence. Using the YSI-2030 as apposed to the YSI-85 on 10/21/2011 may have
altered the numbers as well due to a slight variation in equipment sensitivity. Air temperature
is shown in figure 6. Air location 4 indicates an elevated temperature for several separate days.
This is the same location as Spring 3, location 12 (figure 2). One would expect a colder air
temperature to be recorded at this location due to the close proximity to a cold water spring.
Vegetation cover, figure 19, may have insulated the area causing an elevated temperature. The
sensitivity of the Kestrel 3000 may have been underestimated as well. The walk from air
22. 22
location 3 to air location 4 may have picked up body temperature and not recalibrated long
enough to get an accurate reading. Body temperature may have corrupted the data. The wind
velocity data, figure 11, indicates a higher maximum wind velocity at location 3, 5, and 6. These
are the locations away from the stream and vegetative cover, figure 19. Average wind velocity
showed similar results. The other atmospheric data did not show any discernable patterns.
Other variable, like wind direction, may have needed to be recorded to correlate patterns.
Figure 13
345
355
365
375
385
395
405
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
ConductivityS
Location
Conductivity from equation vs.
Location
9/23/2011
9/30/2011
10/7/2011
10/14/2011
10/21/2011
23. 23
Figure 14
Previous Study
Figure 15
495
500
505
510
515
520
525
530
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
SpecificConductance(uS)
Location
Specific Conductance from Equation
vs. Location
9/30/11
10/7/11
10/14/11
10/21/11
24. 24
X-axis= Feet downstream from location 12
Previous Study
Figure 16
X-axis= Feet downstream from location 12
27. 27
Vegetation Map
Figure 19
The shaded areas are groups of clustered trees
Conclusion
The Springs at this study location influenced the Streams. This was best illustrated in figure 8.
The water temperature declined downstream from the Springs. The Atmosphere may have also
influenced the Stream at this study location. Figure 7 and 8 illustrate this best. The days with
the warmest air temperature, 9/30/2011 and 10/7/2011, also had the warmest stream
temperature. When similar parameters were compared during different seasons, it seems that
seasonality plays a significant role in water quality. Spring water measurements in the stream
were likely influence by the stream flow. This was illustrated in figure 8 on the sampling day
N
Detail of boiling spring area, eastern portion of restoration area
28. 28
9/30/2011. The instrumentation was held too close to the stream for accurate Conductivity
and Specific Conductance data, however accurate temperature data would have been collected
using this method. The isolated spring flow parameters were reasonably consistent for all of
the parameters. There was some variability for the Dissolved Oxygen measurements. More
data would have to be collected to ascertain the cause of this variability or determine if this was
simply an anomaly. More data needs to be collected to gather a better representation of the
water quality in the South Fork. A year round study would be the best way to determine if
there variation in water quality due to seasonality. Extending the study area to downstream
farther would be a recommendation for future studies. This would help determine the extent
of the Spring influence on the Stream. Both Stream flow and Spring Flow data would be an
asset for future studies. Data such as Dissolved Oxygen could be analyzed more easily and
accurately with flow data.
29. 29
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