1. Indicators of Stream Health
Fold the paper into thirds

2. Dissolved Oxygen (DO)
One of the most important indicators of water quality for aquatic life.
Why?

3. Amount of DO depends on water quality and temperature.
When water holds the maximum amount of DO at a given temperature it is said to be 100% saturated with oxygen.
Cold water can dissolve more oxygen than warm water.

4. Low DO
Species diversity decreases and aquatic worms and fly larvae take the place of other aquatic insects, and the dominant fish are those that require little oxygen such as carp.
Worst case, if DO falls below 3ppm fish and other organisms may not survive.

5. High DO
Species diversity is greater. More aquatic insects, many desirable fish (bass, blue gill, trout)

6. Causes of decreased DO
Non point source nutrients (nitrates and phosphates) that come primarily from fertilizers and pesticides. These added nutrients all increase the growth in plants. More plants require more aerobic bacteria to break them down as they decay.

7. Causes of decreased DO (cont.)
Algal Bloom- When algae growth is excessive. Upper level algae blocks light from the lower levels of algae and cause them to die. Decay of the dead algae uses lots of oxygen. Therefore DO decreases, fish die, and pond smells bad! At night all algae stop performing photosynthesis and only respire (uses lots of oxygen!) Eutrophication

8. Causes of decreased DO (cont.)
Thermal Pollution -Can cause a decrease because cold water can hold more DO than warm.
What are some causes of thermal pollution?

9. Causes of decreased DO (cont.)
Organic Wastes and plant litter from runoff require aerobic bacteria to break them down. These have a high oxygen demand.

10. DO Foldable info (blue sheet) Testing What is it? What changes it?
What problems can it cause?
Expected levels
Testing

11. Nutrients needed for aquatic plant life:
If too abundant, they can cause an overgrowth of plants that can choke off waterways. When they die, they then lower O2 supply of the water. (ex Algae and duckweed).
Phosphates- chemical cmpds that contain phosphorus and are sometimes found in detergents and fertilizers. Caused by point and non-point source pollution. ( mg/L= healthy growth)
Nitrates-found mostly in fertilizers.

13. Nitrates Foldable info (green sheet) Testing What is it (used for)?
What changes it?
What problems can it cause?
Expected levels
Testing

14. pH Measure of how acidic or basic a solution is.
pH of 7, water is neutral
pH<7, water is acidic
pH>7, water is basic or alkaline
pH= - log [H+] increase in pH from pH 4 to pH 5 is one power of 10.

15. Aquatic environments should be between 6.5 and 9

16. pH Foldable info (green sheet) Testing What is it (used for)?
What changes it?
What problems can it cause?
Expected levels
Testing

17. TDS (Total Dissolved Solids)
The total amount of dissolved organic matter and nutrients in the water.
Help regulate osmosis in organisms
Caused by runoff, soil erosion, and saltwater influx
If too high, they can disturb osmotic balance of native species. Clog and corrode pipes.

18. TDS Foldable info (green sheet) Testing What is it (used for)?
What changes it?
What problems can it cause?
Expected levels
Testing

19. Temperature The amount of kinetic energy
Affects oxygen content as well as the rates of biochemical processes
Changes in temperature can affect the immune system of organisms

20. Temperature Foldable info (green sheet) Testing What is it (used for)?
What changes it?
What problems can it cause?
Expected levels
Testing

21. Water Clarity aka Turbidity
Material that becomes mixed and suspended in water reduces water clarity and increases water turbidity.
Plankton can make the water turbid during times of rapid growth and reproduction when the water is sunlit and nutrient-rich. (algal bloom)

22. Effects of Turbidity
Decrease penetration of sunlight blocking photosynthesis of bottom-dwelling plants.
This causes them to increase CO2 and decrease O2 production
May cause death if light levels are too low and severely impact O2 production for other organisms

23. 2. Suspended matter can clog gills of fish and shellfish and kill them
3. Suspended matter can host harmful organisms (ex: bacteria)

24. Turbidity Foldable info (green sheet) What is it (used for)?
What changes it?
What problems can it cause?
Expected levels

25. E. Coli Is a type of fecal coliform bacteria
Found in fecal matter of endotherms
Used to indicate the presence of pathogenic bacteria and viruses
You have it in you (sort of)….and its okay. Its not the harmful strain!

26. E. coli Foldable info (green sheet) What is it (used for)?
What changes it?
What problems can it cause?
Expected levels