Shell Creek Watershed Research Group Advisors: Mark Seier and Karen Malmkar Researchers: Audrey Wondercheck, Mark O’Brien, Alisha Dunlap, Caitlin Bennett, Joan O’Brien, Lila Wondercheck, Ciera Afrank, Kendra Nelson, Liz Backhaus, Darienne Pokorny, Jason Kaufman, Demi Edgell, Jacob Haase, John O’Brien, Brock Donelson, Billy O’Brien, Megan Nelson, Brooke Pieke, Alex Wiese

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

3 6 Above Newman Grove Below Newman Grove

4 6 Below Lindsay West Platte Center

5 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.

6 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 is very bad is bad is medium is good is excellent The bio-indicator tests are not part of the W.Q.I., but do give us a water quality rating.

7 Sample W.Q.I. Curve Chart

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

9

10

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

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

13 Fecal Coliform

14

15

16 *Flow was not measured for May Sites 3,4,5,6

17

18

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

20

21

22

23 Medium Bad Good

24 Good Bad Medium

25

26

27 *2006 Fecal Coliform Average 8,058 col/100 mL

Chemical Test Conclusions Upstream sites have a decreasing WQI, while lower stream sites have an increasing WQI. Flow and Nitrate are continuing to follow each other. May phosphate levels are high. Nitrates over all are stabilizing. 28

29 Macro Invertebrates TolerantSomewhat SensitiveSensitive

30 Beaver-Shell Creek Comparison 2011

31 Beaver-Shell Creek Comparison 2011

32 Beaver-Shell Creek WQI Comparison Good Medium Bad

Flood Study

34 DateSitepH Temp. Chan. Total Solids mg/L Fecal Coliform Flow CFS Turbidity JTU's Dissolved Oxygen % Saturation Dissolved Oxygen ppm 5 day BODNitratesPhosphates WQI numberWQI Rating 6/22 Site % Bad Site % Bad Site % Medium Site % Bad Site % Bad Site % Medium 6/23 Site % Medium Site % Medium Site % Medium Site % Medium Site % Medium Site % Medium

35 DateSitepH Temp. Chang. Total Solids mg/L Fecal Coliform Flow CFS Turbidity JTU's Dissolved Oxygen % Saturation Dissolved Oxygen ppm 5 Day BODNitratesPhosphates WQI numberWQI Rating 7/20 Site % Medium Site % Medium Site % Medium Site % Medium Site % Medium Site % Medium 7/21 Site 17.9N/A430400N/A % Bad Site 27.9N/A44050N/A % Bad Site 37.9N/A54050N/A % Bad Site 47.6N/A N/A235.40% Bad Site 68.2N/A N/A % Bad Site 57.5N/A N/A % Bad

36 Student Scientists in Action