Physical Properties Discharge rate, temperature and other physical attributes of the stream.

Physical Properties of Streams: Water Temperature Stream flow Turbidity Total Dissolved Solids:  Dissolved Solids  Undissolved Solids Found at: ucc.ie

Stream Flow/Stream Discharge: Amount of water flowing in a stream, river, or other flowing body of water Key concept of a stream and its flow is its watershed Stream flow is always changing  main influence precipitation  size of a river = size of its watershed

Effects of Stream Flow on a Ecosystem: Sufficient flow must be present to maintain downstream ecosystems Changes to the natural flow regime affect stream communities, species interactions, and ecosystem functioning Flow can affect:  abundance, distribution, and behavior of stream organisms  key ecological processes such as dispersal, habitat use, resource acquisition, and competition Found on US EPA’s National Center for Environmental Research Website

Turbidity: Measure of how cloudy or transparent the water is More TS → higher turbidity → murkier water Causes: phytoplankton, erosion, waste, algae, runoff Effects: warmer water, lower D.O., allows heavy metals and other toxins to attach, “dirty” water World Health Organization states turbidity of drinking water should be 5 JTU or lower.

Total Suspended Solids: Amount of solid suspended in water Measures actual weight of material per volume of water  calculates total quantities of material within a stream Classification of TDS levels:  Fresh water < 1500 mg/L TDS  Brackish water: 1500 to 5000 mg/L TDS  Saline water >5000 mg/L TDS

TDS Levels: High TDS caused by:  erosive heavy rains and fast-moving water  soils and geology determine how much erosion occurs  can be affected slightly by changes in algae populations and other microscopic life High levels can:  cause increased sedimentation and siltation in a stream  ruin important habitat areas for aquatic life Dissolved particles also provide attachment places for other pollutants  High TDS or turbidity readings can be used as "indicators" of other potential pollutants

Possible Effects on TDS & Turbidity: Greatest Factor: Land Use  As watersheds develop, there is an increase in disturbed areas (e.g., cropland or construction sites), a decrease in vegetation, and increases in the rate of runoff.  These all cause increases in erosion, particulate matter, and nutrients, promote algal growth, and increase TDS and turbidity of water.

Physical Properties of the Leibert Creek: Water Temp: 13.5 °C Turbidity: 0 JTU Total Dissolved Solids: 195 ppm (mg/L); clear water! Stream Discharge:  cu ft/s  gal/s  182,603 gal/hr  4,382,462 gal/day Found at: dcnr.state.pa.us

Water Flow of the Leibert CreekDate: 10/28/10 Total Width of Stream: 13.5 ft Section:Depth:Width : Area:Velocity : Flow : ft2.67 ft3.34 sq ft.2 ft/s.6675 cu ft/s ft2.67 ft2.78 sq ft.46 ft/s cu ft/s ft2.67 ft3.68 sq ft.73 ft/s cu ft/s ft2.67 ft3.90 sq ft.56 ft/s cu ft/s ft2.67 ft3.79 sq ft0 ft/s0 cu ft/s Total Flow: cu ft/s Total Flow (gal/s): ( cu ft/s)(7.44 gal/ cu ft) gal/s Total Flow (gal/hr): ( gal/s)(3600 s/hr) gal/hr Total Flow (gal/day): (182, gal/hr)(24 hr/day) gal/day

Leibert Creek Results: The flow of the Leibert was as to be expected; no bad effects on the stream and its ecosystem.  Examples of the calculations used to find stream flow can be found on the handout given to you. There was no turbidity in the stream, showing that the stream water is clear and unpolluted. There was a relatively low TDS level in the Leibert, showing that there was only a normal amount of pollution in the stream, as can be caused naturally.

Physical Properties of the Little Lehigh: Turbidity: 5 JTU TS: 177 ppm TDS: 167 ppm US: 10 ppm Flow Rate: 52,358,400 gal/day Found at: coldwaterheritage.org

Total Solids: Empty BeakerVolume WaterBeaker + Dry SolidsTotal Solids g250 mL g.0533 g g250 mL g.0459 g g250 mL g.0475 g g220 mL g.0474 g g350 mL g.0779 g g350 mL g.0714 g g350 mL g.0696 g g350 mL g.0636 g Total Volume:2690 mL or 2.69 LTotal Solids:.4766 g or mg Total Solid (mg/L):(476.6)/(2.69)177 mg/L Total Dissolved Solid:167 mg/L Total Undissolved Solid: mg/L

Load of Sediment: Flow Rate: 52,358,400 gal/day Load of Sediment: (177 mg/L)(1g/1000mg)(1 oz/28.35 g)(1 lb/16 oz)(3.785 L/gal) lb/gal Sediment (lbs/day): ( lb/gal)( gal/day) lbs/day Sediment (lbs/hr): ( lbs/day)(1 day/24 hrs) lbs/hr

Calculating Discharge Rate 81ft3 = 606 gal/sec gal/day Little Lehigh in Allentown:  found at

Works Cited: "Investigating the Impact of Lowered Stream Flow on Stream Community Structure and Ecosystem Functioning|Research Project Database | NCER | ORD | US EPA." U.S. EPA ColdFusion Server. Web. 02 Nov "Stream Total Suspended Solids and Turbidity - Chapter 3 - Streams in A Citizen'sGuide to Understanding and Monitoring Lakes and Streams." Washington State Department of Ecology | Home Page | ECY WA DOE. Web. 02 Nov "The Water Cycle: Streamflow, from USGS Water Science for Schools." USGS Georgia Water Science Center - Home Page. Web. 02 Nov