The Big Walnut Watershed By: Taylor Krebs Ariel Sims Holly Finchum

Big Walnut Creek Watershed Area and its Land Use

Big Walnut Watershed -- Ohio Environmental Protection Agency

We learned from Amy Sheaffer on Monday that… The decrease in water clarity caused by TSS can harm the fish and macroinvertebrates.

Watershed mouth A First look at the Data

Hypothesis If the water drainage area in the sub watershed consists of urban or agricultural land use, the water quality measures will decline. If the water drainage area in the sub watershed consists of deciduous forests, the water quality measures will show improvement over other areas.

Extensive cropland at upper end Residential areas in middle Vegetation changes Deciduous forests at mouth normal Nitrogen and Phosphate levels pH reading is neutral

Starts with heavy agriculture Middle sections have woody wetlands and deciduous forests Urban recreational uses pollute Commercial industries downstream Normal chemical quality levels through most of watershed area Quality decreases at end

Water supply for Columbus Row crops and urban recreational grasses Trend towards deciduous forest at lower end Normal chemical levels We found no data showing high nutrient levels.

Highly urban area QHEI goes down at each site Commercial and industrial area contributes point- and non-point source pollution No data for the chemical quality in this area was available.

The Big Walnut Watershed Conclusions Our hypothesis was valid The quality of a stream is greatly affected by the land use nearby We recommend that farmers be encouraged… To plant trees along the stream To maintain a grassy area between their fields and the streams Minimize non-point source pollution

Acknowledgements We would like to thank the following… –OSC staff members and funding agencies –Leslie Southern –Paula Williams –Steve Gordon –Kathryn Kelley –Mary Lightbody –All the counselors, teachers, and chaperones