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A River Runs Through Us

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A River Runs Through Us Winterim 2013 Freshwater 512 Practicum: Reconciliation Arch and Ecology Professors John Janssen and Jim Wasley A River Runs Through Us There is a “river” that exits the Currently this stream fl ows under- The charge to the class was to A healthy stream has a diverse The SFS student posters are a fi rst Aquaculture Facility at the School ground via a storm sewer to the convert this artifi cial subterranean micro-to macrobiota that captures step toward integrating biology and of Freshwater Sciences. Kinnickinnic River. The discharge stream to a demonstration stream and processes particulate inputs landscape architecture into a pre- is clean enough that the water capable of sustaining biotic diver- and excess inorganic nutrients. liminary design concept for an eco- does not need to be treated. sity. logically-functional and aesthetic artifi cial stream. Project Background The ability to reduce erosion was another key factor in wetland marsh Figure 3: Height The purpose of this project is to design an urban stream to plant choices. Since the marsh wetland and stream are being profile of proposed compliment the design for the UWM Harbor Campus. The constructed over a liner, it is essential to reduce erosion and substrate Establishing an Invertebrate Community for Water Quality Improvement re-suspension. Excess loss of sediment would result in the need for wetland plants. Dylan Olson January 2013 constructed urban stream will transport fish effluent from the Courtesy of Paula FWS 512 substrate additions which would disturb established habitat within the : Arch 636 : Winterim 2013 : aquaculture facility at the Great Lakes Water Institute to the harbor. Guenther Our Problem Our Challenges Currently the fish effluent is discharged into the via pipe. By day wetland. Sago pondweed, floating-leaved pondweed (Potamogetan As of January 2013, the fish aquaculture facility at the WATER institute Æ Improve water quality by neutralizing high P content and filtering lighting the fish effluent stream, it becomes a major feature of the natans), pickerel weed (Pontederia cordata), and hardstem bulrush generates a 650 g/min. effluent stream. This effluent drains from the out suspended fish waste solids. Our hypothesis is that this can be done campus and provides a valuable opportunity to bring to light (S. acutus) were chosen for their ability to control erosion. building, combines with storm water and flows into the Kinnikinnick naturally by introducing microbes, plants and invertebrates. many aspects of stream habitat and function while increasing the River. Although this water meets EPA standards for waste water, we Æ Protect stream quality from urban runoff with riparian buffer zones These plants have a rhizome root system Horizontal View esthetic value of the campus area. Please refer to Figure 1 the design viewed it as a wasted resource. of grasses and sedges. that forms a thick mat over the marsh Æ Provide a suitable set of habitats within the design of the stream to of the proposed stream. Sago Floating-leaved Yellow Water Pickerel Hardstem Our Goal substrate inhibiting the re-suspension of encourage a stable, productive stream ecosystem. Pondweed Pondweed Buttercup Weed Bulrush Develop a plan to convert the WATER institute’s waste water into an sediments2. (Refer to Figure 2 for an educational resource in the form of an ecologically functional, artificial My Role illustration of the rhizome root system. Sago Pondweed (Stuckenia pectinata) Æ stream along the building’s new southern face. To interpret the habitat requirements of an ecologically functional These plants also reduce stream bank • Submerged with no floating leaves Marsh array of fish and stream invertebrates based on our artificial stream • Found in water less than 2 m deep Wetland erosion from wind and wave forces. Figure 2: Rhizome Root model and the inhabitants of local analogous streams. • Important food source for ducks and habitat for micro and macro Æ System. Courtesy of UWEX A Shredders To compose a list of candidates for introduction based on my Transect View invertebrates Mostly insect larvae with findings. I have aligned them into five major roles of stream • Reduces wave velocity thereby reducing shoreline erosion ecosystem function and indicated potential habitat within the stream C mouthparts designed to tear apart • Suppresses algal blooms by assimilating phosphorus using these sketches. For our purposes, this will be a beneficial Providing habitat for a wide variety of wildlife is another priority in living vascular hydrophyte plant community for removing solid waste from the stream. Filterers creating a functional ecosystem. Sago pondweed, floating-leaved tissue, wood and decomposing plant tissue; Floating-Leaved