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Yakima WATERS Project: POND ECOSYSTEM HEALTH SELAH, WA

Selah 6th Grade Science Club1; Renee Holt2; Ryan Ranger1; Carey Gazis2

1Selal Intermediate School, 2Central Washington University

INTRODUCTION

METHODS AND MATERIALS

CONCLUSIONS

RESULTS Continued METHODS AND MATERIALS Continued

REFERENCES Table 2. Invertebrate species observations made at “Wenas” pond during Fall, 2011 to Spring, 2012. Invertebrates listed according to sensitivity to pollution (Engel, S.R. & Voshell Jr, J.R., 2002 and EcoInvestigators, 2011).

ABSTRACT

CONTACT Renee Holt Yakima WATERS Project Email: reneeholt1@gmail.com Phone: 508-828-0221

Wenas Creek is one of several tributaries to the Yakima River. Running through a large portion of Selah, Washington, this stream system supports multiple ponds along its sides. Water in this community is used for domestic, municipal, agricultural, and industrial purposes. This activity returns water to the ecosystem with added nutrients in some cases at levels that are detrimental to the environment. The objective of this study is to assess the health of a pond ecosystem by documenting living and non-living members. Water quality measurements of dissolved oxygen, nitrate, temperature, and conductivity/total dissolved solids were taken. Water quality is fairly conducive to organisms with average dissolved oxygen is about 5.97 mg/L, and average total dissolved solids (TDS) at roughly 338 parts per million (ppm). Crude estimates of nitrate using hatch kits suggests a level of about 2.35 ppm. An inventory of invertebrates was taken showing that species range from pollution tolerant to pollution sensitive. Amphibians which are known to be reliable ecological indicators were caught, described, and released. All appear to be in good physical health. In addition, algae is present in limited extent.

MATERIALS for INVERTEBRATE ASSESSMENT •  Plankton nets •  Buckets •  Invertebrate key published by PBS Teachers •  D-Nets

PROCEDURE Invertebrate sweep 1.  Throw plankton net into pond 2.  Pull net in using attached rope 3.  Pour contents into bucket 4.  Identify invertebrates using invertebrate key Indicator organisms 1.  Observe algae visually and record presence 2.  Visually observe amphibians 3.  Use D-Nets and hands to catch frogs and salamanders 4.  Identify species of amphibians using previous knowledge 5.  Visually assessed physical health of amphibians

Conductivity was converted to total dissolved solids (TDS) using the following equation:

TDS = Conductivity x 0.67

•  Average D.O. = 5.97ppm •  Average TDS = 338 ppm •  Average temperature = 9.07ºC •  Average nitrate = 2.35ppm •  Sensitive invertebrate species = 1-4 •  Somewhat sensitive invertebrate = 0-2 FALL: •  Dissolved oxygen at its lowest •  Total dissolved solids and Nitrate at their highest •  Number of invertebrate species at its highest •  1 Pacific Tree frog found in good physical health •  1 frog and 1 salamander found injured by predators •  Limited algae

WINTER: •  Number of invertebrate species at its lowest •  No amphibians or algae

SPRING: •  Dissolved oxygen at its highest •  Total dissolved solids at its lowest •  Nitrate at its lowest •  1 frog found in good physical health •  Limited algae

MATERIALS for WATER QUALITY MEASUREMENTS •  Orion Dissolved Oxygen portable field meter •  Accumet Conductivity portable meter •  Nitrate Hatch kit PROCEDURE Dissolved oxygen (D.O.) 1.  Calibrate probe by inserting into calibration solution 2.  Rinse and insert probe directly into pond 3.  Once reading stabilizes record D.O. Conductivity and temperature 1.  Calibrate probe by inserting into calibration solution 2.  Rinse and insert probe inserted directly into pond 3.  Once reading stabilizes record cond. and temp. Nitrate 1.  Fill Hatch kit with pond water 2.  Add color reagent to water 3.  Shake mixture for 1 minute 4.  Match color of solution to color on hatch kit

The “Wenas” pond is thought to be a healthy ecosystem because the measured dissolved oxygen, nitrate, temperature, and total dissolved solids are all within the suggested values. Several invertebrates sensitive to pollution were found within the pond which also suggests that it is a healthy ecosystem. This conclusion is further supported by documentation of amphibians and algae. None of the amphibians found appeared to be ill or diseased and algae growth in the pond was limited. Although the ecosystem varies seasonally it remains healthy through out the year.

1.  Engel, S.R. & Voshell Jr, J.R. Volunteer biological monitoring: can it accurately assess the ecological condition of streams? American Entomologist 48, 164-177 (2002).

2.  PBS Teachers EcoInvestigators website accessed 2011: www.pbs.org/teachers/ecoinvestigators/lesson-plans/freshwater/creepy-crawly-water-quality/

3.  United States Environmental Protection Agency Drinking Water Contaminants; EPA 816-F-09-0004, May 2009

4.  WATER QUALITY STANDARDS FOR SURFACE WATERS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON; Chapter 90.48 RCW. 92-24-037 (Order 92-29), § 173-201A-010, filed 11/25/92, effective 12/26/92

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Season  Water Quality

D.O.  (mg/L)  

Nitrate  (ppm)  

Temp.    (º  C)  

TDS  (ppm)  

Suggested  Value   ≥ 4.0¹ ≤10² ≤ 22.0ºC¹ ≤ 500³ Fall   4.1   3.2   11.1   361  Winter   4.8   -­‐-­‐   2.5   330  Spring   9.0   1.5   13.6   324  Average   6.0   2.35   9.1   338  

Season

Invertebrates

Gilled Snail

sensitive

Cadis Fly

sensitive May Fly sensitive

Stone Fly

sensitive

Damsal Fly

somewhat sensitive

Alderfly somewhat sensitive

Fall Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Winter Yes No No No No No Spring Yes Yes Yes Yes No No

Table 1. Water Quality measurements taken at “Wenas” pond during Fall, 2011 to Spring, 2012. (¹ Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters of the State of Washington, ² Environmental Protection Agency National Drinking Water Standards and ³ Secondary Drinking Water Standards).

• Located in the Yakima River watershed in Selah, WA • Wenas creek has a length of about 55 km • “Wenas” pond has an area of about 1,250 m² on average SIGNIFICANCE

Water use can return water to the environment with added nutrients which may have an adverse effect on the ecosystem. OBJECTIVE

To determine if the pond is a healthy ecosystem by documenting water quality and invertebrate species.

Figure 1. A) Map of Selah, WA with town shown in red. B) Map of Wenas Creek in Selah, WA with pond shown in (GoogleMaps 2012).

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A

B

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“Wenas” Pond