2011 Shell Creek Watershed Research Group

1. 2011 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, DemiEdgell, Jacob Haase, John O’Brien, Brock Donelson, Billy O’Brien, Megan Nelson, Brooke Pieke, Alex Wiese

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

3. Below Newman Grove Above Newman Grove 6

4. Below Lindsay 6 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 100. - 0 - 25 is very bad - 25 - 50 is bad - 50 - 70 is medium - 70 - 90 is good - 90 - 100 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. Overall Water Quality Index ___ Sample W.Q.I. Form

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

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

13. Fecal Coliform

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

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

23. Good Medium Bad

24. Good Medium Bad

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

28. 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.

29. Macro Invertebrates Sensitive Somewhat Sensitive Tolerant

30. Beaver-Shell Creek Comparison2011

31. Beaver-Shell Creek Comparison2011

32. Beaver-Shell Creek WQI Comparison Good Medium Bad

33. 2010 Flood Study

36. Student Scientists in Action