Eutrophication

Eutrophication excessive nutrients in a body of water, frequently due to runoff from the land, which causes a dense growth of plant life & death of animal life from lack of oxygen

extra terminology: healthy stream = has lots of living things, especially macro(large) invertebrates (animals without backbones) buffer zone = plants/vegetation around the banks of rivers to absorb & slow runoff water   river delta = triangle shaped, where a river slows before it enters a large body of water, high deposition estuary = ecosystem where fresh water mixes with salt water turbidity = measure of how clear water is; high turbidity is a sign of an unhealthy stream

buffer zones

     

Indicators of Water System Health Read the article Make a list of: Physical indicators Chemical indicators Biological indicators

Turbidity

Stream Analysis Matching Low Dissolved Oxygen High Turbidity Low pH High Temperature High Nitrate Levels Trying to grow plants in the dark Trying to breathe in space Trying to run a marathon in the Sahara Desert in a snowmobile suit Trying to watch TV with your skin melting Going to an all you can eat buffet and getting a horrible stomach ache

Test Your Water