Topography Maps

What are the purposes of topography maps?

Topographical maps show:• Rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs• Roads • Wetlands• Cities, and towns• Elevations in different areas• Major landmarks• Houses and buildings• Railroads

How can buildings/farming alter the watershed?

• Farms with high elevation can let chemicals and sediments flow into a creek/stream

• Elevations around streams have a big impact on its health.

• If the area around a stream is highly developed, the pollution will probably be increased.

Pollution in creeks/streams

• Human impacts on streams:• Trash• Pollutants• Sediments

• Pollutions effect the water quality around the stream.

Chemical and Physical Stream Health Depends On

• Dissolved oxygen • Nitrate nitrogen• Phosphorus • Turbidity• pH• Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)• Temperature change• Flow Rate • Pebble Count

Dissolved Oxygen

•  The amount of oxygen dissolved in a body of water.

• Fish, invertebrates, plants, and aerobic bacteria all require oxygen for respiration.

Dissolved Oxygen

As is shown in the graph, the dissolved oxygen was significantly higher in the riffle area. This is due to the intake of Oxygen during churning of the water in the riffle.

Dissolved Oxygen Levels

72

73

74

75

76

77

78

79

80

Before Riffle Riffle After Riffle

Location of sample

Per

cen

tag

e o

f O

xyg

en

Series1

Nitrate Nitrogen

• Nitrogen-containing compounds are nutrients that contribute to plant growth.

• To much nitrogen can cause excessive plant growth.

Total Phosphorus

• Phosphorus is a nutrient that is necessary by all organisms for the basic processes of life.

• We tested Phosphorus in three areas of the stream; before, during, and after the riffle. All values were 0.06mg/L which is a healthy level.

Total Phosphate

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

Before Riffle Riffle After Riffle

Location of sampleP

ho

sph

ate

Lev

els

(mg

/L)

Series1

Turbidity

• Turbidity is the cloudiness of the water. It is caused by individual particles that alone are invisible to the naked eye.

Turbidity

0

5

10

15

20

Before Riffle Riffle After Riffle

Location of sampleT

urb

idit

y L

evel

s (N

TU

)

Series1

pH Levels

• The pH was lower after the riffle. The churning of water caused more CO2 to enter the water creating carbonic acid and lowering the pH.

pH is a measure of the alkalinity or acidity of the water.

pH Levels

7.52

7.54

7.56

7.58

7.6

7.62

7.64

7.66

Before Riffle Riffle After Riffle

Location of sample

pH

L

evel

Series1

Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)

• Is a chemical test of how quickly organisms use up oxygen.

Healthy Temperature

Change in Temperature

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

Before Riffle Riffle After Riffle

Location of sample

Ch

ang

e in

Tem

per

atu

re

(Deg

rees

Cel

siu

s)

Series1

Water temperature is very important for the health of all life in the stream. We tested it before, in, and after a riffle.

Healthy Chemical Levels

• Healthy Levels for dissolved oxygen ( % of saturation) are 80 to >90.

• Healthy pH levels are 6.5 – 9• Healthy Turbidity levels are 2-5 (NTU)• Healthy Temperature levels for fish spawning are 10-12

degrees Celsius or less. Healthy levels for fish health would be between 16-20 degrees Celsius.

• Healthy Phosphorus levels would be 0.04 (g/m3) or less. • Healthy nitrogen levels would be 0.5 (g/m3) or less

Flow Rate

“Stream flow, or discharge, is the volume of water moving past a cross-section of a stream over a set period of time. It is usually measured in cubic feet per second (cfs).”

Pebble Count

• A pebble count is a fairly accurate way to assess what type of substrate you have in your stream.

• In a stretch of 200ft, you will randomly pick up and identify 100 rocks. Take 3 steps in a zigzag pattern, and pick of the first stone you touch, and identify it as gravel, cobble, or boulder.

Habitat Evaluation

Why Look at Habitats?

• Examining the habitats of a stream is crucial because “the condition of land within and adjacent to the stream channel is critical to the stream and its ability to support aquatic life.”

(Volunteer Stream Monitoring Training Manual, 3-1)

Stream Habitats

• Riffles – Shallow, faster moving areas of a stream.

• Runs – Medium depth with slow moving water. Usually seen right after a pool.

• Pools – Deep areas with little to no water flow.

• Areas of fish cover Photo from: Volunteer Stream Monitoring Training Manual

Riparian Zone

• Refers to areas adjacent to the stream channel.

• Provides streams with:– Bank support– Erosion and flood control– Water quality protection– Fish and wildlife habitat– Scenic beauty

Healthy vs. Unhealthy Streams

Healthy:~ Variety of Habitats~ Pools, riffles, and runs.~ Riparian vegetation~ Meanders

Unhealthy:~ Channelized~ Even depth throughout the stream~ No Riparian vegetation (causes erosion)

Field Equipment

Macroinvertebrates in streams

• Organisms that have no backbone and are visible to the naked eye.

• Macroinvertebrates are important in the food web of a stream.

• Macroinvertebrates can indicate stream health depending the organisms present.

Macroinvertebrates as Indicators of Stream Health

• Different species have varied pollution tolerances.

