The Bokes Creek Watershed

Jamie Polzin, Catherine Eitel, and Archana Narain

Hypothesis #1

• Increase in siltation decreases IBI

levels.

My Graphs

IBI levels in relation to siltation

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

1 4 7

10

13

16

19

22

25

28

31

34

Av_IBI

Residue total non-filterable

0

50

100

150

200

250

1 4 7

10

13

16

19

22

25

28

31

34

Av_IBI

Av_IcI

Av_SUBSTRATE

Residue total non-filterable

IBI, ICI, and Substrate in Relation to Siltation

Substrate in Relation to Siltation

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 340

24

68

1012

1416

18

Residue total non-filterable

Av_SUBSTRATE

Conclusion to my hypothesis

My findings have supported my hypothesis. If silitation levels in the stream increase, IBI levels

will decrease. I have shown that silitation is a major factor in decreasing IBI.

Hypothesis #2My hypothesis is that the farming in

Scioto Bokes is increasing the nutrient enrichment in the stream.

Vocabulary to Know• Eutrophication-Extra nutrients added to the

stream, causing the overgrowth of plants.

• Surface Runoff-Rainfall that drains into a water system

• Tillage-Cultivation of land or soil

Nutrient Enrichment is the worst

cause of impairment

Graphs, Charts, and Data

Graphs, Charts, and Data

Land Use in Each Sub Watershed

0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%

Sub Watersheds

Per

cen

t o

f L

and

Use

d

Agriculture

Urban

Forest

Commercial/Industrial/Transportation

Deciduous Forest

Wetlands

Evergreen Forest

High Intensity Residential

Low Intensity Residential

Mixed Forest

Open Water

Pasture

Quarries/Strip Mines/Gravel Pits

Row Crops

Transitional

Urban Areas

Woody Wetlands

Land Use In Riparian Zone

Agriculture vs. Total Nutrients

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Subwatershed and Percent of Area

Nu

trie

nt

Mea

sure

s

Ammonia Total

Total Nitrogen

Graphs, Charts, and Data

Graphs, Charts, and DataPercent of Agriculture vs. Other Nutrients

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

SubWatersheds and Percent of Agriculture

Am

ount

of

Nut

rien

ts

NitrateNitrogen

UnIodizedAmmonia

Conclusion to my hypothesis

I have concluded that agriculture is a major cause of excess nutrient enrichment in Scioto Bokes. I

have supported this by showing that there is more nutrient enrichment in areas with more agriculture, and in areas where there is less nutrient enrichment, there is less agriculture.

Hypothesis #3

My Hypothesis is that an increase in agriculture leads to a decrease in

QHEI (Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index).

QHEI

• Vegetation - to block the runoff and sediment.

• Cover - to keep the temperature cool and more oxygen flowing

• Substrate - to give the insects a home and help keep them safe. It also gives fish a safe place to lay eggs.

QHEI vs. Agriculture

• Relationship of QHEI and percent of agricultural land. • As percent of agricultural increases, QHEI value lowers.• As agriculture approaches the stream, value drops and

river can be contaminated.

Av. QHEI vs. Agriculture

0102030405060708090

10050

010-

8750

030-

8150

060-

7950

070-

9960

010-

9260

010-

0060

020-

9570

020-

8470

020-

9570

030-

7970

030-

9570

040-

90Time and Location

QH

EI v

alue

0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%

Per

cent

of

Agr

icul

tura

l Lan

d

Av_QHEI

Ag

Agriculture

• Most land is agricultural

• Not many forests or wetlands

• Therefore, not many rivers are clean.

Forest vs. Agriculture

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

90.00%

50

01

0-8

7

50

03

0-7

9

50

03

0-9

5

50

06

0-7

9

50

07

0-8

5

60

01

0-8

1

60

01

0-9

2

60

01

0-9

9

60

02

0-7

9

60

02

0-9

5

70

02

0-7

8

70

02

0-8

6

70

02

0-9

5

70

03

0-7

8

70

03

0-8

6

70

03

0-9

5

70

03

0-0

0

70

04

0-9

5

Time and Location

Pe

rce

nt

of

La

nd

us

ed

Ag

Forest

Conclusion for my hypothesis

I have supported my hypothesis. When more and more land is being used for agriculture, the QHEI is reduced. This causes a decrease in the quality of the stream and threatens the animals that live

in it.

Conclusion

Overall, we conclude that the reduction of biodiversity in the Bokes Creek Watershed is

due to the agricultural practices along the banks. Excess fertilizer, animal waste, and silitation

particles enter the water through runoff. QHEI is impaired by the livestock and farming too close

to the water.

Recommendations

• Riparian land should be restored and not used for farming.

• Livestock should not have access to the Riparian Zone.

• By practicing better farming methods, chemical, biological, and habitat qualities of the stream would improve.