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2. 2 2008 Shell Creek Watershed Study Advisors – Mark Seier & Suzy Goedeken Researchers – Sheila O’Brien, Brett Roberg, Jessica Boschen, Sean Farrier, Ann O’Brien, Lynzee Pieke, Mandy Anderson, Alyshia Nelson, Jordan Nelson, Jesse Knust, Luke Gasper, Darrek Schmidt, Jonathon Dohmen, Tim Wiese, Olivia Wiese, Jake Kaufman, Katie O’Brien, Mark O’Brien, April Ramaekers, Aubrey Strong, Audrey Wondercheck, Greg Roberg

3. 3 (with Township-Range Labels) Shell Creek and Loseke-Taylor Creek Watersheds Lower Platte North Natural Resources District 6

4. 4 Site 1

5. 5 Site 2

6. 6 Site 3

7. 7 Site 4

8. 8 Site 6

9. 9 Site 5

10. 10 W.Q.I. The Water Quality Index was developed by the National Sanitation Foundation as a standard system to compare different bodies of water. To determine the WQI, a series of nine tests were performed. These tests were: dissolved oxygen, fecal coliform, pH, Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), temperature, total phosphate, nitrates, turbidity, and total solids. We also did a water discharge test which we use to measure the flow of the creek in cubic feet per second.

11. 11 After the tests are completed, the WQI for each section of the creek can be computed. To formulate the WQI, we first computed Q- values. We multiply this number by a weighting factor, which provides a measure of the relative importance of each test to overall water quality. The water quality index ranges from zero to 100. - 0 - 25 is very bad - 25 - 50 is bad - 50 - 70 is medium - 70 - 90 is good - 90 - 100 is excellent The bio-indicator tests weren’t part of W.Q.I., but did give us a water quality rating.

12. 12 Sample W.Q.I. Curve Chart

13. 13 Sample W.Q.I. Form Overall Water Quality Index ___

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16. 16 The higher the change, the worse the water quality.

17. 17 The higher the concentration, the worse the water quality.

18. 18 Fecal Coliform

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23. 23 The higher the change, the worse the water quality.

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26. 26 Medium Bad Good

27. 27 Bad Medium Good

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29. 29 *2006 Fecal Coliform Average 8,058 col/100 mL

30. 30 Macro Invertebrates TolerantSomewhat SensitiveSensitive

31. 31 Sample Bio-Indicator Data Form

32. 32 Beaver-Shell Creek WQI Comparison

33. 33 Beaver-Shell Creek Comparison

34. 34 Beaver-Shell Creek Comparison

35. 35 2008 Flood Study

36. 36 2008 Flood Study Date and Time Width (ft) Avg. Depth (ft) Flow (cfs) Total Solids (mg/L) Solid Discharge (lbs/min) Solid Discharge (tons/hr) 5/30/07 1108.4222439300781452344 6/8/08 1308.98432889501451384354 X cu ft60 sec28.32 LX mg1 g1 lb1 ton60 min 1 sec1 min1 cu ft1 L100 mg453.6 g2000 lb1 hr

37. 37 Watery Testing

38. 38 Chemical Tests

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40. 40 Website http://newman.esu8.org/project.html OR http://newman.esu8.org/ Click “Our Students” Click “Student Projects” Click “Watershed Project” You can see our data and further information concerning this project, including pictures.

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42. 42 Thank You To: Lower Platte North Natural Resource District PrairieLand RC&D Natural Resource Conservation Service Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality Shell Creek Watershed Improvement Group Chris Poole Phil Chvala Area Land Owners The End