March 9, 2008 - Sohi Drive Stream Monitoring
March 11th, 2008
Three members monitored Northeast Creek on the south side of the Sohi Drive bridge.
Three people did this testing on March 9th after 3:33. The weather was clear, sunny, and warm, with low humidity, and mild light wind. We parked at the edge of the road. The water was relatively high and clear brown, while milky white water was coming from the lagoon off the main channel. The channel was < 5’ wide and < or = 20’ wide downstream at the bend. The water was 15 2/8 inches deep in the channel in one spot and 9 in inches and 1/8, ½, and 3/8 deep in the lagoon. Cover was around 60%. There were some small guppies in the lagoon and water fleas in the Creek. The air temperature was 56 and the water was 53.
Oxygen
What might have been the DO was in inside the kit, in a new bottle and tested March 23rd, with readings of 8.4, 8.8, and 8.8 (average 8.7). The BOD was in a new bottle stopped on March 13th, which was too early. It might be the sample in a new bottle that was stopped and then forgotten until March 30th, giving results of 6.2 three times. If this pairing is correct the BOD was 2.5, but that seems high given the speed of the Creek there, the apparent lack of animals or algae, and the short time the BOD sample was left to incubate (it is supposed to be left for 5 days).
A small water flea was caught.
Strips
pH was ~6, nitrite – white - ~0, nitrate – pink - ~0, alkalinity 20, phosphate 30 to ~ 45, Cl – 1, pH 4.5.
Turbidity
This was tested at 50mL. In the first trial we used 4 drops, but 3 was probably closer, so the turbidity was ~ 20 JTU, and 30 JTU the second time. It did not have much of a smell.
Meters
The pH was 6.8 and conductivity 176.
Ammonia
0.2 or less, possibly 0.3.
Speed
This was measured as 00:02:14 and maybe a better try was 00:01:88.
Walking up the stream there were many blooming spring beauties and trout lilies. Joven, which is planning apartments up the road east on Ellis Rd., seems to own the mixed or pine woods across the street from the Glaxo daycare now. There did not seem to be any changes at the apartment site.
