The chemical indicators of water quality tested throughout the Upper Pond Run Watershed were, as follows: concentrations of the aquatic plant nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus; amounts of the potentially toxic heavy metals cadmium, lead and zinc that derive from vehicle use and end up in road run-off; extent of the suspended particle turbidity that affects available light intensity and wavelengths; levels of the physical conditions temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen to which aquatic organisms are often specifically adapted. Biological diversity was indicated in two stream reaches by a survey of benthic macroinvertebrates.

A portable, multi-parameter, colorimetric water analysis spectrophotometer was employed to measure nitrate-nitrogen, phosphates and turbidity from sample bottles in the field. Portable meters also were used to measure temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen (DO) from sample bottles in the field. An ionically-coupled plasma spectrophotometer was utilized to perform the Cd, Pb and Zn measurements, as well as a check on total P, from sample bottles in the laboratory. The popular Save Our Streams pollution-sensitive species indicator procedure served to roughly assess benthic macroinvertebrate diversity, using individuals collected in the field and identified in the laboratory. One water sample was collected at each of the stream test sites during business hours. Water samples from different depths at the test site in the middle of the lake were collected five times throughout a 24-hour period.

Testing the tributaries for dissolved oxygen and pH.

Dr. Browne, collecting water samples.

Wayne and Michael, testing water samples for nutrients.