Water Quality Testing

at the Nisqually River

(RiverbendCampground)

Brief Watershed Overview

• Riverbend Campground is

set along the banks of the

Nisqually River

• The mouth of the Nisqually

River meets the Puget

Sound close to our

monitoring site

• This area is near an estuary

where the freshwater meets

the Puget Sound.

Nisqually Middle School Scientists Testing on the Nisqually River

Testing for pH

pH levels of 7-8 are optimal

•pH is the measure of acidity or alkalinity in water•pH is measured on a scale from 0-14 with 0 being the most acidic, 7 is neutral and 14 the most basic or alkaline•Optimal PH levels are important for the survival and health of living organisms in the Nisqually Watershed

Water Quality

pH7.5 - fall

7.5 -winterGreat!

Testing For Dissolved Oxygen

• Dissolved Oxygen is the amount of

oxygen in the water.

• Salmon, water bugs, plants and all

other organisms need lots of dissolved

oxygen in the water for survival!

Dissolved Oxygen Results

Dissolved Oxygen at the Nisqually River

Trail 1 Trail 2 Trail 3 Average

Fall(Oct. 2012)

10 mg/L 10mg/L 10mg/L 10mg/L

Winter (Feb.2012)

11.4mg/L 12.4mg/L 13mg/L 12.3mg/L

Acceptable levels of D.O.= 9.0 mg/l (ideal) 7.0-8.0 mg/l (acceptable)

Nisqually Middle School Students Being Smart Testing for DO

Testing for Fecal Coliform

Fecal Coliform indicates the likely presence of disease-causing bacteria.

This gets into the water through animal and human feces.

Fecal Coliform optimal levels: Less than 50 FC/100mL.

Results

Site Date Weather and Temperature

Fecal Coliform Level

River Bend Campground

October 14 2012

Clear40 Degrees

160 FC/100 mL

River Bend Campground

February 212013

Clear 40 Degrees

0 FC/100 mL

Fecal Coliform Optimal Level: < 50 FC/100ml

Fecal Coliform

By Trisha and Irene Villegas

Setting up the Filter System

• Turbidity is the amount of sediment and silt in

the water and is measured in Jackson Turbidity

Units or JTU’s.

• High turbidity can make it hard for underwater

plants to survive, harm the gills of organisms,

and effect the ability of juvenile fish to catch

prey.

• Salmon avoid water with high silt amounts.

Testing for Turbidity

Fall (October) 2012Turbidity Test Results

Winter (February) 2013 Turbidity Test Results

Replicate 1: 25 JTUs Replicate 1: 20 JTUs

Replicate 2: 20 JTUs Replicate 2: 15.5 JTUs

Replicate 3: 20 JTUs Replicate 3: 20 JTUs

Average: 21.5 JTUs Average: 18.33 JTUs

Turbidity Results

•Optimal Turbidity: Less than 20 JTUs

•The lower the turbidity the better because it affects salmon and other organisms.

too

Testing for Nitrates

•This tests for nitrogen-containing compounds.•In fresh water, nitrogen can cause a decrease in oxygen levels.•The main sources of nitrates into bodies of water are with industrial wastewater, septic tanks, animal wastes, and fertilizers.

Nitrate Optimal levels –

*Nitrate levels should be below 1

mg/L.

Nitrate levels Results-October water quality testing

February water quality testing

Replicate#1 - 1.0 mg./l Replicate #1- 1.0 mg/l

Replicate #2- 1.0 mg/l Replicate #2- 1.0 mg/l

Replicate #3- 2.0 mg/l Replicate #3 - 1.0 mg/l

Average: 1.3 mg/l Average: 1.0 mg/l

Biological MonitoringTesting for

Macroinvertebrates at Eatonville

Benthic Species Tally on Yelm Creek vs Lacamas Creek

Sensitivity Species Yelm Creek (Disturbed)

LaCamas Creek

(undisturbed)

Intolerant Mayfly 3 19Stonefly 11 9Adult Beetle 2 0

Medium Tolerance

Caddisfly 1 11Juvenile Beetle 1 0

Mosquito 0 1Midges 4 0

Tolerant Snails 3 1Aquatic Worms 6 10

Total Benthics 31 51Total Species 8 6

Data Interpretation:

• What can we celebrate?

The pH of the Nisqually river is very good!

The Dissolved Oxygen levels were great!

Healthy species diversity of Benthics!

• What might be causing the high amounts

of Fecal Coliform, and nitrates?

Left behind pet waste, farm animals, and fertilizers

from upstream.

• What could be done to improve the Water Quality?• Pet waste stations

• Recycle

• Regular monitoring throughout the year

• Take the bus, ride a bike, or car pool

• Plant Trees

• Salmon tossing

• Educate people

Water Testing!!

All Done!!