Taylor Ballek
Clear Creek/Turd Pond Comparison Study
Water Chemistry:
Water Chemistry
Test
Clear Creek
Turd Pond
D.O.
6.5 ppm
6.5ppm
Temp (°C)
10 °C
17.5◦C
Alkalinity
140 mg/l
125 mg/l
P.H.
7.7
8.0
Turbidity
0 (clear)ntu
<8ntu
Conductivity
387 mS/cm
1190 ms/cm
Saturation
53%
41%
Introduction: This report will compare the water quality between Clear Creek and the
Turd Pond. On September 21st 2009 we walked down to Clear Creek at about 11:45
and came back at 1:45. The weather was chilly and we conducted tests on Dissolved
Oxygen, Alkalinity, Turbidity, Conductivity, pH., Water Temperature, and Air
Temperature. Then, on September 25th 2009 we rode a bus down to the Turd Pond. We
were gone the same amount of time and conducted the same tests, but the weather
was sunny. We collected information about the water chemistry, physical data, and
biological data/macroinvertebrates in Clear Creek and are comparing it to the
information we collected from the Turd Pond.
Location: Clear Creek is Township 51 North, Range 82 West, and Section 34. The
location of the Turd Pond is Township 51 North, Range 82 West, and Section 35.
Elevation: The creek it is 4,680 feet. For the Turd Pond it is 4,560 feet.
Water Source: Clear Creek’s water source is Clear Creek. The Turd Pond’s water
source is Cemetery Creek.
Water Type: Creek and Pond.
Taylor Ballek
Data Collection:
Dissolved Oxygen: The first test we conducted was the Dissolved Oxygen test.
Dissolved Oxygen is the amount of oxygen in the water. Things that cause higher levels
of D.O. are cold water, running water, and plants. Clear Creek has cold, running water,
and some plants. Clear Creek’s D.O. level is 6.5 mg/l. The Turd Pond’s D.O. level is
also 6.5 mg/l. You would expect the Creek to have a higher dissolved oxygen level, but
since the air temp. was higher and the water level was lower, there was less D.O.
Temperature: The next test was temperature. In Clear Creek the temp. was
10◦C. The Turd Pond’s temp. was 17.5◦C. It was higher in the Turd Pond because it is
not running water.
Alkalinity: The alkalinity was about the same in both because the
soil is from the same place. In the creek the alkalinity is 140 mg/l. In the
Turd Pond it is 125 mg/l.
pH: We did the pH test in Clear Creek and got 7.7. In the Turd
Pond we got 8.0. It was different because the Turd Pond has standing
water and more vegetation. When vegetation decomposes, it makes the
water have a higher pH level.
Turbidity: For the Turbidity in the Turd Pond, we got <8ntu because it was
standing water with more particles. In the creek we got 0(clear) because there were
very little particles in the water and because it was moving water.
Conductivity: When we conducted the conductivity test we got 387mS/cm in the
creek and for the pond we got 1190mS/cm. The pond water was more conductive
because there were more particles for the electricity to move through.
Saturation: The saturation in the Turd Pond was 41%. In Clear Creek it was 53%.
This is because the creek has colder water and more oxygen so it had a higher
saturation level.
Pebble Count:
The majority of the rocks in Clear Creek
are cobble. The Turd Pond has a muddy
bottom.
Pebble Count
50%
45%
Pebble Count
40%
35%
0% 2%
Bedrock
11%
47%
13%
27%
30%
25%
Bedrock
Silt
Sand
Silt
20%
Sand
15%
Gravel
Gravel
10%
Boulder
5%
Cobble
Boulder
Cobble
0%
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Biological Data (macroinvertebrates) for Clear Creek:
1%
1%
79%
1%
8%
10%
160
Crane fly
Snail
Water Strider
Aquatic Worm
Stone fly
May fly
Caddis fly
Crane fly
140
120
Snail
100
Water
Strider
Aquatic
Worm
Stone fly
80
60
40
20
0
Crane fly
Snail
Water Strider
Aquatic Worm
Stone fly
May fly
Caddis fly
Biological Data
0%
Biological
Data(macroinvertebrates)
Biological
Data(macroinvertebrates)
Clear Creek: The majority of the macroinvertebrate found in the creek were caddis flies.
Caddis flies are considered to be a clean water species. They are moderately sensitive
to pollution. That tells us that our creek is very little to moderately polluted. We also
found may flies and stone flies. They are sensitive to pollution.
Turd Pond: Also, like the creek, the pond is moderately polluted to polluted. We found
mostly dragonfly nymphs, damselfly nymphs, and pouch snails. Dragonfly and
Damselfly nymphs are moderately sensitive to pollution and pouch snails are pollution
tolerant.
Macroinvertebrates in the Turd Pond:
 Dragonfly Nymphs
 Damselfly Nymphs
 Snails
 True Bug
May fly
Caddis fly
Taylor Ballek
Conclusion: My opinion on the overall health of the creek is that it is pretty healthy.
From the tests that we conducted we found out that it could be moderately polluted. The
Turd Pond is also moderately polluted, but overall is healthy.
The rock structures in the stream are important for many reasons. First, they give
trout and other fish a place to swim and hide. Fish are a useful part of the stream
ecosystem. Also, they prevent the banks from getting eroded too much. If the banks got
eroded too far, it could cause flooding. Another problem that the structures solve is that
if the stream got too wide, the water would be shallow and the water temperature would
go up, and would not be suitable for fish and other organisms.