1. Kiersten Honig

2. Lynnhaven River Watershed Comprises approximately 64 square miles of land and water, with nearly 150 miles of shoreline Used to be a prime oyster harvesting area Minor tributary to Chesapeake Bay, one of the largest estuarine systems and most important natural resources in the United States The shoreline that surrounds the watershed includes 4,478 private waterfront homes, public access areas, marinas, boat launch facilities, waterside restaurants, and the First Landing State park.

3. What is water quality? Water quality uses the chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of the water to asses its condition It is difficult to say whether the water is good or bad, so it depends on the purpose it is used for Can be measured by several factors: Dissolved oxygen Bacteria levels Nitrogen and phosphate levels Salinity Turbidity Quantities of pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, and other contaminants

4. Tests and Locations 3 Locations Crystal Lake Linkhorn Bay/Broad Bay Lynnhaven Inlet Tests Nitrate Dissolved Oxygen Temperature Acidity Salinity

5. Nitrate NO3- An inorganic compound that can be a contaminant in water Nitrate ions are found in trace amounts in surface water and higher amounts in some groundwater Small levels of nitrate do not have a direct impact on aquatic life Algae and other aquatic vegetation use nitrates as a source of food Nitrogen is essential for all living things No visual levels were present in the locations tested

6. Dissolved Oxygen The level of free, non-compound oxygen that is present in water Levels that are too low of too high can be harmful to aquatic life Fish, invertebrates, bacteria, and plants use oxygen in respiration The amount of dissolved oxygen varies for different creatures Bottom feeders, crabs, oysters, and worms need about 1-6 mg/L of oxygen Shallow water fish need about 4-15 mg/L of oxygen

7. Dissolved Oxygen Since data was collected on the surface of the water, the amount of dissolved oxygen present makes it very suitable for aquatic life

8. Temperature Temperature is very unreliable for measuring water quality because it is effected by the climate Slight changes in temperature do not really effect the environment

9. Salinity Salinity is the amount of salt content in a body of water Measured by PPT (parts per thousand) Over millions of years, water has washed over rocks that contain sodium chloride and carried it into the sea The average ocean salinity is 35 ppt Brackish water is between 0.5 ppt and 17 ppt Marine creatures keep the about the same concentration of salinity in their bodies as in the water around them so they are balanced

10. Salinity Salinity levels fluctuated due to various amounts of rainfall

11. Acidity (pH) pH indicates the water’s acidity Most aquatic organisms adapt to the pH of the water around them and can be effected if it changes Pure water has a pH of 7 Sea water should have a pH of 7-8 If the pH is 4 or below or 9 or above, all fish will die

12. Acidity (pH)

13. Chesapeake Bay Dissolved Oxygen: Bay’s creatures need dissolved oxygen concentrations of 5.0 mg/L Salinity: ranges from fresh water (less than 0.5 parts per thousand) to salt water (25-30 ppt)

14. Environmental Effects Water pollution is a big deal, ways to improve water quality are: Use environmentally safe fertilizer Reduce storm water runoff on your property Properly dispose hazardous waste Reduce litter

15. Sources http://www.deq.virginia.gov/Portals/0/DEQ/Water/TMDL/NDZ/lynnh avenndz.pdf http://www.deq.virginia.gov/Portals/0/DEQ/Water/TMDL/NDZ/lynnh avenndz.pdf http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/lawsguidance/cwa/tmdl/images/lynnha ven_watershed.gif http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/lawsguidance/cwa/tmdl/images/lynnha ven_watershed.gif http://floridakeys.noaa.gov/ocean/waterquality.html http://hannainst.com/usa/ http://www.wheatleyriver.ca/current-projects/wrig-pilot-nitrate- study/nitrates-and-their-effect-on-water-quality-a-quick-study/ http://www.wheatleyriver.ca/current-projects/wrig-pilot-nitrate- study/nitrates-and-their-effect-on-water-quality-a-quick-study/ http://www.fondriest.com/environmental- measurements/parameters/water-quality/dissolved-oxygen/#1 http://www.fondriest.com/environmental- measurements/parameters/water-quality/dissolved-oxygen/#1 http://www.onr.navy.mil/focus/ocean/water/salinity1.htm http://www.water-research.net/index.php/ph-in-the-environment http://extension.usu.edu/waterquality/htm/whats-in-your-water/ph http://www.chesapeakebay.net/