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MEASUREMENT
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FREQUENCY AND CONDITIONS
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TECHNIQUE
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WORKING HYPOTHESES
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Flow
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Weekly and/or whenever samples are taken. This will miss important flow times. A labor issue. Daily ideal and a possibility with local help. Allows flux determinations.
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If geometry of structures not yet determined, use USGS expertise to develop curves. Read water level from fixed marks on structures. Use curve for flow.
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We think flow will be flashier in more developed and agricultural catchments because proportion of runoff to evaporation/percolation is greater than in more forested catchments. If development occurs over time, we think flow will become flashier still.
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Turbidity
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Weekly. Varies by depth and current, so take in same location and depth. Compare across time at similar flows.
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Use turbidity tube.
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We think turbidity will vary as flow does.
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Total solids
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Weekly. Per above, at same spot in cross section of stream.
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Evaporation of water. Mass of suspended and dissolved material with analytical balance. (We need one.)
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We think total solids will vary as flow and turbidity vary.
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Temperature
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Continuously with loggers. Precise frequency of measurement to be determined. Precise location at sampling site to be coordinated with ASC placement.
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Loggers, shuttle, and software.
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We think temperature will be higher in more developed and agricultural catchments because open areas heat more (no canopy to intercept radiation, no evapotranspiration). So surface runoff and additions to groundwater would be warmer.
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Dissolved Oxygen
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Weekly. At same time after sunrise ideally. Temperature taken also to allow for % saturation.
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Winkler titration. We have 2 YSI meters that have not been used lately.
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We think DO will be lower wherever temperature is higher, as above. We think DO will be lower at dawn, although we will miss this, and in times of algal decay.
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BOD
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Weekly. From same spot as DO.
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2 bottle with incubation. BOD by difference (mg/L).
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We expect higher BOD where more food for bacteria; should vary with number of animals, including humans, in the catchment.
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Total N
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Weekly. Should include all suspended materials for N flux. Use filtered water for effect on biota.
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We would like to perform N analysis at school. We have a spectro-photometer. Would this be total N? N at outside lab if
better.
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We think N will be higher in more agricultural catchments because N in fertilizer and manure will make its way to the stream.
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Total P
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Weekly. Should include all suspended material for P flux. Filtered water if deemed better.
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Our spectrophotometer not adequate to the task. Water samples to outside lab.
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We think P will be higher in more agricultural catchments because P in fertilizer and manure will make its way to the stream. We think we will see more algal growth where P is higher, and expect resultant DO problems where P is higher.
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pH
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Weekly, given equipment. Same time after sunrise if possible for diurnal fluctuation.
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pH meters. Model: Oakton pH tester per Stream Team protocol. Two could be used in tandem as a check on each other.
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Although pH is geologically decently high, we think pH will be higher in agricultural catchments because lime is commonly applied to fields. We can compare agricultural to forested reaches to test for anthropogenic pH effects.
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Alkalinity or ANC
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Weekly.
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Titration with sulfuric acid, or other.
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As above.
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Macro
invertebrates
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Collection apparatus to remain in water per protocol.
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Mesh bags with rocks that can be flattened to fit stream bed. We have ordered a dissecting microscope for identification.
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We expect to see an abundance of varied groups where other water quality parameters indicate better cold water fish habitat.
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