PURPOSE
A volunteer water quality monitoring program was initiated in January, 2010 to further the WIP by identifying the main sources of nutrients and E. coli bacteria in the watershed. Creek Crew volunteers are collecting field data and water samples along Granite Creek and its main tributaries (map of sampling sites).
Through targeted monitoring (sampling above and below suspected sources of pollution), we can narrow down pollutant sources and design Best Management Practices appropriate to each source and location.
A summary of the water quality data analysis and conclusions is available in the preliminary Watershed Improvement Plan Chapter 2: Watershed Investigations and Findings.
To see photos of the Creek Crew in action, visit the Monitoring Photo Gallery.
WATER QUALITY CRITERIA
Field Parameters:
- Water temperature
- pH
- Dissolved oxygen
- Turbidity
- Flow
Laboratory parameters:
- Nitrate/Nitrite
- Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN)
- Total Phosphorus
- Ammonia
- Bacteroides DNA*
*Bacteria from the genus Bacteroides are indicators of fecal contamination. Bacteroides are specific to a host, meaning that their DNA contains a genetic marker that indicates the mammal from which the bacteria originated. For the purposes of this project, DNA from Bacteroides are being categorized as either human, bovine, or other (wildlife, horses, pets).