Adopt-A-StreamAdopt-A-StreamPhysical/Chemical TrainingPhysical/Chemical Training

Georgia Adopt-A-StreamGeorgia Adopt-A-Stream4220 International Parkway4220 International Parkway

Suite 101Suite 101Atlanta, Georgia 30354Atlanta, Georgia 30354

www.GeorgiaAdoptAStream.comwww.GeorgiaAdoptAStream.com404.675.6240404.675.6240

Georgia Adopt-A-StreamGeorgia Adopt-A-Stream

Program GoalsProgram Goals To increase public awareness about water quality & To increase public awareness about water quality &

nonpoint source pollutionnonpoint source pollution To give citizens the tools & training to protect their To give citizens the tools & training to protect their

watershedwatershed To encourage partnerships between citizens & local To encourage partnerships between citizens & local

governmentgovernment To collect quality baseline water quality dataTo collect quality baseline water quality data

What is it?What is it? Georgia’s volunteer water quality monitoring Georgia’s volunteer water quality monitoring programprogram

Quality Assurance Project PlanQuality Assurance Project Plan Quality Quality

Assurance Assurance Quality Control Quality Control (QAQC)(QAQC)

Only Only individualsindividuals are certifiedare certified

Certification is Certification is valid for valid for oneone year year

Volunteers’ methods and test kits must achieve results within 10% Volunteers’ methods and test kits must achieve results within 10% of those obtained by trainerof those obtained by trainer

Must sample at least monthly for one year and send the results to Must sample at least monthly for one year and send the results to GA AASGA AAS

In the field, monitors must take two samples. In the field, monitors must take two samples. These samples must be within 10% of each other. These samples must be within 10% of each other. If they are not within 10%, take another sample until If they are not within 10%, take another sample until two two samples are within 10%.samples are within 10%.

Reagents should be replaced annuallyReagents should be replaced annually

To Maintain QA/QC Status, To Maintain QA/QC Status, Volunteers Must …Volunteers Must …

What is a Watershed?What is a Watershed?

• A watershed is a system.

• It is the land area from which water, sediment, and dissolved materials drain to a common point along a stream, wetland, lake or river.

• For each watershed, there is a drainage system that conveys rainfall to its outlet.

• Its boundaries are marked by the highest points of land around the waterbody.

What Watershed are You in?What Watershed are You in?

Physical/Chemical MonitoringPhysical/Chemical Monitoring

Adopt-A-Stream recommends that at least four core Adopt-A-Stream recommends that at least four core measurements be taken:measurements be taken: TemperatureTemperature pHpH Dissolved OxygenDissolved Oxygen

Physical/Chemical testing allows information to be Physical/Chemical testing allows information to be

gathered about gathered about specific water quality characteristicsspecific water quality characteristics

Adopt-A-Stream offers a separate bacteria monitoring Adopt-A-Stream offers a separate bacteria monitoring certification workshopcertification workshop

When and How Often?When and How Often?

Because water quality conditions change Because water quality conditions change on a daily basis, plan to sample regularly.on a daily basis, plan to sample regularly.

At least At least once a month once a month

Same time and locationSame time and location

Record weather conditionsRecord weather conditions

Recommendations on Where and Recommendations on Where and How to Collect SamplesHow to Collect Samples

Rinse glass tubes or containers twice Rinse glass tubes or containers twice with stream water before running testwith stream water before running test

Measure Measure air and water temperature air and water temperature in the shadein the shade, avoid sunlight, avoid sunlight

For an ideal stream location, take samples For an ideal stream location, take samples mid-stream and mid-depthmid-stream and mid-depth

TEMPERATURETEMPERATURE

Should be Should be measured in the shademeasured in the shade, away from direct , away from direct sunlight. sunlight. Air temperature should be taken before Air temperature should be taken before water temperature.water temperature.

