cold water habitat evaluation gilbert creek & elk creek june – august 2005 matthew d....
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Cold Water Habitat EvaluationGilbert Creek & Elk Creek
June – August 2005
Matthew D. Rasmussen
Applied Science Undergraduate
UW-Stout
Menomonie, WI 54751
MethodsBiological Information collected using Hobart H-10 Multimeter
pH, conductivity, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, and salinity
Continuous Onset TidBit Temperature Loggers
Collected water temperature every 30 minutesNitrogen & Phosphorus concentrations utilizing HACH Kit
Compare results to USEPA standardsE.coli & Coliform testing
Compare results to Wisconsin code NR 102.04Water velocity using Global Waters FP-101 Flow Probe
Chlorophyll content in algae ASTM D3731-87
Study to analyze phosphorus trend in Elk Creek
Findings
- E.coli and Coliform levels are high
- Levels are not to exceed 4 per mL
- Correlate to rain fall
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
6/21
/200
5
6/28
/200
5
7/5/
2005
7/12
/200
5
7/19
/200
5
7/26
/200
5
8/2/
2005
8/9/
2005
8/16
/200
5
8/23
/200
5
8/30
/200
5Date of Sample
E.co
li (p
er 1
mL)
GCA
GCB
GCC
GCD
GCE
GCF
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
6/21
/200
5
6/28
/200
5
7/5/
2005
7/12
/200
5
7/19
/200
5
7/26
/200
5
8/2/
2005
8/9/
2005
8/16
/200
5
8/23
/200
5
8/30
/200
5
Date of Sample
Col
iform
(per
1m
L)
GCA
GCB
GCC
GCD
GCE
GCF
-Self-Sustaining buffer!
-Presence of salinity buffers pH
-May influence microbial species
-Excellent environment to sustain
brook trout
0.001.002.003.004.005.006.007.008.009.00
10.00
6/21
/200
5
6/28
/200
5
7/5/
2005
7/12
/200
5
7/19
/200
5
7/26
/200
5
8/2/
2005
8/9/
2005
8/16
/200
5
8/23
/200
5
8/30
/200
5
Date of Sample
pH
GCA
GCB
GCC
GCD
GCE
GCF
0.00
0.01
0.01
0.02
0.02
0.03
Date of Sample
Salin
ity
GCA
GCB
GCC
GCD
GCE
GCF
Macroinvertabrate quality increases as quality of habitat increases. This is easily seen by the Biotic Index
South branch = scuds
Middle branch = scuds
North branch = mayflies, caddis flies
The North branch water quality & habitat is clearly the ideal habitat for brook trout in Gilbert Creek
**Data was obtained by Bio-135 Students, end of Sept. 2005**
Branch of Creek Simpson's Index of diversity(1-D)
WAV Biotic Index
South .61 2.0 (poor)
Middle .63 2.2 (fair)
North .81 2.8 (good)
Sediment Characteristics
SiteSediment
Depth Description
(meters)
GC-A < 1 Silt
GC-B 0.20 Silt
GC-C (2003) 0.13 Sand/Silt
GC-D (2004) 0.38 Pebbles/Sand
GC-E 0.53 Sand
GC-F 0.81 Silt
Sediment depth lowest in 2003 2004 restoration sites.
Spawning habitat more abundant in sites C and D
Sediment Quality correlated to biotic index
Restoration provides results!
