ICS Watershed

Today we collected samples in the baking sun. Today there was a high of 102 degrees with a heat index of 105 degrees and 61 percent humidity. We were sweating bullets. From the data collected today we found some streams to have very high water temperatures and low dissolved oxygen levels.

Temperature levels:

previous week vs. this week

MCJ- 19.08 vs. 16.63

ICTHOM- 21.91 vs. 22.29

DRY- 19.24 vs. 15.16

ICLM- 22.66 vs. 26.24

ICS- 22.66 vs. 25.15

From the temperature data, you can see that the levels in ICThom, ICLM, and ICS have increased. These streams are not very well shaded, they do not have the vegetation they require to protect them from the sun's heat. 

Dissolved Oxygen levels:
previous week vs. this week
MCJ- 7.52 vs. 9.41
ICTHOM- 6.18 vs. 7.1
DRY- 6.29 vs. 10.91
ICLM- 5.84 vs. 4.53
ICS- 6.99 vs. 8.43

As temperature increases, dissolved oxygen decreases. In general, solids dissolve readily in warm water whereas gas dissolves in cooler water (think about how easily sugar dissolves in hot tea versus iced tea) (Testing the Waters, 94.) This is because the movement of molecules increases, when water is heated, forcing the gas out of the water and therefore decreasing the amount of dissolved oxygen. Most pre-mature fish need high amounts of DO. If the level of dissolved oxygen gets too low there is not much chance for aquatic life to survive.