• Stonefly, mayfly, caddis fly and dobsonfly larvae all indicate excellent stream health.

• Planaria, leeches, blood midges and aquatic worms can indicate poor water quality.

Functional GroupsShredders- shred and chew leaves, twigs and other material that falls

into the streamEX. Stonefly, Crane fly, Caddisfly larvae Collector-gatherers- Collect or filter small organisms or shredded

material for foodEX. Stonefly, Mayfly, Caddisfly larvae

Scrapers-grazers- Scrape food sources off surfacesEX. Stonefly, Mayfly larvae

Predators- Eat other insects as a food sourceEX. Stoneflies, some mayfly and caddisfly larvae

Pollution Tolerance Index

• A qualitative stream assessment for water quality

• Different organisms tolerate varied amounts of pollution

• Organisms with low tolerance indicate great water quality; high tolerances can indicate poor water quality

• The index determines water quality by multiplying the number of obtained taxa by a weighting factor

Pollution Tolerance Index:

Stonefly

Nymph

4

Damselfly

Nymph

3

Midge larvae 0

Left-handed snail

0

Mayfly Nymph

36

Dragonfly

Nymph

0

Black Fly Larvae

0

Aquatic

Worms

0

Caddis fly

Larvae

14

Sowbug

0

Planaria

0

Blood

Midge

0

Dobsonfly

Larvae

2

Scud

0

Leech

0

Rat-tailed

Maggot

0

PT group1 PT group2 PT group3 PT group4

# of TAXA_4_ # of TAXA_1_ # of TAXA _0_ # of TAXA_0_

(X4)_16_ (X3)_3_ (X2)_0_ (X1)_0_

Rating:19 (good)

23+ Excellent

17-22 Good

11-16 Fair

10 or Less Poor

Many of the macroinvertebrates that were found are intolerant of pollution.

Techniques for catching the Fish and Amphibians

• The amphibians are caught differently then the fish.– Salamanders

• They can usually be found under old rotten logs.– Once you found one you slowly cup your hands around

(but make sure your hands are wet) and gently pick them up.

– Fish• For the fish you use a net or a seine• Walk slowly from the down stream side and

periodically lift the net

Johnny Darter (Etheostoma nigrum)

• Identification:Identification:– Dark brown X’s and W’s Dark brown X’s and W’s

along sidealong side– Wavy brown lines on upper Wavy brown lines on upper

sideside– Moderately blunt snoutModerately blunt snout– It is intermediate to It is intermediate to

pollutionpollution– Johnny Darters were Johnny Darters were

mainly found in the pools.mainly found in the pools.– Live in waters between 4 – Live in waters between 4 –

18°C18°C – Max length 7.2 cmMax length 7.2 cm

Mottled Sculpin (Cottus bairdi)• Identification:Identification:

– Robust bodyRobust body

– Large headLarge head

– Light to dark brown aboveLight to dark brown above

– Large black spots at front and rear of first Large black spots at front and rear of first dorsal findorsal fin

– Has very large front pectoral finsHas very large front pectoral fins

– Bottom feederBottom feeder

– They are caught mainly in riffles then pools They are caught mainly in riffles then pools and glidesand glides

– This fish is intolerant to pollution in This fish is intolerant to pollution in streams.streams.

– They can can’t live in streams above 62 They can can’t live in streams above 62 degrees F (17 degrees C) and survive degrees F (17 degrees C) and survive waters as low as 32 degrees Fwaters as low as 32 degrees F

– Maximum Length: 6-7" (15-18 cm).Maximum Length: 6-7" (15-18 cm).

Rhinichthys atratulusBlacknose Dace

• Identification:Identification:– Eyes high on headEyes high on head

– Long fleshy snout extends in Long fleshy snout extends in front of sub-terminal mouthfront of sub-terminal mouth

– Has a black line on both sides Has a black line on both sides that run down from the mouth that run down from the mouth to the dorsal.to the dorsal.

– The fish is pollution tolerant.The fish is pollution tolerant.

– This fish usually lives in water This fish usually lives in water temperatures ranging from 0 – temperatures ranging from 0 – 29°C.29°C.

– Maximum length 10.0 cmMaximum length 10.0 cm

Two-lined Salamander (Eurycea Two-lined Salamander (Eurycea bislineata)bislineata)

Identification:Identification:• Dorsal coloration - yellowish-Dorsal coloration - yellowish-

orangeorange• Two black dorsal stripesTwo black dorsal stripes• Stripes break into dots Stripes break into dots

towards end of tailtowards end of tail• They usually live under logs or They usually live under logs or

large stones near the rivers.large stones near the rivers.• They are also intolerant to They are also intolerant to

pollution in the streamspollution in the streams• the length of the salamander the length of the salamander

is between 2 1 /2 –3 3 /4 in. is between 2 1 /2 –3 3 /4 in. (6.5-9.5 cm.)(6.5-9.5 cm.)

• Once a larvae is found in a stream the larvae then immediately indicates a class 3 stream.

• They take 1 to 3 years to morph from larvae to an adult and must live in the water at the time of this.

Bottom picture Adult, top is a larvae