Title

Assessment of Middle Creek Stream Using Water Quality Index (WQI) and Diatom Metrics

Start Date

13-11-2015 8:00 PM

End Date

13-11-2015 9:59 PM

Description

It is believed that small streams and waterways of the Susquehanna River cause the problems in the Chesapeake Bay. This study helps develop a better understanding of how these small streams are affecting the Susquehanna River and eventually the Chesapeake Bay. Water Quality Index (WQI), Shannon Diversity Index, Pollution Tolerance Index, and Cocconeis percentage were uses to assess the water quality of Middle Creek; a small stream located in Snyder County, PA. In addition, this study establishes possible trends among these indices. In the biological components, Diatoms were used to generate indices while eleven parameters including physical and chemical properties were used in the WQI. Data analysis showed visible interaction between the water quality and the diversity in aquatic species. A cause and effect dynamic was observed between WQI and diversity. As the WQI changes, the diversity was affected further downstream. The WQI seems to have a direct affect on % Cocconeis and in turn it affects the diversity. This study establishes that looking at one biological index does not indicate water quality because of the inter-dependence of the organisms on each other. Generally, the water quality of MC remains good yet the runoff from the agricultural land and the two lakes do affect the water and the diversity downstream to a certain degree.

Type

Poster

Language

eng

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Nov 13th, 8:00 PM Nov 13th, 9:59 PM

Assessment of Middle Creek Stream Using Water Quality Index (WQI) and Diatom Metrics

Elaine Langone Center, Terrace Room

It is believed that small streams and waterways of the Susquehanna River cause the problems in the Chesapeake Bay. This study helps develop a better understanding of how these small streams are affecting the Susquehanna River and eventually the Chesapeake Bay. Water Quality Index (WQI), Shannon Diversity Index, Pollution Tolerance Index, and Cocconeis percentage were uses to assess the water quality of Middle Creek; a small stream located in Snyder County, PA. In addition, this study establishes possible trends among these indices. In the biological components, Diatoms were used to generate indices while eleven parameters including physical and chemical properties were used in the WQI. Data analysis showed visible interaction between the water quality and the diversity in aquatic species. A cause and effect dynamic was observed between WQI and diversity. As the WQI changes, the diversity was affected further downstream. The WQI seems to have a direct affect on % Cocconeis and in turn it affects the diversity. This study establishes that looking at one biological index does not indicate water quality because of the inter-dependence of the organisms on each other. Generally, the water quality of MC remains good yet the runoff from the agricultural land and the two lakes do affect the water and the diversity downstream to a certain degree.