By: Mitchell Meyer, Lindsey Karczewski, and Nathaniel Benicke

• When we first surveyed the river and its surrounding area (area right by the bridge) we saw minimal pollution, however there was a repulsive smell, and the water was very murky, however this was possibly due to the water rushing out of the storm drain, which had a broken grate. We found the bark of a log in the river, this wood could possibly carry disease, which further added to our thoughts that the river was unhealthy.

Phosphate level: >1 What does it mean? : Phosphates are

minerals vital to life, they are naturally occurring in water. Phosphates act a great fertilizers, this means the soil taken from the river would be a poor fertilizer, due to its lack of phosphates.

• Phosphates are necessary for plant and animal life in a body of water, this explains the small amount of aquatic life in the area. A healthy river would contain such life.

• The lack of phosphate is further proved by the high levels of dissolved oxygen. Phosphates are usually not very present in waters with high oxygen levels.

• However, the lack of plant life in the river can be beneficial, reducing disease, and increasing water movement.

PH Level: 7/8 PH is the acidity of the water, a ph of 7 is

almost a perfect level for our river, this means it has a low acidity.

This means that the acidity is low, this means many more animals could survive in the river, however the phosphate levels are limiting the amount of animals that could live in the river.

We had a dissolved oxygen level of 5 Mg/l which is good, because is it raises higher than that that, it any living fish would develop emphysema. Below that, and the concentration would be too much and fish would die in large numbers.

Dissolved oxygen is a byproduct of photosynthesis, meaning there is an adequate number of plants in the river. Which could act as a habitat for fish.

The right bank has a slope like decline, there are no undercut banks, making no area for fish. The left bank, which is lined with a manmade bank, could possibly harbor fish, but the existence of an undercut bank is in question.

After fully assessing the Mullet River, we found that certain aspects of the river are very good, such as its low phosphate and its neutral dissolved oxygen levels, however, the lack of habitats along banks is bad. The overall health id say is fair, it has many good aspects.