Water QualityWater Quality

How Do We Measure Water How Do We Measure Water Quality????Quality????

Water QualityWater Quality

Chemical CharacteristicsChemical Characteristics

Biological CharacteristicsBiological Characteristics

Physical CharacteristicsPhysical Characteristics

Chemical CharacteristicsChemical Characteristics

Dissolved OxygenDissolved Oxygen NitrogenNitrogen PhosphorousPhosphorous pHpH AlkalinityAlkalinity

Dissolved OxygenDissolved Oxygen

Dissolved OxygenDissolved Oxygen

Fish KillFish Kill

pH

Acid RainAcid Rain

AlkalinityAlkalinity

Nitrogen and Nitrogen and PhosphorousPhosphorous

EutrophicationEutrophication

Good Water QualityGood Water Quality

Dissolved Oxygen: >6 ppmDissolved Oxygen: >6 ppm pH: NeutralpH: Neutral Alkalinity: 100 – 200 ppmAlkalinity: 100 – 200 ppm Nitrogen and Phosphorous: <.1 ppmNitrogen and Phosphorous: <.1 ppm

Biological Biological CharacteristicsCharacteristics

FishFish

AlgaeAlgae

Rooted Aquatic PlantsRooted Aquatic Plants

BacteriaBacteria

Benthic MacroinvertebratesBenthic Macroinvertebrates

Benthic MacroinvertebratesBenthic MacroinvertebratesThink Small!!!!!Think Small!!!!!

Benthic Macroinvertebrate Benthic Macroinvertebrate SamplingSampling

Stonefly LarvaeStonefly Larvae

Mayfly LarvaeMayfly Larvae

Caddisfly LarvaeCaddisfly Larvae

Benthic Macroinvertebrates Benthic Macroinvertebrates as Water Quality Indicatorsas Water Quality Indicators

MayfliesMayflies

StonefliesStoneflies

CaddisfliesCaddisflies

Physical CharacteristicsPhysical Characteristics

TemperatureTemperature Local Land Use ActivitiesLocal Land Use Activities Stream Bank ErosionStream Bank Erosion Stream BottomStream Bottom FlowFlow

Different Types ofFish Do Better inDifferent WaterTemperatures

Warm Water FishWarm Water Fish

Blue Gills

Stream Bank ErosionStream Bank Erosion

Stream BottomCharacteristics

Measuring Stream FlowMeasuring Stream Flow

Measuring Stream FlowMeasuring Stream Flow

Width X Depth X Feet per Second = Width X Depth X Feet per Second = Cubic Feet per Second (cfs)Cubic Feet per Second (cfs)

Watershed ScientistsWatershed ScientistsWhat Do We Do?What Do We Do?

Take Water Quality MeasurementsTake Water Quality Measurements Sample for MacroinvertebratesSample for Macroinvertebrates Take Water TemperatureTake Water Temperature Figure Out the Stream FlowFigure Out the Stream Flow Look for Signs of PollutantsLook for Signs of Pollutants What Do All of These Say About What Do All of These Say About

Water Quality?Water Quality?