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Flow vs. Turbidity: Observations in Valley and Tumwater Creeks

Study on the relationship between flow and turbidity in creeks impacting aquatic life. Data collection, analysis, and findings presented.

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Flow vs. Turbidity: Observations in Valley and Tumwater Creeks

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  1. Flow vs. Turbidity in Valley and Tumwater Creeks Troy Clyde Nicolaysen Skills Center Natural Resources Observation/Prior Knowledge: Flow is the measurement of how many cubic feet of water are going by in a spot in a stream in a second. Turbidity is the amount of sediment in the water. High turbidity will make it hard for fish to breathe and see where to go. I have observed that if the water is cloudy and murky the bug life is forced out from under the rocks and logs Materials: • Swoffer 2100 velocity meter • Measuring tape • HF-DRT 15CE turbidimeter • Stopwatch • Sample collection bottle • Spray bottle of glass-cleaning solution • Box of lint-free tissues • Data sheet, clipboard, pencil Procedure: (1) Gather turbidity and flow data following Streamkeepers protocols in Tumwater and Valley Creeks. (2) Then combine the data for Tumwater and Valley Creeks to see the relationship between flow and turbidity. (3) See the relationship over the years and before and after Valley creek restoration. Doing a bug survey at Valley Creek 1.0 DATA: Hypothesis: If I study the relationship between flow and turbidity of Valley and Tumwater Creeks in Port Angeles, then I think I will find that increased flow will cause turbidity to jump up. I think this will happen because high flow can stir up the clay and silt in the water and make the water get cloudy and dirty. Results: I found out that the relationship between flow and turbidity is a steady line with the equation: turbidity = (0.575*flow) + 0.6609. Low flow like a 5 on the graph will make the turbidity be at a 2 or a 3 but if the Flow is high like 25 the turbidity will be at 16-18. Conclusion: I found out that with great flow comes great turbidity. I think that increased flows increase the turbidity by stirring up the small sediments which get suspended in the water causing higher turbidities. My hypothesis was supported. If Flow has a big impact on turbidity, does turbidity have a impact on dissolved oxygen? Acknowledgements: I would like to thank Dan Lieberman, Marilyn Harbaugh, and Adar Feller.

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