An Evaluation of Stillwater Watershed

1. An Evaluation of Stillwater Watershed • YWSI Computer Camp • JUNE 25-30 2000 • GROUP 1: Angela Black Nicole Marie Pugh Kristen Schulte

2. This map shows where our watershed is located in Ohio! Location of Stillwater Watershed

3. Surrounding Counties

4. Assignment • Study current conditions of our watershed • Compare to a healthy watershed such as Big Darby • Compare land use to biology measures • amount of riparian zone available • population (urban vs. rural) • agriculture • Study data to find effects of human use on the biology measures • Interpret data and find correlations

5. Definitions • IBI- index of biotic integrity (fish count) • ICI- invertebrate community index (Macroinvertebrates) • MAXTN- maximum total nitrogen • QHEI- quantitative habitat evaluation index

6. Hypothesis • 1.The IBI & ICI are directly effected by the nitrogen level. • 2.The IBI is directly effected by the QHEI. • 3. The ICI is effected by the QHEI. • 4. There is a higher level of sediment in Stillwater than in Big Darby.

7. Current Conditions

8. Areas of Concern • Nutrient enrichment- compared ICI & IBI to Nitrogen levels • spreading of fertilizers and pesticides by humans on farm land causes an increase in nitrogen levels • Other habitat alterations- compared QHEI to ICI & IBI • clearing of land and altering of stream habitat by humans lowers biological diversity

9. IBI Count vs. Nitrogen Levels

10. Graph Findings • High Nitrogen = Low IBI • Low Nitrogen = High IBI • My hypothesis was proven correct because when the nitrogen levels were high the fish were low. • This is because high nitrogen levels are toxic to fish populations.

11. Habitat vs. IBI

12. Graph Findings • Low Habitat = Low IBI • High Habitat = High IBI • My hypothesis is correct because in areas of dense habitat there is a large fish population. • This is because fish need a healthy habitat. So when there is a low QHEI there is a low IBI.

13. Habitat vs. ICI

14. Graph Findings • Low Habitat = Low ICI • High Habitat = High ICI • Macroinvertebrates flourish when the quality of the habitat increases. So my hypothesis was proved correct.

15. Effects of Nitrogen on Macroinvertebrates

16. Graph Findings • My hypothesis was proved correct because there was a small trend when the nitrogen levels were high the macroinvertebrates levels did decrease slightly.

17. Darby vs. StillwaterSuspended Sediment

18. Results of Darby vs. Stillwater • Results show that the sediment levels in Big Darby were lower than Stillwater. • Although further investigations showed little correlation between sediment levels and IBI.

19. Conclusion • There are many causes that lead to an unhealthy watershed, but we found chemical levels and habitat loss to be the most significant to the quality of Stillwater Watershed. • Increase in nitrogen levels cause a decrease in biological diversity. • Quality and Quantity of available habitat effect the health of the watershed.

20. Way to Preserve the Stillwater Area • Rebuilding the riparian zone • Controlling agricultural runoff • Regulating industrial waste • Setting standards for future development

21. Acknowledgements • We Would Like To Specially Thank: • Chaperones-Lori Summers, Paula Williams, Fen Lewis, Virginie Bouchard, Sharon & Shannon Schraegle • Organizers-Sue Brown and Elaine Landwehr • Instructors-Steve Gordon, Leslie Southern, and Kathryn Kelly