Pondweed (Potamagetan natans) shredders role in the stream ecosystem is to Filterers use a variety of methods to trap fine particulate organic matter from the stream current. pondweed, pickerel weed, and hardstem bulrush provide cover and B Some strategically position themselves within the current often and capture debris in long, food for a variety of species including micro • Submerged plant with floating leaves break down plant tissue into fine and course • Found in water less than 2 m deep particulate organic matter for consumption Scrapers filamentous hairs. Bivalves (clams) draw water into their shells using and incurrent siphon and and macro invertebrates, fish, ducks, and other waterfowl. Figure 1: Proposed Stream Design.(SFS 512 Practicum, Winterim 2013) • Rapid growth rate/short life span by filterers and gatherers.(1) Grazers; feed on algae and periphyton living on smooth filter feed on plankton.(1) surfaces of rocks and macrophytes. Scrapers subsist off of -Cylindrical Papershell (Anodontoides ferussacianus) • pH range 5.8-7.5 -Sideswimmer (Order Amphipoda) (above) Note: Curly-Leaved Pondweed (P. crispus) is invasive the stream’s smallest inhabitants. Their role in the stream The Cylindrical Papershell is a vulnerable species in Wisconsin. They prefer • A prolific and widespread invertebrate, the amphipod lives in Wetland Function Finally in order to create a successful constructed wetland, it needs to is to keep algae in check. the shallow water near shore on sand or gravel. almost all aquatic environments. Stream amphipods are In this stream reconciliation project it is essential that the wetland is be esthetically pleasing as well as functional. Studies have found that -Freshwater Snail (Class Gastropoda) (above) -Net-spinning Caddisfly Larvae (Family Hydropsychidae) Yellow Water Buttercup (Ranunculs flabellaris) detritivores and scavengers living amongst rocky substrates.(1) functional by providing nutrient removal, erosion control, habitat and wetlands with a noticeable arrangement of flowering plants are There are approximately 4000 species of freshwater gastropods in the world.(2) Snails Net spinners are a unique family amongst Trichoptera. As their name suggests, • Floating flower 0.5 m tall that is sometimes found rooted into -Aquatic Crane fly larvae (Genus Tipula) (below) deemed more attractive than wetlands designed purely for ecological use a feeding apparatus called a radula to effectively remove periphyton from rocks members of this family spin nets of fine silk from fixed retreats on large rocks. Their esthetic value. Each wetland plant was chosen for its ability to fulfill substrate. Crane fly larvae live in a wide variety of habitats. Not all are 1 and plants.(1) nets collect algae, detritus and small invertebrates depending on mesh size and these requirements. function . The proposed plants for the marsh wetland were chosen to • Found in slow moving shallow water (< 2m deep) strictly aquatic. Aquatic crane fly larvae subsist on all manner of -Little Black Short-horned Sedges (Caddisfly Genus Glossosoma) (below) intended target food source.(4) create a variety in heights, leaf shapes, and flower colors to promote a • Commonly found alongside floating pondweed, bladderwort, detritus from decaying leaves to woody debris. Tipula trap a film Glossosoma is a representative from an incredibly diverse order of case building diverse, interesting, and appealing wetland. Refer to Figure 3 for an and broad-leafed arrowhead of air in fine hairs around their characteristic posterior spiracles.(1) It is essential that the marsh wetland is capable of removing excess insects named Trichoptera. They build their case from small pebbles in the form D nutrients since the fish effluent/source water contains high levels of illustration on the different plants levels within the marsh wetland. Pickerel Weed (Pontederia cordata) of a turtle shell. As glossosoma larvae outgrow their cases, the local population nutrients from fish waste and uneaten fish food. Sago pondweed synchronizes their emergence, prompting a trout feeding frenzy.(3) Gatherers • Emergent plant that grows to a height of 1 m Pupates (Potamogetan pectinantus) and hardstem bulrush (Schoenoplectus acutus) Glossosoma prefers very clean, fast moving water. A very similar classification to the filterers, gatherers also live on the fine particulate organic • Can survive in up to 50 cm of water but grows best in a depth of 30 cm. matter which has been broken down by shredders. Gatherers differ from filterers in their method were chosen for their capability to assimilate nutrients effectively. Wild rice (Zizania palustris) was initially considered for the marsh • pH range 4.9-8.7 of collection and their orientation in the stream. They are often more agile and mobile within the Sago pondweed
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