North Creek Water Quality Prepared by Jon Rogers

North Creek Water Quality Prepared by Jon Rogers and Carie Mc. Coy

Dr. Jaffe’s Environmental Chemistry Lab Class January 21 st – February 3 rd, 2005

North Creek • Adjacent to the UWB/CCC Campus in the Sammamish Valley of King County, WA • Approximate latitude and longitude: 47 o 45’ 21” N 122 o 11’ 20”W • Upstream Site: East of exit number 24 off I-405 • Downstream Site: Past the Boardwalk in the UWB/CCC Wetlands

Goals • Determine if the wetland helps contribute to improved water quality. • To determine if North Creek complies with state standards.

Study Parameters • p. H: effects chemical and biological processes which occur in an aquatic environment • Conductivity: measures ionic potential of the waterway • Temperature: influences rates of chemical and biological processes • Dissolved Oxygen (DO): concentration of oxygen which is in a dissolved form in the water • Stream Flow: volume of water moving over a designated point at a fixed period of time • Turbidity: measured amount of suspended sediments in the water • Nitrates: measure of nitrogen as nitrate (N 03 -N) in the water • Phosphates: measure of phosphorous as phosphate (PO 4 -P) in the water

Effects of Parameters • p. H: if p. H is too acidic or alkaline than the water becomes inhabitable by aquatic life (desired p. H range 6. 5 -8. 0) • Conductivity: effects the buffering capacity of the water • Temperature: influences amount of DO (optimal <20 o) • DO: form of oxygen available for aquatic life • Stream Flow: help determine amount of impervious surface area in the watershed • Turbidity: increased turbidity may cause damage to fish gills, suffocating them • Nitrates: can determine amount of fertilizer runoff entering the stream (septic runoff is also a source) • Phosphates: corallites with the amount of soaps and detergents in the water

Profiling a stream • Measure the width of the stream channel • At equal intervals of width (0. 5 m) measure stream death • Post a reference point for future depth measurements

Significant Results • Flow – Statistically significant difference (P=. 01) in flow from the two sites – Greater stream flow at the upstream site than downstream – Possible reason is the water absorbing quality of the wetland – Rain event prior to data collection and approximately 0. 03 cm of precipitation during our survey

Statistical Runner Up • Conductivity – Using a paired T-test we verified a P value of P=0. 065 – Almost a significant difference. Desire P<0. 05 – What if the study had a longer duration? – Is there an outlier?

Conclusions • We found the wetland does help absorb runoff during rain events • At the time of our study, the area of North Creek we evaluated does comply with Washington State Department of Ecology Standards for a class A stream • Stream quality may change during other seasons

Questions?