-E. coli and Coliform levels are high
-Levels are not to exceed 4 per mL
-Correlate to rain fall
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
806/
21/2
005
6/28
/200
5
7/5/
2005
7/12
/200
5
7/19
/200
5
7/26
/200
5
8/2/
2005
8/9/
2005
8/16
/200
5
8/23
/200
5
8/30
/200
5
Date of Sample
E.co
li (p
er 1
mL)
ECG
ECH
ECI
ECJ
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
6/21
/200
5
6/28
/200
5
7/5/
2005
7/12
/200
5
7/19
/200
5
7/26
/200
5
8/2/
2005
8/9/
2005
8/16
/200
5
8/23
/200
5
8/30
/200
5
Date of Sample
Colif
orm
(per
1m
L)
ECG
ECH
ECI
ECJ
-No salinity = No buffer
-Ground water infiltration creates an increase in pH over time
-Rain fall has greater effect on water
6.807.007.207.407.607.808.008.208.408.60
6/21
/200
5
6/28
/200
5
7/5/
2005
7/12
/200
5
7/19
/200
5
7/26
/200
5
8/2/
2005
8/9/
2005
8/16
/200
5
8/23
/200
5
Date of Sample
pH
ECG
ECH
ECI
ECJ
0.000.100.200.300.400.500.600.700.800.901.00
Date of Sample
Salin
ity
ECG
ECH
ECI
ECJ
Sediment Characteristics
Quality of habitat increases down stream
Restoration done above site G in 1999
Sediment Quality relates to biotic index
Site Sediment
Depth Description
(meters)
EC-G 0.46 Silty Muck
EC-H 0.43 Sand/Pebbles
EC-I 0.66 Sand
EC-J 0.18Rocks/pebbles (Ideal!!)
Water quality increases downstream, thus biotic index increases
EC-G contains muddy sediment & slow moving water. Mainly scuds & tubifex
EC-J is fast moving with riffles and pools. Contains a rocky sediment and habitat
for trout. Mainly caddisflies and stoneflies
Site Location
Simpson's Index of
diversity(1-D)WAV Biotic Index
EC-G .835 2.0 (poor)
EC-H .660 2.25 (fair)
EC-I .614 2.5 (fair)
EC-J .842 2.8 (good)
Nitrogen (mg/L)
Date ECG ECH ECI ECJ
21-Jun 0.92 1.80 1.80 1.50
28-Jun 0.35 0.86 0.84 0.96
5-Jul 0.82 0.94 0.98 0.96
12-Jul 0.40 0.96 0.78 0.62
19-Jul 0.66 0.77 0.87 0.72
26-Jul 0.23 0.37 0.66 0.88
2-Aug 0.25 1.00 0.96 1.00
9-Aug 0.20 0.34 0.56 0.36
16-Aug 0.22 0.38 0.46 0.58
23-Aug 0.50 0.84 0.42 0.62
30-Aug 0.38 0.86 0.90 1.00
Phosphorus (mg/L)
Date ECG ECH ECI ECJ
21-Jun 6.67 3.33 2.83 2.33
28-Jun 13.50 11.50 9.00 8.20
5-Jul 13.80 9.50 7.50 8.00
12-Jul 17.50 9.00 8.50 8.00
19-Jul 18.00 7.50 11.00 8.00
26-Jul 16.00 15.00 9.00 7.00
2-Aug 17.00 8.00 8.00 7.00
9-Aug 16.50 8.50 7.00 6.50
16-Aug 15.00 8.00 7.00 6.50
23-Aug 18.00 9.00 8.00 7.00
30-Aug 17.00 19.00 9.00 7.50
N & P Concentrations in Elk Creek
Chlorophyll Concentration by Site
IN-STREAM PRODUCTIVITY
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
G H I J
Upstream to downstream
Chl
a [m
g/l] Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
N & P Trend Upstream to Downstream
-Data averaged over course of summer
-Decrease in Phosphorus downstream
-Possible Chlorophyll explanation?
-Nitrogen loading between EC-G & EC-H?
-Standard Practices for Measurement of Chlorophyll Content in Algae in Surface Waters (ASTM D3731-87)
-Algal Cells not responsible
-Some other mechanism, periphyton?
Nitrogen & Phosphorus Trend
EC-G
EC-H EC-I EC-JEC-G
EC-H
EC-IEC-J
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1
Location (Upstream to Downstream)
Nit
rog
en
(m
g/L
)
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
Ph
os
ph
oru
s (
mg
/L)
Conclusions
Gilbert CreekData shows improvement in spawning habitat
and invertebrate diversity in restored areas
E.coli and Coliform levels being introduced to the creek are high. This is detrimental to the success of this trout stream.
Conclusions
Elk creek Invertebrate diversity represents water quality and
aquatic habitat quality. (Site J-most downstream)
N and P issues of concern
E.coli and Coliform levels are exceedingly high. Especially during rainfall events