Big Walnut WatershedBig Walnut WatershedBy : Caroline Oldstone – By : Caroline Oldstone –

Moore, Devina Mehta, Jillian Moore, Devina Mehta, Jillian FrostFrost

Map of Big Map of Big WalnutWalnut

Impaired streams are not meeting the Ohio standards for good water quality. The main causes of impairment are nutrient enrichment, siltation, and channelization.

Impairment is affected by the quality of the substrate

Urban Impact on SubstrateUrban Impact on Substrate

• Construction sites expose Construction sites expose soil and some soil is soil and some soil is washed into the streams.washed into the streams.

• Storm sewers drain runoff Storm sewers drain runoff from streets and parking lots from streets and parking lots into streams and rivers.into streams and rivers.

SubstrateSubstrate

• A substrate is the bottom of a body of A substrate is the bottom of a body of water. A rocky substrate is important water. A rocky substrate is important because it gives macroinvertebrates a because it gives macroinvertebrates a habitat, and fish lay eggs in between habitat, and fish lay eggs in between the rocks. If a substrate is covered with the rocks. If a substrate is covered with siltation, the fish and siltation, the fish and macroinvertebrate population will macroinvertebrate population will decrease.decrease.

The Good and the BadThe Good and the BadGood streams have vegetation along the banks that hold down

solids and shade the stream. This area is called the riparian zone.

Scientific MethodScientific Method

• Problem/Water QualityProblem/Water Quality

• ObservationsObservations

• HypothesisHypothesis

• Data Collection from EPA test sitesData Collection from EPA test sites

• Data Analysis with graphsData Analysis with graphs

• ConclusionsConclusions

• RecommendationsRecommendations

Hypothesis #1Hypothesis #1

• The high quality of the substrate will The high quality of the substrate will greatly increase the quality of the greatly increase the quality of the habitat ( = the QHEI), and therefore habitat ( = the QHEI), and therefore the IBI will increase.the IBI will increase.

Substrate vs. QHEI and IBISubstrate vs. QHEI and IBI

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ConclusionConclusion

My data has supported the hypothesis My data has supported the hypothesis that as the substrate’s quality that as the substrate’s quality increases the IBI and the QHEI increases the IBI and the QHEI increase.increase.

•When urban and agricultural areas in the watershed increase, the QHEI ( or habitat quality) decreases.

Hypothesis #2Hypothesis #2

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Ave QHEI and Forestation vs. Urban and Agriculture

Agriculture harms the QHEI in two ways.

1. As cattle cross the bank, dirt erodes into the stream and causes siltation.

2. When the land is farmed right to the stream’s edge, there is no vegetation to hold the dirt in place. This causes soil to

erode into the stream and settle over the substrate.

My ConclusionMy ConclusionMy conclusion is that the data I presented supports my hypothesis. The QHEI was improved when the riparian zone was healthy, while the QHEI was impaired when the riparian zone was in an agricultural or urban area.

Hypothesis #3 Hypothesis #3

When the water temperature decreases, there When the water temperature decreases, there will be more dissolved oxygen and a higher IBI.will be more dissolved oxygen and a higher IBI.

   

              

   

 

DataData

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ConclusionConclusion

• My data showed that my hypothesis was partially My data showed that my hypothesis was partially supported.supported.

• The water temperature does affect the DO levels, but the The water temperature does affect the DO levels, but the temperature does not seem to affect the IBI at some places temperature does not seem to affect the IBI at some places according to the data.according to the data.

Recommendations…Recommendations…

Farmers could plant vegetation along fields and Farmers could plant vegetation along fields and pastures to improve the Riparian Zone.pastures to improve the Riparian Zone.

Stop cutting down trees, and the trees that Stop cutting down trees, and the trees that have been cut down should be replaced.have been cut down should be replaced.

Find safer ways of disposing of waste, and Find safer ways of disposing of waste, and practice conservation more frequently.practice conservation more frequently.

Fence off pastures to keep livestock out of Fence off pastures to keep livestock out of stream areas.stream areas.

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

PaulaPaula- for being such a great leader- for being such a great leaderSteveSteve & & VirginieVirginie – for being so patient and such – for being so patient and such

computer pros!computer pros!LeslieLeslie- for always giving us a laugh when we - for always giving us a laugh when we

needed one and for being so helpful.needed one and for being so helpful.KKKK- for being a great mentor.- for being a great mentor.Anne & SahajaAnne & Sahaja- for being there when we needed - for being there when we needed

them!them!ParentsParents- for giving us the opportunity to come.- for giving us the opportunity to come.NichelleNichelle- for being an awesome teacher!!!!!- for being an awesome teacher!!!!!