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 Chimacum Creek Conclusion First I learned that the yearly average for D.O. is 9.16 mpl (milligrams per liter). This is an extremely good level for our creek. Next I learned about the pH level for this year is 6.3. pH is positive hydrogen. pH measures the acidic level in the water. Since a 7 on the pH scale is pure water, 6.3 is a pretty good level for our creek. Above a 7 on the pH scale is more alkaline water. Below a 7 is more acidic water. Enough about that, next I learned about the turbidity average. Which is about 35.3 NTUs(Nephelometric Turbidity Units). This is a pretty good level for our creek. Turbidity is the amount of dirt suspended in water. Under 25 NTUs is a good level for a creek. 25-100 is an acceptable amount for our creek. And above 100 is a bad level for our creek. So our creek has a pretty good turbidity level. Next I learned about nitrates. The yearly average for 'nitrates is 0.3. The recommended level for fish is 0.04, but 0.3 is still pretty good. Nitrates start out as nitrites. Nitrogen starts in the air and then goes into the soil. Then animals eat the plants and when the animals decompose the nitrates go back into the air.Drinking water with a large number of nitrates can cause methemologoblin. Which means you can't transfer oxygen. This, as you can probably guess, is a bad thing. The people in most danger of this are babies. Which is wihy it is commonly known as blue-baby syndrome. Next I learned about ammonia. This years ammonia average is 2.8 mpl ( milligrams per liter). This however is not an accurate measurement. Ammonia is a strong, colorless, liquid, commonly found in cleaning supplies. Ammonia has a strong smell. Pure ammonia can speed up eutrophication. Levels really close to 2.0 are okay. Yet 2.8 is not the best amount for our creek. Still, not to worry,this is not an accurate measurement. So, I can't say if this good or bad for the creek. Now to flow rate. This years flow rate average is 1.3(m3sl). Flow rate is the amount of water flowing over one point. This years flow rate average is actually pretty good. Now for temperature. I'm pretty sure you already know what temperature is. But in case you don't... Temperature is how warm the water is. This years average temperature is 33.5. This is quite a good level for fish of all types. If water is to cold alge will die. If it gets to warm fish will die. At 60 degrees farenheit fish die. Well I am sure that at least 6 out of 7 parameters are having a somewhat positive affect on the creek. So I can conclude that Chimacum Creek is doing very good. YAY=http:// Fishes are safe. We are safe. Yippie. Okay.... Bye. Article posted February 28, 2012 at 10:32 AM • comment • Reads 966 • see all articles |
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