Name _Nicklas S._____________________________        Date _2-1-12_________________



Water Quality Research Questions Research Notes 



What is the parameter? (Write a complete description of it.

   Flow Rate is it is the measure of cubic feet per second or gallons per second in a creek or river. Cubic feet per second is expressed: ft3/sec. Flow is a function of water volume and velocity. Stream velocity increases as the streams volume increases. Unless the volume of a stream is the same of the other stream they won't have the same Flow Rate.       

How does it affect water quality?

 

Large, swiftly flowing rivers can receive pollution discharges and be little affected, whereas small streams have less capacity to dilute and degrade wastes. Stream flow determines the kinds of organisms that can live in the stream, some need fast flowing areas others need slow,

quiet areas.      

  How is it measured?

What levels are good?

What levels are acceptable?

What levels are bad?



   Flow Rate is measured in cubic ft. per second, or "ft3/sec". Good levels of ft3/sec depends on what lives in the stream. Bad levels are pretty much whats too fast for any fish, macroinvertebrates, ect. Acceptable levels also differ to whats is living in the stream, there really is no good/bad levels, it just depends what the things in the stream need.      

How does this parameter affect fish?

How does this parameter affect humans?

How does this parameter affect vegetation?



   Flow Rate affects fish VERY much, fish could be washed away, etc. Fish do need either fast streams or slow streams. Fast-moving streams generally have higher levels of dissolved oxygen than slow streams because they are better aerated. This affects humans because streams with a higher flow can wash away eutrophication, waste, etc.