Temperature relates directly to dissolved oxygen Temperature relates directly to dissolved oxygen levels. levels. The higher the temperature, the less The higher the temperature, the less oxygen the water can holdoxygen the water can hold. Also, life adapts to a . Also, life adapts to a narrow range of temperatures. Changes of only a few narrow range of temperatures. Changes of only a few degrees can affect the life in a stream.degrees can affect the life in a stream.

Temperature Temperature affects feeding, respiration, and affects feeding, respiration, and aquatic metabolismaquatic metabolism..

DISSOLVED OXYGENDISSOLVED OXYGEN

Needed for respiration for all aquatic lifeNeeded for respiration for all aquatic life

State Standards for DO levels:State Standards for DO levels:

Average of 5 mg/L (or ppm) for Georgia Average of 5 mg/L (or ppm) for Georgia streams and a minimum of 4 mg/Lstreams and a minimum of 4 mg/L

Average of 6 mg/L (or ppm) for trout Average of 6 mg/L (or ppm) for trout streams and a minimum of 5 mg/Lstreams and a minimum of 5 mg/L

Inversely related to temperature: Inversely related to temperature:

As temperature increases, DO decreasesAs temperature increases, DO decreases

As temperature decreases, DO increasesAs temperature decreases, DO increases

DISSOLVED OXYGENDISSOLVED OXYGEN

DO levels may DO levels may increaseincrease due to due to diffusion from the atmosphere, diffusion from the atmosphere, plant metabolism as a waste product of photosynthesis plant metabolism as a waste product of photosynthesis turbulent mixing (riffles)turbulent mixing (riffles)

DO levels may DO levels may decreasedecrease due to due to warm temperatures warm temperatures an overload of decaying organic matter (due to excess an overload of decaying organic matter (due to excess

nutrients)nutrients) slow moving, deep waterslow moving, deep water

pHpH

A measure of hydrogen ions (H+); aquatic A measure of hydrogen ions (H+); aquatic organisms are sensitive to pH fluctuationsorganisms are sensitive to pH fluctuations

0-14 scale; pure water has equal amount of H+ and 0-14 scale; pure water has equal amount of H+ and OH- ions and has a pH of 7OH- ions and has a pH of 7

Expected range in Georgia: Expected range in Georgia: 6-86-8

Some South Georgia waters may have pH Some South Georgia waters may have pH as low as low as 3.5as 3.5

pH values of some common substances:

Do you think that Aquatic Insects & Fish like to live in battery acid or bleach?

0.0 7.0 14.0

0.5 battery acid

2.0

lemon juice

5.9rainwater

7.0distilled water

8.0salt water

11.2ammonia

12.9

bleach

Where Do I Submit My Data?Where Do I Submit My Data?

• Data should be submitted to the state’s online database: www.GeorgiaAdoptAStream.org

• Share your data with partners, local governments and your local Adopt-A-Stream coordinators

Who Might Use My Data?Who Might Use My Data?

Local water departments, planners, or city councilsLocal water departments, planners, or city councils

Colleges, universities, and technical schools use data Colleges, universities, and technical schools use data in reportsin reports

Forestry services and environmental groups will use it Forestry services and environmental groups will use it for analyzing the equality of life in that area as well as a for analyzing the equality of life in that area as well as a reference for future studiesreference for future studies

Consulting agencies, local and state governmentConsulting agencies, local and state government

Just the FactsJust the Facts

•Raise awareness

•Provide tools and training

•Encourage partnerships

•Water quality data

ppm or mg/L

Dissolved Oxygen (temp., DO)

Once a month

mid-stream, mid-depth

Data – on-line database, local program, city & county government & municipality, partners, county commissioners, universities, others?

pH 6-8

As low as 3.5

Conductivity

The ability of water to carry a current.Is affected by mining, agriculture, sewage effluent, urban runoff.

Temperature – importance of, where to measure…

Dissolved Oxygen

• not lower than 4 with an average of at least 5 mg/L or ppm

Higher DO in the winter months

Excess Organic Matter

Causes a decrease in dissolved oxygen levels