As a bizarre climax to the Upper Pond Run Watershed story, findings from the outflow immediately downstream or R.L. Martin Lake dam were by far the worst in the whole water quality snapshot and several did not come close to meeting relevant FW-2 standards. Although nitrate-nitrogen was undetectable, total phosphorus levels were very high (0.6-0.9 ppm). Turbidity from non-algal suspended particulates was high (35-37 FAU). Water temperatures were cool amid the 100% tree canopy (19.6-23.2 degrees C) and pH values were near the allowable low (about 6.7-6.8). Most striking were the dissolved oxygen concentrations: 1.0 ppm at test site #15, just below the weir; 2.4 ppm at test site #16, about 10 meters downstream. 

The benthic macroinvertebrate survey conducted at site #16, not surprisingly, produced a "poor" rating. That is, there was very low diversity overall, concentrated in pollution-tolerant groups (no very pollution-sensitive organisms, a few individuals of one type of somewhat-pollution sensitive organism and many individuals of two pollution-tolerant organisms). Seating the outflow channel was a thick, bright orange flac of possible ferric hydroxide precipitates and the area markedly stank. In addition, enormous numbers of a Planaria species dominated the stream substrate community for as yet unknown reasons..

Summary and Conclusions

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