1. WaterQuality Water Quality What does it mean?

2. Water quality is the ability of a water body to support all appropriate beneficial uses. Beneficial uses for humans:Beneficial uses for humans: drinking waterdrinking water bathingbathing food preparationfood preparation sanitationsanitation recreationrecreation manufacturingmanufacturing Beneficial uses for animals:Beneficial uses for animals: habitathabitat drinking waterdrinking water reproductionreproduction

3. Assessing Water Quality Physical Assessments temperature, clarity, velocityPhysical Assessments temperature, clarity, velocity Chemical Assessments dissolved oxygen, pH, hardnessChemical Assessments dissolved oxygen, pH, hardness Biological Assessments benthic macroinvertebrates, bacteriaBiological Assessments benthic macroinvertebrates, bacteria

4. Physical Assessments TemperatureTemperature DepthDepth Flow rateFlow rate TurbidityTurbidity Environmental factorsEnvironmental factors trees, stream bed, soil, vegetation, topography, man-made surfaces/structurestrees, stream bed, soil, vegetation, topography, man-made surfaces/structures

5. Chemical Assessments Acidity/Alkalinity - pHAcidity/Alkalinity - pH Dissolved OxygenDissolved Oxygen Chemical pollutants - fertilizers (NO 3, PO 4 )detergents, heavy metals, etc.Chemical pollutants - fertilizers (NO 3, PO 4 )detergents, heavy metals, etc. Biological Oxygen DemandBiological Oxygen Demand Coliform BacteriaColiform Bacteria Measured in terms of concentration; parts per million or milliliters per gallon

6. Biological Assessments Macroinvertebrate diversity aquatic insects, insect larvae, crustaceans, and other smaller animals that spend their lives in water number and distribution of species levels of sensitivity by species - level 1, 2 & 3

7. Guiding Questions How do stream ecosystems respond physically, biologically and chemically to land use, land cover and geomorphology How do we measure the quality of water in nature? How is water quality affected by urbanization? How do stream ecosystems differ in various locations within the Kentucky river watershed? How do we use water quality information to promote sustainability of stream ecosystems within the Kentucky river watershed?

8. Activity Suggestions o Make a map for a certain radius around your home or school showing different kinds of environments; agricultural, mining, residential, shopping, parks, industrial areas. o Explore the question of whether your city or community has too many people. Can your local ecosystem support the population for the foreseeable future? What are the advantages of having more or less people? o Interview grandparents or others that have lived in your area for a long time. How have natural, agricultural and urban ecosystems changed? Compare a map of your community from 50 years ago with a current map.