Water Quality Monitoring at Little McAllister Creek
description
Transcript of Water Quality Monitoring at Little McAllister Creek
Water Quality Monitoring at Little McAllister CreekMeadows ElementaryMarch 21, 2013
13
Monitoring Site Summary• Located off Mallard Drive SE, near
Meadows Elementary, on land co-
managed by Thurston County and
Alpine Meadows Homeowners
association.
• The headwaters (source) of the Little
McAllister Creek is McAllister Springs
Lake.
• The mouth of Little McAllister Creek
is located near Old Pacific Hwy and
Reservation Rd. where it joins the
main stem of McAllister Creek.
Monitoring Site Description
• The place we go to monitor Little McAllister Creek is in our school neighborhood, in the Alpine Meadows sub-division. We can walk there, but we have to get someone to unlock the gate for us. On our walk, we pass many houses, yards, a small playground, some green open space, and several stormwater retention ponds.
Brief watershed Overview
• Important features of
the watershed include:
• Forests of cedar, fir, alder
and maple trees;
• Habitats for insects, animals,
fish, birds and humans;
• Current issues in the
watershed include:
• dog waste, fertilizer, cans
and bottles, soap from car
washing and oil leaks from
cars.
• Some areas prone to flooding
• Failing septic systems
Water Quality Data
Water Quality
Dissolved Oxygen 8.6 and 77 % in Oct. and
11.7 and 105 % in Feb
Temperature 10 c in October and 11 c in February
pH6.75 IN OCTOBER,
AND “7.0” IN FEBRUARY
Fecal Coliform NA
Turbidity 5.8 jtu in Oct.
and 5 jtu in Feb.
Nitrates 4 mg/L in Oct.
and 4 mg/L in Feb.
Data Interpretation We think dog waste may be causing
a higher level of nitrates. Fertilizer from lawns might be another cause.
Our ideas to improve water quality at our site include:
• Encourage pet owners to pick up after their dogs, keep dogs from running loose, and walk dogs on a leash
• Encourage people to use less fertilizer, or practice organic methods of gardening.