A Comparison of the River Raisin and Ottawa River Connie Atkisson Jim Dornberg Lynda Wlodarski

Purpose Compare the water quality of two rivers in Northwest Ohio/Southeast Michigan Compare the water quality of two rivers in Northwest Ohio/Southeast Michigan

Hypothesis The overall water quality of the River Raisin and Ottawa River will be similar The overall water quality of the River Raisin and Ottawa River will be similar

Procedure Conduct the following water quality tests at two test sites: Conduct the following water quality tests at two test sites: –Temperature –pH –Dissolved oxygen –Nitrates –Phosphates –Alkalinity –Transparency

Procedure Compute the overall water quality of both samples using the Water Quality Index (WQI) Compute the overall water quality of both samples using the Water Quality Index (WQI)

1702 square miles 1702 square miles 150 miles long 150 miles long Agriculture: 65% Agriculture: 65% Urbanized: 11% Urbanized: 11% Wetlands: 8% Wetlands: 8% Forested: 7% Forested: 7% Grassland: 7% Grassland: 7% 276 square miles 276 square miles 45 miles long 45 miles long Cultivated: 15% Cultivated: 15% Mixed vegetation: 38% Mixed vegetation: 38% Urban/Residential: 21% Urban/Residential: 21% Forested: 16% Forested: 16% Grassland: 7% Grassland: 7% River RaisinOttawa River Sources: River Raisin Watershed Council; Partners for Clean Streams

Site One

Site Two

Results Water Test River Raisin Ottawa River Dissolved Oxygen 10.0 mg/L 8.8 mg/L pH Total Phosphate 1.0 mg/L Nitrates.3 mg/L Transparency 46 cm 59 cm AlkalinityNoneNone Temperature 24.0° C 22.1° C

Overall Water Quality (WQI) River Raisin: 70.8 River Raisin: 70.8 Ottawa River: 53.0 Ottawa River: 53.0

Overall Water Quality 90% - 100% The water is in excellent condition. 70% - 89%The water has problems but is still in good condition. 50% - 69%The water is in medium to very poor condition. 25% - 49%This water is in bad condition and need major help. 0% - 24%The water is in very bad condition. Don’t touch without gloves!

Conclusion For our two test sites, the Ottawa River is in much worse shape than the River Raisin For our two test sites, the Ottawa River is in much worse shape than the River Raisin

Recommendation Conduct a longitudinal study on water quality of the River Raisin watershed Conduct a longitudinal study on water quality of the River Raisin watershed Involve schools from Monroe and Lenawee counties Involve schools from Monroe and Lenawee counties Record data on Globe website Record data on Globe website

Capstone Projects The challenges of the 21st century require students to be globally literate regarding major global issues and the processes necessary to inquire about issues, gather information, and make decisions that arise during their lifetimes. They will need to practice responsible citizenship and make informed and reasoned decisions for the public good in a pluralistic, democratic society and an interdependent world. The challenges of the 21st century require students to be globally literate regarding major global issues and the processes necessary to inquire about issues, gather information, and make decisions that arise during their lifetimes. They will need to practice responsible citizenship and make informed and reasoned decisions for the public good in a pluralistic, democratic society and an interdependent world.

Elements of a Capstone Project use technology use technology collect data collect data develop a product or performance develop a product or performance apply content from the core disciplines apply content from the core disciplines demonstrate ability to participate in public discourse demonstrate ability to participate in public discourse make reasoned decisions make reasoned decisions demonstrate citizen involvement demonstrate citizen involvement use methods of inquiry use methods of inquiry compose persuasive civic essays using reasoned arguments compose persuasive civic essays using reasoned arguments

Contemporary Investigation Topics Global Climate Change – Investigate the impact of global climate change and describe the significance for human/environment relationships. Global Climate Change – Investigate the impact of global climate change and describe the significance for human/environment relationships. Human-Environmental Interactions – Investigate how policies from the past and their implementation have had positive or negative consequences for the environment in the future. Human-Environmental Interactions – Investigate how policies from the past and their implementation have had positive or negative consequences for the environment in the future.

Problem/Purpose: Megafarms “Confined animal feeding operations” (CAFOs) “Confined animal feeding operations” (CAFOs) Source: Michigan Department of Environmental Quality

Sources: River Raisin Watershed Council, Google Maps

“Industrial farm operations impact all major environmental media, including water, soil, and air. Of most concern are the pollution of ground and surface water resources with nutrients, industrial and agricultural chemicals and microorganisms…”

