“ What is the difference in the quality of water between restricted fishing areas and non- restricted fishing areas along Sugar Creek?”

Travis Parr Phillip TaylorTy Endicott STUDENTS TEACHERS Andy Hartley, Jay Strickland, & Cami Lain

Montgomery County Study 1996-present : USGS in cooperation with the Montgomery County Commissioners is completing a study about the quality of water in Sugar Creek. Twelve sites along Sugar Creek are being analyzed for: calcium, sulfate, aluminum, nitrate, phosphate, pH, oxygen, bacteria, and PCBs. The data will be used to determine the suitability of water for recreational, agricultural and industrial uses.

Consumption Advisory 2000: A fish consumption advisory was issued by the Indiana State Department of Health for Sugar Creek in Montgomery County. People are advised to refrain from eating any fish from Sugar Creek due to high levels of contamination. Indiana Fish Advisory Streams & Rivers 2001 All species of fish in Sugar Creek are considered to be a level 5, which means DO NOT EAT! A high level of PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) have been found in this area. PCB’s can cause reproductive disorders, skin ailments, and liver disease. They are found is such items as copy paper, compressors and heat transfer systems.

We traveled to three specific destinations along Sugar Creek. Our first site was located behind the Elston Softball Diamonds. This site was included in the Fish Advisory Zone. Using a plastic bottle, we gathered a sample of the water, as well as the temperature of the water. In addition, we photographed the surrounding area. Our second site was located at Clement’s Canoes headquarters. There, we repeated the same process from our first site. Our third site was located at the intersection of State Road 32 and Country Club Road. This area was included in the Fish Advisory Zone. At our third and final site we repeated the same process, and returned to the school to run tests on all of the water samples.

The second phase of our research includes testing the three water samples for: pH ph basically determines what can live in an area and it indicates the quality of the water. Temperature Temperature also influences the quality of the water and it determines what can live there. Ammonium Ammonium found in any stream usually comes from fertilizer runoff from fields, sewage treatment, or industrial waste. Acceptable levels of ammonium in drinking water should not exceed 0.5 mg/L. Chloride and Salinity Chloride is used to salt the roads. Water with a level of 250mg/L may have a very salty taste. Salinity is an important measurement in seawater, freshwater, rivers and streams.

Sites 1 and 3 (restricted areas) contained significantly higher amounts of iron and chloride than Site 2 (non restricted). These higher amounts could contribute to the existing restrictions. However, Mercury and PCB’s (contaminants for which we could not test) are the causes of the restrictions on eating fish from these sites (USGS and Montgomery County Commissioners, 1996).

Bibliography Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection. July 8, Fishing and Hunting Outdoors. “Consumption Advisory.” visory.html. July 8, visory.html Johnson, Robyn L., Scott Holman, and Dan D. Homquist. Water Quality with Computers. Beaverton, OR: Vernier Software & Technology, USGS and Montgomery County Commissioner. “Water Quality of Selected Streams in Montgomery County.” July 8,