CWQL 2011: Big Loop Watershed

The storms from this past Sunday night effected not only the ICS watershed but the Big loop watershed. Each site had numerous debris and brush in and around the streams. Some streams were affected differently by the rainfall, look at the data below and see that for example, the turbidity of Blue Creek doubled where North Bear Creek (near Vinton, IA) increased by a factor of six (see data below.)

Turbidity levels:

previous week vs. this week

Morgan- 16.6 vs. 15.1

Bear- 14 vs. 14.6

Otter 2*- N/A vs. 5.21

Blue- 7.89 vs. 14.4

Mud- 15 vs. 6.74

N. Bear- 3.78 vs. 20.4

*On our route, we had to retrieve our water sample from otter creek at another bridge due to road construction. Therefore we have renamed our data for Otter creek "Otter 2."

Bacteria levels:

previous week vs. this week

Morgan- 882 vs. 1872

Bear- 1785 vs. 2613

Otter 2*- N/A vs. 670

Blue- 7.89 vs. 14.4

Mud- 15 vs. 6.74

N. Bear- 3.78 vs. 20.4

Amount of Total Suspended Solids:

Morgan- 20 vs. 16

Bear- 19.6 vs. 20

Otter 2*- N/A vs. 4

Blue- 6.8 vs. 16.4

Mud- 16.8 vs. 4.4

N. Bear- 0.8 vs. 20.8

Normally after rainfall we find increased levels of turbidity, bacteria and total suspended solids (TSS). The turbidity levels are increased due to the mud being stirred up in the stream. The bacteria levels are increased due to the run off into the stream. The amount of total suspended solids is determined by any material (sand, soil, etc.) that runs into the stream and flows through the water.

See the photos below, for the description of Blue, Mud and North Bear Creek.

Blue Creek

Left, Kaycee with the pH meter .
Right, Kelsey with the Turbidimeter.

Kelsey bucket sampling at Blue Creek

Mud Creek

North Bear Creek

Tree cracked in half on the side of North Bear Creek

While traveling from Mud creek to North Bear we passed through the town of Vinton, IA. The storm caused a major destruction throughout the town (see the photos below).