Watersheds

• What is a watershed?

• 93 watersheds in Ohio.

Riparian Zone• Riparian Zone- type of wetland between the stream and upland habitat, 90 meters on each side of the river.

Bad Riparian Zone•Good Riparian Zone

Important Terms

• Nutrient Enrichment: The presence of too many nutrients (primarily nitrogen and phosphorus) in the water. Usually causes eutrophication.

• Eutrophication: Addition of excessive nutrients (nitrates and phosphates) to a body of water, leading to overgrowth of aquatic plants (such as algae).The overgrowth usually kills the animal life in the water.

Water Quality Evaluation Terms

• IBI- The diversity of fish species

• ICI- The diversity of macroinvertebrates

• QHEI- The quality of the habitat

Description of Our Watershed

Counties: Hardin, Logan, Union, Marion.

Watershed Land Use

• Mostly row crops, some pasture/hay and deciduous forests

• Three main urban areas

Kenton

Bucyrus

Marion

Causes of Impairment

Hypothesis 1Best management practices leads to

increased biodiversity.

Average IBI & ICI vs. Percent of Forest Area

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

1977 1984 1987 1992 1995 1998 1999

Years

IBI a

nd IC

I

0.00%

2.00%

4.00%

6.00%

8.00%

10.00%

12.00%

14.00%

16.00%

IBI

ICI

Forest

Average IBI vs. Percent of Urban Area

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

1977 1984 1987 1992 1995 1998 1999

Years

IBI

0.00%

0.50%

1.00%

1.50%

2.00%

2.50%

3.00%

3.50%

4.00%

4.50%

5.00%

IBI

Urban

Hypothesis 2

Increased eutrophication leads to decreased biodiversity.

IBI vs.Nitrate

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

1977 1984 1987 1992 1995 1998 1999

Year

Av

. IB

I

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

0.4

Nit

rate IBI

nitrate

ICI vs. Nitrate

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

1977 1984 1987 1992 1995 1998 1999

Year

ICI

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

0.4

Nitr

ate ICI

nitrate

Hypothesis 3

As the amount of forested riparian zone is decreased, the quality of the habitat is decreased.

As the amount of urban riparian zone is increased, the quality of the habitat is decreased.

Riparian forest land vs. QHEI

40

42

44

46

48

50

52

1977 1984 1987 1992 1995 1998 1999

Year

QH

EI

0.00%

2.00%

4.00%

6.00%

8.00%

10.00%

12.00%

14.00%

16.00%

Pe

rce

nta

ge

Av_QHEI

Forest

Urban Riparian Zones vs. QHEI

40

42

44

46

48

50

52

1977 1984 1987 1992 1995 1998 1999

Year

QH

EI

0.00%

0.50%

1.00%

1.50%

2.00%

2.50%

3.00%

3.50%

4.00%

4.50%

5.00%

Per

cent

age

Av_QHEI

Urban

Conclusions

• All hypotheses were supported by the data

• Area needs better land use management– Stop cutting down forest riparian zones– Farmers need to be educated about runoff and

how to prevent fertilizer from entering waterways

– Urbanization needs regulation to control water quality problems