water quality monitoring 2014
DESCRIPTION
Use this presentation to introduce your students to the Nisqually Watershed and water quality monitoring.TRANSCRIPT
All life depends on water.
Water is necessary for human health.
Water is a limited resource.
What is a watershed?
All of the land that drains into a common body of water including the living and non-‐living
components, it’s people cultures and tradi=ons.
The Nisqually Watershed begins on the Nisqually Glacier…
…and ends at the Nisqually Estuary
The Nisqually Indians were the first people to live in the area.
The Nisqually people were first known as “Squally-absch”, meaning “people of the grass, people of the river”.
Americans later changed the spelling to Nisqually.
Alson Brown’s Farm
Nisqually Watershed is part of a larger watershed called the Puget Sound Watershed
Salmon are an important piece of our ecosystems, economy, culture and traditions.
Point vs. Non Point Pollu=on
Point vs. Non Point Pollu=on
Puget Sound Watershed
Dissolved Oxygen ! How much oxygen is in the water
Optimal Values:
Optimal Acceptable Poor Fatal
> 9 mg/l 7-‐8 mg/l 3.5-‐6 mg/l < 3.5 mg/l
Why it maJers.... ! Animals in the water breathe in oxygen.
Fecal Coliform ! How much bacteria is in the water from feces of warm blooded animals.
Optimal value
< 50 FC/ 100 ml
Why is this test important? ! There are human health concerns that are effected by fecal coliform and bacteria in the water. ! Some bacteria from warm blooded animals such as E. coli can make people very sick.
pH How acidic or basic the water is.
Optimal Acceptable Fatal
7-‐8 6.5-‐8.5 < 6.5
Why it maJers....
Changes in pH affects aquatic organisms.
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
! How much oxygen is being used in the water from bacteria.
Day 1 DO – Day 5 DO
<6.0 mg/l
Optimal Value:
Why it maJers....
When there is more bacteria in the water the bacteria uses up more oxygen and there is less oxygen available for other animals.
Temperature ! How hot or cold is the water
Optimal Value
< 12° C
Why it maJers....
Hot water= dead fish
Cold water= Healthy fish and stream
Warmer water holds less oxygen so…….
Nitrates ! How many nutrients are in the water
Optimal Value <1 mg/l
Why it maJers....
When there are more bacteria in the water, the bacteria uses up more oxygen.
Too many nitrates feeds bacteria and they multiply.
Turbidity ! How clear or cloudy is the water
Optimal Value
< 20 JTU’s
Why it maJers....
Turbidity…..
• Increases temperatures
• decreases visibility-‐ can’t avoid
predators or find prey.
• Affects breathing • smothers salmon eggs.
Total Solids ! How much does the cloudiness weigh.
Optimal Value
<25 mg/l
Scenario #1 White Water
How will this effect Water Quality
! Temperature? ! Turbidity? ! Dissolved Oxygen Increase
Scenario #2 Fer=lizer
How will this effect Water Quality
! Increase nitrates ! Increase in turbidity ! Decrease in D.O. ! Increase in total solids
Scenario #3 Trash
How will this effect Water Quality ! Increase temperature ! Increase turbidity due to leaching
! Decrease in D.O. ! Increase in fecal coliform
Scenario #4 Farm Animals
How will this effect Water Quality
! Increase in total solids ! Increase in nitrates ! Increase in Fecal Coliform ! Increase in turbidity
Scenario #5 Ci=es
How will this effect Water Quality ! Increase in turbidity ! Increase in temperature ! Increase nitrates ! Increase in fecal coliform
Scenario #6 A healthy Riparian Zone
How will this effect Water Quality
! Increase in D.O. ! Increase nitrates ! Decrease in temperature ! Decrease turbidity ! Decrease in total solids