By Sammi Siefert, Fredericka JordanThomas, and Nicole Hensley

1
Stillwater Investigation

• By Sammi Siefert, Fredericka Jordan-Thomas, and
  Nicole Hensley

2
Stillwater Watershed

• Geographic Location
• Western border of central Ohio
• Major Urban Developments
• Dayton
• Greenville
• Empties into the Miami River

Stillwater Watershed
3
Stillwater Land Use

• Primarily Agriculture
• Main river has lush vegetation
• Scattered Forests
• 313 miles of total stream

Greenville
Dayton
4
Qualities of a Good Watershed

• Much Biodiversity
• Many different species living together
• Thick Riparian Zone
• Provides Shade
• Buffer Zone between Land and Water
• High Dissolved Oxygen Concentration

5
Causes of ConcernSome measures of the rivers
health were unusual
6
Methodology

• Once we found the qualities of a good stream
• We looked for areas of concern
• We checked IBI, ICI, QHEI, the average BOD, and
  the Nutrient levels of the stream.
• We used the EPA website and data collected from
  our stream.
• We evaluated the land use and compared it to the
  EPA data.

7
First Hypothesis

• As the BOD increases, the IBI will decrease.
• IBI is the Index of Biotic Integrity
• This is the biodiversity of fish in the stream.
• BOD is the Biochemical Oxygen Demand
• This is the use of oxygen by bacteria and algae
  in the stream.
• Excess bacteria and algae indicate pollution.

8

Needs for IBIBiodiversity of Fish

Low Sediment
Shade
High Oxygen
Riffles Pools
Vegetation
9
Line Graph of IBI and Max BOD
60.00
50.00
40.00
IBI
IBI
30.00
MAXBOD
Area of no correlation
20.00
represents Dayton,
where habitat is limited.
10.00
0.00
Sample Location
10
Results of first Hypothesis

• Hypothesis is supported by data
• As the BOD increases the IBI decreases.
• (As the oxygen is used up, the fish population
  decreases in the stream)
• Area of no correlation
• In high urban areas the habitat has been
  decreased.
• This affects all aspects of the stream.

Hypothesis Accepted
11
Second Hypothesis

• As the QHEI increases, the ICI increases
• ICI is the Invertebrate Community Index.
• The measure of macroinvertebrate species in the
  stream.
• (High macroinvertebrate population indicates a
  healthy stream)
• QHEI is the Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index.

12
QHEI VS. ICI
100.00
90.00
80.00
70.00
60.00
QHEI
50.00
40.00
30.00
20.00
10.00
0.00
0.00
10.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
ICI VALUE
13
Results of Second Hypothesis

• As the amount of natural habitat increases, the
  overall quality of the stream increases.
• When habitat is altered or removed all aspects of
  the stream are affected.
• This information proves the hypothesis to be
  correct.

Hypothesis Correct
14
Conclusions

• Although nutrient enrichment impairs many miles
  of the stream overall Stillwater is a healthy
  Watershed.
• We contribute this to the fact that the habitat
  is still intact along most areas of the stream.

15
Looking to the FutureCorrecting Problem Areas

• To create a new riparian zone
• Move crop away from stream
• Plant new vegetation on old field line
• Allow native species to populate stream bank

16
Looking to the FutureEnvironmentally Friendly
Farm

• Using best management practices
• Keeping crops away from the stream.
• Leaving the riparian zone.