1. Aquatic Ecology
Envirothon

2. River Systems
Stream Order

3. Stream Management Plan
Incorporating abiotic & biotic factors to determine the health of a waterway
1. Obtain info regarding the biological, hydrological, and geomorphological condition of identified stream reaches in the Rio Grande watershed.
2. Define and prioritize environmental, recreational, and community values.
3. Develop goals to improve flows and physical conditions needed to support values.
4. Outline actions to achieve measurable progress toward maintaining or improving goals.

5. Macroinvertebrates

6. Pollution Tolerance Index

7. Aquatic Food Web
Caddisfly
Mayfly
Stonefly

8. Water Quality- pH & Dissolved Oxygen (DO)
Colder water has more DO capacity
High levels of bacteria from sewage pollution or large amounts of rotting plants can cause the % saturation to decrease.
The pH scale ranges from a value of 0 (very acidic) to 14 (very basic) with 7 being neutral.
The pH of natural water is usually between 6.5 and 8.2.

9. Turbidity Turbid water is caused by suspended matter
-May be the result of soil erosion, urban runoff, algal blooms, and bottom sediment disturbances

10. Temperature
Thermal pollution, the discharge of heated water from industrial operations, for example, can cause temperature changes that threaten the balance of aquatic systems.

11. Stream Morphology

12. Stream Morphology

13. Stream Morphology

14. Riparian Zones Functions & Values Stream bank stabilization Habitat
Pollution, sediment and nutrient trapping
Flood Control

15. Riparian Zones Forbes Sedges Shrubs/trees Grasses Deep Rooted
Shallow Rooted

16. Before

17. After
Willows

18. Year 2
Rock deflectors

19. Wetland Dynamics
Why are wetlands so useful to ecosystems? What are their main functions?

20. Ground & Surface Water

22. Competing Water Uses 2015 Colorado Water Plan
Outlines beneficial uses of water (agriculture, recreation, municipal, industrial, wildlife)
Prioritizes water conservation, water education, and re-use principles
Non Point & Point Source Pollution
Best Management Practices (BMPs)