Manure-related Discharges Include: Antibiotics, which may contribute to the development of antibiotic- resistant pathogens Antibiotics, which may contribute to the development of antibiotic- resistant pathogens Pathogens, such as parasites, bacteria, and viruses, which can cause disease in animals and humans Pathogens, such as parasites, bacteria, and viruses, which can cause disease in animals and humans Nutrients, such as ammonia, nitrogen, and phosphorus, which can reduce oxygen in surface waters, encourage the growth of harmful algal blooms, and contaminate drinking-water sources Nutrients, such as ammonia, nitrogen, and phosphorus, which can reduce oxygen in surface waters, encourage the growth of harmful algal blooms, and contaminate drinking-water sources Pesticides and hormones, which researchers have associated with hormone-related changes in fish Pesticides and hormones, which researchers have associated with hormone-related changes in fish Solids, such as feed and feathers, which can limit the growth of desirable aquatic plants in surface waters and protect disease- causing microorganisms Solids, such as feed and feathers, which can limit the growth of desirable aquatic plants in surface waters and protect disease- causing microorganisms Trace elements, such as arsenic and copper, which can contaminate surface waters and possibly harm human health Trace elements, such as arsenic and copper, which can contaminate surface waters and possibly harm human health Source: Centers for Disease Control

USDA Research: 1 million tons of dry manure per day 1 million tons of dry manure per day 86% from animals held in confinement 86% from animals held in confinement

Vreba-Hoff II milkhouse waste discharge, (DEQ confirmed) 11/02 Downstream from Bruinsma CAFO, DEQ confirmed illegal discharge, 9/00 Source: Environmentally Concerned Citizens of South Central MichiganEnvironmentally Concerned Citizens of South Central Michigan

Bakerlads waste running off the manure-black field to Cadmus Rd, drains to S.Branch River Raisin 3/08 Source: Environmentally Concerned Citizens of South Central MichiganEnvironmentally Concerned Citizens of South Central Michigan

Lagoon waste management system for a 900-head hog farm in Georgia. Source: Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production

Lagoon Data from 2007 CAFOs CNMPs Hartland Farms ,265,000 Hartland Farms ,265,000 Hoffland Dairy ,723,975 Hoffland Dairy ,723,975 Bruinsma Dairy ,500,000 Bruinsma Dairy ,500,000 Flevo Dairy ,791,500 Flevo Dairy ,791,500 Source: Environmentally Concerned Citizens of South Central MichiganEnvironmentally Concerned Citizens of South Central Michigan

Source: Michigan Department of Environmental Quality

CAFOs in Southeast Michigan When liquid manure enters streams or lakes, it is called a discharge. Discharges that violate Michigan's water quality standards are illegal. When liquid manure enters streams or lakes, it is called a discharge. Discharges that violate Michigan's water quality standards are illegal. All area CAFOs have discharged illegally All area CAFOs have discharged illegally 317 violations and discharges since violations and discharges since 2000 Source: Environmentally Concerned Citizens of South Central MichiganEnvironmentally Concerned Citizens of South Central Michigan

References (2008). River Raisin watershed information. Retrieved July 17, 2008, from River Raisin Watershed Council Web site: (2008). River Raisin watershed information. Retrieved July 17, 2008, from River Raisin Watershed Council Web site: (2005, December 21). Ottawa River/Ten Mile Creek watershed. Retrieved July 17, 2008, from Partners for Clean Streams Web site: draft-HUC-Ottawa pdf (2005, December 21). Ottawa River/Ten Mile Creek watershed. Retrieved July 17, 2008, from Partners for Clean Streams Web site: draft-HUC-Ottawa pdf (2008). CAFO polluted streams. Retrieved July 6, 2008, from Environmentally Concerned Citizens of South Central Michigan Web site: (2008). CAFO polluted streams. Retrieved July 6, 2008, from Environmentally Concerned Citizens of South Central Michigan Web site: Bill (2008, May 20). CAFOs near Hudson, MI. Retrieved July 16, 2008, from Google Maps Web site: c5d663822c95&z=10 Bill (2008, May 20). CAFOs near Hudson, MI. Retrieved July 16, 2008, from Google Maps Web site: c5d663822c95&z=10 Wuycheck, Rhonda. Michigan's concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) program. Retrieved July 18, 2008, from Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Web site: CAFOProgram.pdf Wuycheck, Rhonda. Michigan's concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) program. Retrieved July 18, 2008, from Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Web site: CAFOProgram.pdf

References (2006, May). Guide to the Rouge Education Project. Retrieved July 18, 2008, from Friends of the Rouge Web site: (2006, May). Guide to the Rouge Education Project. Retrieved July 18, 2008, from Friends of the Rouge Web site: (2008). More on capstone projects. Retrieved July 18, 2008, from Michigan Department of Education Web site: (2008). More on capstone projects. Retrieved July 18, 2008, from Michigan Department of Education Web site: (2008). Environmental impact of industrial farm animal production. Retrieved July 18, 2008, from Pew Charitable Trusts Web site: lture/PCIFAP_EnvImpact.pdf (2008). Environmental impact of industrial farm animal production. Retrieved July 18, 2008, from Pew Charitable Trusts Web site: lture/PCIFAP_EnvImpact.pdf (2008, April). Putting meat on the table: Industrial farm animal production in America executive summary. Retrieved July 18, 2008, from Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production Web site: (2008, April). Putting meat on the table: Industrial farm animal production in America executive summary. Retrieved July 18, 2008, from Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production Web site: (2004, March). Concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). Retrieved July 18, 2008, from Centers for Disease Control Web site: (2004, March). Concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). Retrieved July 18, 2008, from Centers for Disease Control Web site: