Treatment Pond on Woodland Creek

Comparison of Water Quality of Woodland Creek, Saint Martin University’s East Pond and Long Lake and the Impact of Saint Martin’s University’s East Treatment Pond on Woodland Creek

Amy Layton Biology 401 Final Draft May 7, 2008 Table of Contents

Table of Contents………………………………………………………………………………….1

Abstract………….……..……………………………………………………………...... 2

Introduction……..…………………………………………………………………………………3

Methods……...... ……………………………………………………………………………….10

~Sampling at the Site...... ……….…………………………………………………...... 10

~Tests conducted at the Site…………………………………………..……………………...11

~Tests conducted in the Lab……..………………..…………………………….. …………..12

~Analysis of Data………..……...……………………………………………………………14

Results…...……………………………………………………………………………………...15

~Temperature, Turbidity, pH and Nitrates…………………………………...………………15

~Dissolved Oxygen and Biological Oxygen Demand………………………………………..16

~Fecal Coliform………………………………………………………………………………18

Discussion……………………………………………………………………………………….19

Acknowledgements………………………………………………………………………………24

Literature Cited………..…………………………………………………………………………25

2 Abstract The purpose of this research project was to compare the water qualities of three different watersheds in Lacey, Washington: Woodland Creek, The East Pond on Saint Martin University’s campus and Long Lake. Since the East Pond was recently built in order to help decrease the pollution in Woodland Creek, it was appealing to compare the water qualities. The water quality of each site was determined using the results of 7 different water quality tests including dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, nitrates, fecal coliform, turbidity, temperature and pH. These tests were performed 3 times at each site and compared using ANOVA statistical analysis. It was found that there were no significant differences between the sites in biological oxygen demand, nitrates, fecal coliform, turbidity and temperature. However, there was a significant difference in the dissolved oxygen and the pH. The ANOVA and tukey tests showed that Woodland Creek had a significantly lower dissolved oxygen level than both East Pond and Long Lake. Also, East Pond had a significantly lower pH than both Woodland Creek and Long Lake, most likely due to the fact that it has not yet produced a substantial algae population, which would cause the pH to increase.

3 Introduction A major construction process has recently been completed in an attempt to decrease water pollution while at the same time making the Saint Martin’s campus in Lacey, Washington a more aesthetically pleasing place. The City of Lacey, Washington and the Abbey at the

University joined together to create water quality ponds located on the 6th Avenue side of campus. The project was first proposed in 1998, to prevent overflow of storm water on the streets of Lacey and to improve the water quality of the watershed it flowed into, Woodland Creek.

These ponds are intended to serve many purposes for students, faculty and inhabitants of the college as well as the people living in the city of Lacey (Harding, 1998). The idea was finally put into action and the ponds were built during the summer and fall of 2007 and are now currently functioning.

An assessment provided to the City of Lacey by Harding Lawson Associates in 1998 described the conditions of the city’s water treatment system as a number one priority in which the new treatment ponds were designed to address. Before the new water treatment ponds were built, the storm water travelled through the storm drains (located near the central businesses and residents of the city) into a series of pipes known as College Ditch, towards Woodland Creek and from there to Puget Sound. According to the Washington State Department of Ecology the water quality of Woodland Creek was greatly polluted and in desperate need of improvement

(co.thurston.wa.us, 2008). The Washington Department of Ecology tested Woodland Creek positive for high fecal coliform levels in 2006. It also showed high levels of nitrogen, hydrocarbons and bacteria. The pollution in Woodland Creek occurred because College Ditch was too small for the volume of storm runoff that entered it every year and was beginning to show signs of erosion, which made it an inadequate carrier for storm water runoff. The water quality ponds at Saint Martin’s are hopefully going to minimize the degradation of College Ditch

4 and decrease the pollution in Woodland Creek by intercepting the storm runoff and treating it using Best Management Practices before the water continues on towards the creek.

The ponds are intended to improve the water quality of the runoff by using Best

Management Practices, which in this situation, includes not allowing heavier particulates to continue in the system and keeping the water flowing to prevent pollution of Woodland Creek

(Harding, 1998). However, many factors will affect the quality of the water in these ponds,

Woodland Creek and the control site in this study, Long Lake. As the storm water flows in through the College Ditch conveyance, the climate, water temperature, human and animal activity, design of the system and disturbance will all play a major role in the quality of the water.

Research conducted by Strock et al. (2005) suggested that the design of the treatment system greatly affects the water quality of the holding ponds. As water flows over land and through drain pipes, it acquires sediment, nutrients, pathogens and pesticides along its journey towards the drainage basin. Accurate information regarding the resources and topography of the area surrounding the system are necessary in order to create the best design. The goal of this study and of the treatment system in Lacey was to prevent the greatest amount of pollution and the correct design has the potential to accomplish that. In the study, the size of the system was taken into consideration and depended on the amount of storm water in that particular area.

Strock et al. (2005) set up an experimental system that consisted of two channels that received an equal flow of water and completed an analysis that involved the quality and quantity of water flow. They discovered that variations in temperature and precipitation had occurred over the course of their data collection. The year they tested their drainage system happened to be dryer than usual, so they did not receive the data that he expected. Consequentially, they found that

5 there was little difference in the designs of the systems because not much water flowed through them. In order to build the Saint Martin’s drainage system the topography of the land, including downward and upward slopes, and the amount of storm water generally generated all had to be taken into consideration. The reason the current drainage system is creating so many problems is because the size of College Ditch is too small to accommodate the amount of storm water that comes through (Harding, 1998). The new system will hopefully regulate this flow and decrease the overall amount of water pollution and improve the water quality.

Other factors that will affect water quality in the Saint Martin’s ponds are the construction and population surrounding the ponds. East Pond and Long Lake are often surrounded by people and, like Woodland Creek, could eventually be directly subjected to inputs of pollution. Factors such as people and environmental disturbance generally decrease the quality of water over time (Ehrenfeld and Scheneider, 1991). Sources of pollution include litter, car toxins, tree limbs and leaves blown in from storms and animal feces. Ehrenfeld and Scheneider

(1991) studied the affects of environmental disturbance on surrounding vegetation, water quality and cedar growth (Ehrenfeld et al., 1991). Samples were obtained and tested for water quality monthly. They gathered their data from 18 different sites, one of these sites was undisturbed and labeled as the control. The presence and concentrations of orthophosphate, ammonia, chloride and heavy metals were determined. All of these are chemicals that can be potentially toxic to aquatic life.

The researchers found that both ammonia and chloride levels were higher in disturbed sites compared to the undisturbed site (Ehrenfeld and Scheneider, 1991). It was discovered that the developed sites included more diverse water chemistry, meaning more chemicals or pollution are present, than the undisturbed area. These findings suggest that water quality and chemistry in

6 disturbed areas, like Saint Martin’s and Long Lake, are more likely to be lower and include more variability than in undisturbed areas.

Fecal coliform is a major indicator of water quality that is widely used and is one of the leading problems in Woodland Creek. It usually suggests that animals are present around the water source and their feces have either directly or indirectly, from runoff, entered the water.

Buckhouse and Gifford (1976), performed an experiment to better understand the consequences of animal’s grazing habits around watersheds. The research site was on Coyote Flat in Utah. The site was completely treated, cleared out and left undisturbed for seven years before cattle were allowed to graze on the land for two weeks. Artificial rainfall was produced, because the weather was dry and arid, and released at 7cm/hour for 28 minutes. Samples of runoff were taken after 3 minutes and then every 5 minutes. Six samples were taken in the sample area. Each sample was then tested for the presence of fecal coliform colonies. The results showed that there was no significant difference in the water quality before the cows were allowed to graze on the land and after, which caused some questions for the researchers. They conducted a bacterial longevity experiment and found that certain bacteria could survive high temperatures for at least a couple of months, however, fecal coliform could only survive a few weeks. The researchers theorized that the cow manure dried out within 3-4 days and fecal coliform was unable to contaminate the water. Although East Pond, Woodland Creek and Long Lake are not surrounded by grazing cattle, the watersheds are surrounded by many dogs and other wildlife. Also, Woodland Creek has tested positive for high fecal coliform levels, the source of this abnormal content could be due to the weather in Washington which is much colder and wetter then Utah, causing more runoff and contamination to water sources.

7 Nitrate tests were also performed on East Pond, Woodland Creek and Long Lake in the present study. Previous research has shown high nitrate levels have also been discovered in

Woodland Creek (co.thurston.wa.us, 2008). Human activities such as fertilizing lawns or gardens, placement of livestock and leakage form septic tanks often cause nitrate levels in surrounding watersheds to increase (Ayebo et al., 2006). Ayebo et al. (2006) performed water quality tests at different locations along a creek that provided water for over half of the residents in Pennsylvania. There were three sample sites included in this study. The first was 100 m down stream from a sewage treatment plant, the second was located near a raw-water intake point for the Pennsylvania/American Water Company Plant and the third was located at a point that was polluted by abandoned-mine drainage. Samples were collected once a week from September to

December of 1998. Nitrate, fecal coliform and cryptosporidium tests were performed on each sample. The results showed that there were significant differences in nitrate levels at site 3, which was likely due to increasing runoff surrounding this site (Aeybo et al., 2006). Nitrates are highly mobile and able to be carried through soil and contaminate watersheds that it runs into

(Aeybo et al., 2006). There are no herds of cattle surrounding the watersheds that I tested, however, street runoff and dog manure runoff may greatly affect data in both Long Lake and

East Pond where people are likely to bring their pets.

Factors including temperature, rainfall and distance from treatment plants also affect the quality of water. Different temperatures determine which bacteria and viruses will survive. When it rains, sediment and other particulates may be washed into streams, causing the water quality to change by adding chemicals or other contaminants. Also, the further away from the water treatment plant that the water is carried, the more bacteria and sediment that it will pick up along the way. One study tested the water quality at 6 different sites that varied in outside disturbance

8 and were different distances away from a waste water treatment plant. They conducted this research over an entire year so that they could account for climate changes as well. Researchers were studying the presence and concentrations of Campylobacter, a common form of bacteria in water, in order to test water qualities (Vereen et al., 1990). The methods that were used included taking samples from June 2003 to May 2004. To track the population of Campylobacter a direct- plating method was used. The plates were incubated for 48 hours and then the colonies were counted and identities were confirmed. It is known that this particular bacterium is common in natural water that has been affected by wastewater treatment plants (Vereen et al., 1990). The results of their study showed that the concentration of the bacteria were highly dependent on climate changes (Vereen et al., 1990). It was found that the concentration of Campylobacter were highest during the summer months when the temperature of the water was the highest. The highest amount of Campylobacter was also observed closest to the wastewater treatment plant. In this particular study the waste water treatment plant processed human and slaughterhouse waste, which means some of it was probably discharged downstream. The water treatment plants at

Saint Martin’s are not treating waste water, but rather storm runoff. The change in weather over the next couple of months should affect my data because we are entering the rainy season

Chris Maun, of the Nisqually River Education Project, described different water quality tests for the assessment of the Nisqually and Deschutes watersheds (Maun, 2007). Determining dissolved oxygen (D.O.) in a body of water is one determinant of water quality. Calculating the

D.O. will give a measurement of oxygen that is available to the organisms living in that particular water. A higher amount of D.O. will indicate the availability of more aquatic life within the ponds. Determining the fecal coliform will give an estimate of the bacteria or viruses inhabiting the water. These bacteria and/or viruses may cause disease and greatly decrease the

9 water quality. The pH, a common test, will determine the acidity of the water, which will provide an idea of the organisms that the water can support. Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), another quality test, reveals the amount of dead organic matter in the water. It measures this by calculating the oxygen levels released by micro-organisms feeding on this matter. High levels of

B.O.D. can be stressful to aquatic life because it means that there is a high oxygen demand.

Determining the temperature of the water is a very simple, but an important test to conduct.

Different organisms require different temperatures, meaning the temperature could expose life that is capable of living in those conditions. The presence of nitrates usually means that outside sources such as animal feces are present in the water, higher levels mean more contamination.

Turbidity is a test that measures the clarity of the water, which determines the abundance of solids in the water.

My research compared the quality of water in East pond at Saint Martin’s University,

Woodland Creek and Long Lake in order to determine what outside sources affect the quality of water of one site from the other. The fact that East Pond is relatively new and may not be affecting the quality of Woodland Creek, yet, will be taken into consideration. All 3 sites will be tested for impurities in pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen (D.O.), fecal coliform, biological oxygen demand (B.O.D.), turbidity and nitrogen content.

I hypothesize that Woodland Creek will have a significantly poorer water quality than

Long Lake and East Pond. East Pond will have better water quality because it is relatively new and has yet to be contaminated by too many outside sources, such as human and animal activity.

Long Lake is considered clean enough to swim in, so I am assuming that Woodland Creek will have poorer water quality due to the fact that Woodland Creek has been tested for high fecal coliform and nitrate levels by the Washington State Department of Ecology. My hypothesis

10 could be rejected, however, because of factors such as disturbance, rainfall, climate, water temperature, human and animal activity and the design of the system that affect the qualities of water in all 3 sites. This research will help to confirm whether the installment of the water treatment ponds has the potential to be effective. It will help to determine whether the pollution problem in Woodland Creek has been resolved during the 6 weeks of my study.

Materials and Methods

My research was completed at three different locations. The East Treatment Pond on

Saint Martin’s University campus was built in the summer of 2007 to treat the city’s runoff before it continued on towards the ocean. The second site was Woodland Creek, also located on the campus of Saint Martin’s University, which intercepts the water from The East Treatment

Pond before it reaches the ocean. The final site was Long Lake in Lacey, Washington. I chose

Long Lake as the control site because it had previously passed water quality tests and it is open all year round. I took 3 complete sets of data on January 29, 2008, February 14, 2008 and

February 27, 1008. For each set of data, 6 water quality tests were performed on these dates.

Since the supplies had not yet arrived, fecal coliform tests were performed later on March 18,

2008, March 26, 2008 and April 1, 2008. The temperature and the Dissolved Oxygen (D.O.) tests had to be completed at the sampling site. The other 5 tests, Biological Oxygen Demand (B.O.D.), nitrates, fecal coliform, pH and turbidity, were completed in the laboratory. For 5 out of the 7 tests I used LaMotte kits, which were unique to each individual test. Each kit contained detailed instructions on, and necessary supplies for, performing the tests.

Sampling at the Site

At the site of sampling I began by noting the weather and any factors surrounding the site that might affect my sample. I also took a picture of the site to put in my records. All three sites

11 were sampled on the same day, so that weather between sites would not be a major factor in my data. I took the temperature of the sample water using a thermometer before performing any other test. I performed 3 D.O. and B.O.D. tests for each sample to obtain an average and ensure accurate data. For the other 5 tests only one replicate was conducted. The samples were collected from the same place at each site. The bottles were placed as close to the surface as possible, so the depth changes would not affect the results.

Test Conducted at the Site

Dissolved Oxygen and Biological Oxygen Demand

Three glass bottles were used for the D.O. and 3 glass, autoclaved bottles were used for the B.O.D. tests for a total of 6 bottles for each site. When collecting the samples the bottles were rinsed three times to ensure that they were not contaminated, capped (while empty), placed under water, uncapped, filled with water so that there were no air bubbles and then capped again while still under water (Dr. Mary Jo Hartman, personal communication, October 2007). Immediately after the B.O.D. bottles were filled they were wrapped in aluminum foil and later put in a dark drawer in the laboratory for 5 days. The D.O. sample bottles were tested at the site using three

D.O. LaMotte kits. The LaMotte Company (1996) instructed to uncap the D.O. sample bottle and add 8 drops of manganous sulfate and 8 drops of alkaline potassium iodide to each bottle; they were then capped and mixed. A brown precipitate formed inside the bottle and once it had settled to the bottom 8 drops of sulfuric acid were added and the bottle was capped and mixed until the precipitate was completely dissolved. The titration tube from the kit was then filled to the 20 mL line with the sample. Sodium thiosulfate was added one drop at a time until the sample was a faint yellow. When it reached the desired color 8 drops of starch indicator solution was added and then sodium thiosulfate was added drop-wise until the sample turned clear in color. The

12 reading on the titrator after the sodium thiosulfate was used indicated the D.O. levels, measured in ppm. The bottles were taken back to the lab to be cleaned. These same procedures were followed to perform the B.O.D. tests in the laboratory five days later. For the B.O.D test, once the sodium thiosulfate has been added and the solution is clear, the number obtained from the titrator was subtracted from the D.O. levels in order to determine the B.O.D levels.

Temperature

To perform the temperature test I placed a thermometer directly into the water at the sample site, held it there for approximately 1 minute, and then recorded the temperature reading.

Temperature is an important indicator of water quality because different microorganisms survive in different temperatures so it is important to be accurate (Fausch and Bramblett, 1991).

Microorganisms that indicate pollution usually reside in water with higher temperatures (Fausch and Bramblett, 1991). If my water sampling sites are ideal for salmon, the temperature should be no higher than 18°C, any higher would indicate poor quality for salmon (Maun, 2007). Colder water allows more dissolved oxygen to be present, which is helpful to aquatic life.

Tests Conducted in the Lab

Fecal Coliform Test

Following the method from Hartman (2007) I was able to complete my fecal coliform tests. At the site one 500 mL, autoclaved bottle was filled with sample water from each site for the fecal coliform testing. The tests were performed the same day of sampling in the laboratory.

For each site three 100 mL samples from the site were filtered and one 100 mL sample of distilled water (control), for a total of 4 filtrations for each site. To obtain the fecal coliform content of water, a simple filtration system was used to filter each 100 mL water samples. After

100 mL of water had been filtered, the filter paper from the system was placed in a Petri dish,

13 which contained 2 mL of nutrient broth. The Petri dish was then placed in a 44.5°C incubator for

24 hours, with the dish upside down to allow condensation to rise so that the top of the dish was clear for observations. After the incubation period the colonies on the filter paper were counted.

The bacteria were measured in fecal colonies (FC) per 100 mL of sample water. Optimal levels of fecal coliform should be less than 50FC/100mL for surface water quality standards

(co.thurston.wa.us, 2008). pH

One 500 mL plastic bottle was filled at each sample site to test pH, turbidity and nitrates in the laboratory. To determine the pH of water a LaMotte kit was used. The sample water was placed in the tubes provided by the kit and 8 drops of bromothymol blue indicator were added to the sample, which was then capped and mixed. The tube was placed in an octet comparator to match the color of the test tube to the colors provided. The results were recorded. The pH should have be between 6.5 and 8.5 (Maun, 2007).

Turbidity

The turbidity test measures the clarity or cloudiness of the water. It is an important indicator of whether living organisms, such as plankton, are present in the water. A slightly high turbidity was not a negative sign; it typically indicated that there were organisms inhabiting the water. However, an extremely high turbidity may indicate that there were high levels of sediment in the water. The turbidity tests were performed using a LaMotte kit. Once of the columns provided was filled with sample water and the other column provided was filled with distilled water. Each column had a black dot on the bottom. If the black dot was cloudier in the sample column, then 0.5 mL of the Standard Turbidity Reagent was added to the distilled water. Both columns were stirred and then a second observation of the black dot was made. If the dots were

14 still not equally visible, 0.5 mL of the Standard Turbidity Reagent was continually added until they were both equally visible. The amount of reagent added allowed for the calculations of turbidity in JTU’s (Jackson Turbidity Units). If the black dots were equally visible to start with, the turbidity was 0 JTUs.

Nitrates

The nitrate test provides relevant information regarding the amount of outside pollution sources, such as cow manure, that has entered the water (Maun, 2007). To perform the nitrate test the LaMotte kit was used. The sample bottle provided in the kit was filled with sample water

(from the 500 mL plastic bottle) and used to fill up the tube provided. To the sample water

Mixed Acid Reagent was added to the appropriate line, the tube was capped and left for 2 minutes. After 2 minutes 0.1 g of Nitrate Reducing Reagent was added into the sample tube, capped and mixed for 1 minute and then left for 10 minutes. The tube was then placed in a comparator and the color was matched to the colors provided to determine the nitrate levels in ppm. Optimal levels for nitrates should be below 1mg/l (co.thurston.wa.us, 2008).

Analysis of Data

After the data had been collected from the three sites, they were all compared to each other. Using a one-way ANOVA test allowed a comparison of each site’s results to the results of the other sites. If the results indicated a difference, a Tukey test was performed using a 95% confidence interval to determine pairwise comparisons.

The results of the statistical tests were used to reject or accept my hypothesis which states: that Woodland Creek will have a poorer water quality because of the results of the water quality tests performed by the Washington State Ecology Department in 2006 which showed that the creek had high levels of fecal coliform and nitrates. If my hypothesis was accepted, I

15 concluded that the addition of the Saint Martin’s water treatment ponds had not yet begun to decrease the pollution problems in Woodland Creek.

Results Seven different water quality tests were performed at 3 different water sites (East Pond,

Woodland Creek and Long Lake). The temperature, pH, turbidity and nitrates were performed one time at each site per sampling and the biological oxygen demand, dissolved oxygen and fecal coliform were performed 3 times at each site per sampling, with 3 sampling events total.

Temperature, pH, Turbidity and Nitrates Temperature, pH, turbidity and nitrate tests were conducted on Woodland Creek, East

Pond and Long Lake to determine if there was a significant difference between the sites (Table

1). There was no statistical difference for the temperature tests between the sites (F=2.03; d.f. =2; p=0.212). There was a statistical difference found after conducting statistical analysis for the pH test (F=9.82; d.f. =2; p=0.013, Table 1). The Tukey test for pH showed with a 97.80% confidence interval that East Pond’s pH was significantly lower than both Woodland Creek and

Long Lake. Long Lake consistently showed a higher turbidity than Woodland Creek and East

Pond, but it was not considered significantly different (F=3.08; d.f.=2; p=0.120). For nitrates, the

ANOVA test showed that there was no significant difference among the three sites (F=1.10; d.f.

=2; p=0.392). The nitrate levels for East Pond and Long Lake were consistently between 0-1.1 ppm. Woodland Creek’s highest nitrate level was 4.4 ppm.

16 Table 1. Temperature, pH, turbidity and nitrate tests were performed at 3 different water sites. The tests were performed on 3 different dates at each site and the averages of each test were calculated. The only significant difference was in the pH test. East Pond’s values of pH were significantly lower than both Woodland Creek and Long Lake. This table shows the means at each site. Temperature Turbidity Nitrate Site (°C) pH (JTU) (ppm) Woodland Creek 6.7 7.1 3.3 0.55 East pond 9.3 6.8 5.8 1.9 Long Lake 9.3 7.2 15 0.55

Dissolved Oxygen (D.O.) and Biological Oxygen Demand (B.O.D) Dissolved Oxygen (Figure 1) and Biological Oxygen Demand tests (Figure 2) were performed 3 different times at Woodland Creek, East Pond and Long Lake. After analyzing the

D.O. levels of the three different sites, it was found that there was a statistically significant difference among the three sites (F=9.91; d.f. =2; p=0.013). The Tukey test showed with a

97.80% confidence interval that Woodland Creek was significantly lower in D.O. than both East

Pond and Long Lake. The levels of Woodland Creek ranged from 9.5-11.8 ppm, while East Pond and Long Lake ranged from 12.8-14.6 ppm. Statistical analysis showed that the B.O.D. levels of the three sites were not significantly different (F=3.78; d.f. =2; p=0.087). Woodland Creek, however, had values which ranged from 5.4-7.0 ppm, while Long Lake had values which ranged from 7.2-10.4 ppm.

17 Figure 1. Dissolved oxygen tests were performed 3 times at each site and the average of each was calculated. Woodland Creek had statistically significant lower values than both East Pond and Long Lake. Error bars represent one standard error from the mean.

Figure 2. Biological oxygen tests were performed 3 times at each site and the average of each trial was calculated. There were no statistical differences among the 3 sites. Error bars represent one standard error from the mean.

18 Fecal Coliform

Fecal coliform samples were taken on three different dates in replicates of 3 for each sample, (Figure 3). The samples were filtered on the same day of sampling to ensure accurate data. ANOVA tests were performed on the data and there was no significant difference found in the fecal coliform counts obtained from Woodland Creek, East Pond and Long Lake (F=0.58; d.f.=2; p=0.588, Figure 3).

Figure 3. Three fecal coliform replicates were taken at each site per sampling event. This graph shows the highest number of fecal coliform organisms found in 100 mL of water from each sampling event. These are not the mean numbers, but rather the highest values.

19 Discussion

The results of my study failed to support my hypothesis that Woodland Creek would have a poorer water quality than both East Pond and Long Lake for 6 out of the 7 water quality tests.

The dissolved oxygen test was the only test that showed a significantly lower value in Woodland

Creek compared to East Pond and Long Lake. The pH test was the only other test that showed a significant difference. The data collected showed that there were no significant differences between the turbidity, nitrates, temperature, fecal coliform and biological oxygen demand.

East Pond showed a significantly lower pH than both Woodland Creek and Long Lake.

The low pH levels were most likely due to the fact that East Pond is relatively new, built only in the summer of 2007. Since the pond is new, there were probably low algae levels. Algae are a contributor to higher pH levels because of their consumption of carbon dioxide (scdhec, 2008).

Algae are usually the result of an increase in nutrients from dead organic matter, such as fallen trees. Since this is the first year the pond has been exposed to these outside sources it probably did not contain much of this organic matter, meaning the algae had nothing to feed on and therefore did not grow. Also, the continuous flow of water from the city to East Pond before it continued on towards Woodland Creek would make it difficult for algal populations to develop and be successful because nutrients and contaminants are constantly moving in and out. Since both Long Lake and Woodland Creek have been around for years, they most likely had higher algae levels and therefore higher pH levels as well. Optimal levels of pH are between 6.5 and 8.5 and all of the sites were in this range indicating normal pH levels, even though East Pond was significantly lower than Woodland Creek and East Pond (Maun, 2007).

The dissolved oxygen (D.O.) results revealed a significant difference in Woodland Creek from the East Pond and Long Lake. The Tukey test revealed that the dissolved oxygen levels

20 were significantly lower than Long Lake and East Pond. Optimal levels of dissolved oxygen, to support living organisms, are between 4 and 5 ppm (state.nj.us, 2008). Optimal levels for fishing are around 9.0 ppm (state.nj.us, 2008). This suggests that even though Woodland Creek was significantly lower than both the East Pond and Long Lake, it still had enough oxygen to support aquatic life. Dissolved oxygen levels tend to vary over the course of a day and are usually lower in the morning and higher throughout the rest of the day (scdhec, 2008). Since I always took the samples from Woodland Creek first, usually in the morning, the timing may have contributed to its lower levels.

Turbidity, nitrates, temperature, fecal coliform and biological oxygen demand showed no significant difference between the 3 sites. Optimal levels for turbidity are around 5 JTUs

(Jackson Turbidity Units), however, the average turbidity of East Pond was 5.8 JTU and Long

Lake was 15 JTU. Although there was no significant difference between the three sites, both East

Pond and Long Lake had higher values than the optimal level. High levels of turbidity usually result from the presence of fine organic matter, plankton and various inorganic and organic matters (scdhec, 2008). East Pond was a relatively new development so plankton was probably not the source of cloudiness in the water. I would assume that the cloudiness came from the muddy area surrounding the pond. When taking the samples it was difficult not to disturb the water because I had to get in deep enough to take the water sample. Stepping in the water disrupted the bottom and excess mud and sediment was a primary source to the higher turbidity.

The fact that East Pond directly collects runoff water probably also contributed to its higher levels. Long Lake, which is older, probably had large amounts of plankton populations that contributed to its higher levels of turbidity. The turbidity in Long Lake’s case does not

21 necessarily indicate poor water quality because the presence of plankton means that the water is healthy enough to support aquatic life.

Optimal levels for nitrates are below 1 mg/L and all of the tests were within the optimal level. The presence of nitrates is usually an indicator of feces from animals which has the capability of increasing unwanted plant growth and causing various bacteria to grow (Maun,

2007). I was expecting Woodland Creek to have high nitrate levels because it is surrounded by vegetation, which would attract various animals near the water (dogs, deer, ducks etc…). The

Washington Ecology Department, tested Woodland Creek in 2006 and found high levels for both fecal coliform and nitrates in the creek (co.thurston.wa.us, 2008). They suggested that they were the result of fertilizer, human sewage and animal waste seeping into the groundwater and then into the creek. However, the levels of Woodland Creek were not higher than those of Long Lake and East Pond possibly because the water in Woodland Creek was constantly moving, after rainfall, toward Puget Sound allowing the nitrates and other nutrients to be carried away with the current. Also, these results suggest that East Pond may be filtering out the heavier particulates, preventing pollutants from being carried on towards the creek.

The temperature between the 3 sites did not show a statistical difference. Temperature is an important quality to measure because different microorganisms survive in different temperatures which act as indicators of pollution (Fausch and Bramblett, 1991). Optimal levels for water containing salmon are 18ºC, anything warmer than this would create difficult conditions for many organisms to inhabit (Maun, 2007). At one time Woodland Creek supported salmon (Hartman, 2008, personal communication). The temperatures of the 3 sites were consistently below 18ºC, in fact the highest temperature recorded was 12ºC taken at East Pond.

The low temperatures may also contribute to the high D.O. levels because colder water can allow

22 for the dissolution of more oxygen (Maun, 2007). Also, the weather was most definitely colder because the samples were taken during the coldest months of the year.

It was expected that Woodland Creek would have higher fecal coliform levels because

East Pond was built in order to help decrease the pollution, including fecal coliform, in the creek

(Harding, 1998). The first sample from Woodland Creek supported my expectations when it averaged 44.3 FC/100 mL of water, while the other two sites both had less than 1.7 FC/100 mL of water. The Washington Ecology Department (2008), was hoping to get the levels down to

50FC/100mL of water, so these levels are actually a good sign. For the first trial, a nutrient broth that contained blue dye was used and the fecal coliform colonies were blue dots that were easy to see and clear when it came to counting. However, for the last two trials I used a different nutrient broth that did not contain blue dye, because we ran out of the first kind. The fecal coliform colonies were not distinct and did not show up (if they were present) on the filter paper. It could be that the first trial contained an abnormal amount because of an unusual occurrence that happened that day, such as animals being around the water. However, I think that the change of nutrient broth affected the results of this part of my research, which can only be explained as experimental error.

There was no significant difference in the biological oxygen demand levels from the 3 sites. B.O.D. is a measurement of the amount of dissolved oxygen used up by micro-organisms in the water. To find the B.O.D. the D.O. measurement from day 5 is subtracted from the D.O. measurement from day 1. High levels of B.O.D. indicate a stressful environment for organisms because it means that there is a high oxygen demand, meaning there are more micro-organisms present. The increase in micro-organisms comes from an increase in organic matter which may be the result of broken branches or more sediment runoff flowing into the water.

23 To conclude, the results of this study indicate a slight difference in water quality between the three sampling sites. The optimal levels of water quality were met in all of the tests except for biological oxygen demand and turbidity. Also, the only significant differences between sites were found in the dissolved oxygen and pH tests. The results of my 6 week study indicate that the addition of East Pond may be already helping to increase the water quality and decrease pollutants, such as fecal coliform and nitrates, in Woodland Creek. According to my results the goal fecal coliform levels, set by the Washington State Ecology Department, have already been reached in the short time that the retention ponds have been functioning. It cannot be fully assumed, however, that East Pond is completely responsible for the low levels in Woodland

Creek. These low levels may be the result of increased rainfall or harsh weather conditions as well.

For further studies, fecal coliform samples should be taken and analyzed using the nutrient broth containing the blue dye. Also, I think that it would be interesting to perform this study over a period of a year to be able to see the differences in the water over time. In the 6 weeks that I studied East Pond and Woodland Creek I observed low fecal coliform and nitrate levels, however, these low levels may have been due to the increased rain and stormy weather patterns that we experienced this past winter. It would be interesting to be able to compare the data that I collected to data collected in the summer and fall months to determine whether the lower levels are a result of East Pond functioning or simply dilution from the rain.

24 Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Dr. Mary Jo Hartman and Dr. Aaron Coby for sharing their expertise and guiding me through my project. I would also like to thank Tanner Gronowski for accompanying me in the laboratory and helping me collect samples in the rain. Thanks also to Jake Gamble for all the useful tips regarding water quality and for accompanying me in the laboratory. Finally thank you, for all the people who reviewed my paper over the past year.

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