The Spring Creek Experiments
By Caleb Powers

INTRODUCTION

On Wednesday, October 18th, 2000, Mrs. Schwarting's biology class of Bishop Seabury Academy took a field trip to Spring Creek in Douglas County, Kansas, to do some environmental experiments. The experiments included testing for chemicals, assessing the land around the creek, and looking at the macro invertebrate life in the water. All of these aspects of the creek are very important in giving us good factual information about the quality of the water and its effect the environment. Knowing what is wrong with the water will help us learn how to preserve and restore water. Preserving natural creeks is very important to the condition of main rivers, because in these little creeks is where the problem starts.

The chemical experiments tested many aspects of water. Of these aspects was temperature, stream flow, dissolved oxygen and its percentage, turbidity, nitrate, phosphate, pH, coliforms, and the biological oxygen demand. These will tell us things such as the fecal contamination of the water, pesticide or fertilizer contamination, and much more.

The visual assessment was making observations of the stream and recording them. The observations included things such as rating the amount of dirt, rocks, and trash in and
near the stream. We also observed the flora of the area, the color of the water, and negative affects from human interference on the watershed.

The final experiment was searching for macro invertebrates in the water. This was done by using a kick net and quickly dragging it along the bottom of the creek and observing the specimens inside. The number of macro invertebrates in the creek tells us a lot. If there are only a few different species but with high numbers, then this tells us that many rnacroinvertebrates could not survive in the present conditions except for two or three. If a larger number of species is found with smaller populations, then we know that the water in the creek is tolerable for many different species and is relatively clean.

MAP OF THE SAMPLING SITE

DATA

DISCUSSION

The results of the experiments and observations did not have any surprising results.
At Spring Creek, all four groups completed every task given. In about 2 hours, the
groups went through four stations and completed chemical testing, visual assessments,
macro invertebrate searching, and writing in journals.

The chemical assessments had fairly consistent results among all of the groups. The average of dissolved oxygen was low and so was the saturation percentage. This number is indicative of the life in the stream. The turbidity of the stream was very poor, meaning that the water can hold very little 02. The nitrate reading indicates a slight pollution problem, but the phosphate reading was near excellent. The pH reading was also excellent, indicating that the water is of a good quality. However, the coliform test was positive. This is illustrating the presence of mammals, and likely fecal contamination. The Biological Oxygen Demand has not yet been calculated.

The visual assessments of Spring Creek indicated a mildly polluted creek. It would probably be more polluted if it were not for the thick riparian zone. The shrubs and trees act as a filter for litter. The creek is mainly made up of slow moving pools, with a few riffles.

The macroinvertebrate testing tells us about the quality of the water in the creek. The average score of the groups was 16.5. Poor would be less than eleven, fair from one to sixteen, good from 17 to 22, and anything over that is excellent.

With the testing of all of these aspects of Spring Creek, it is easy to conclude that this stream has a mediocre water condition rating. This does not mean that this water is drinkable, in fact it is far from that, but this stream can maintain life and provide liquid for life around it. Spring Creek runs into the Wakarusa River, then to the Kansas River, then to the Missouri, then to the Mississippi, and finally to the Gulf of Mexico. When seen in this perspective, it is apparent that how we treat the water in Kansas affects the rest of the world.

JOURNALING

I had an overall good experience yesterday doing water testing at Spring Creek. I was in a group with Jake, Ross, Tyler, and Austen. Each group moved around to four different stations including chemical testing, visual assessment, invertabrete evaluation, and finally an art/journaling station.

My group first visited chemical testing, but before that I managed to be the first to fall into the creek. As we collected data, I noticed many small Cricket Frogs and spiders. We did our testing in a wide pool with little current movement. The water was about a foot deep.

Next my group went to the visual assessment where we just filled out a quick survey of the area. After that, we went to search for invertebrates. This was the funnest part of the creek trip. We went around with nets sweeping the bottom of the creek hoping to find specimens. I personally found a crayfish, a beetle, and many larvae of different species. At this station, I also fell into the water, and it was up to my neck. At first I was mad, then I was glad that I didn't have to worry about getting muddy or wet anymore.

The final station was the station drawing for art class and journaling. Because the drawing took so long, I had little time to journal. In my remaining time before we left, I wrote this poem:

I went to Spring Creek
to do some research.
Some invertebrates I was to seek.
It was a hard search.

At the end I found some.
But I fell in the water.
I felt really dumb.
Hey, at least I got 'er.