The Bokes Creek Watershed

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The Bokes Creek Watershed

• Jamie Polzin, Catherine Eitel, and Archana Narain

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Hypothesis 1

• Increase in siltation decreases IBI levels.

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My Graphs
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IBI, ICI, and Substrate in Relation to Siltation
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Conclusion to my hypothesis

• My findings have supported my hypothesis. If
  silitation levels in the stream increase, IBI
  levels will decrease. I have shown that
  silitation is a major factor in decreasing IBI.

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Hypothesis 2

• My hypothesis is that the farming in Scioto Bokes
  is increasing the nutrient enrichment in the
  stream.

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Vocabulary to Know

• Eutrophication-Extra nutrients added to the
  stream, causing the overgrowth of plants.

• Surface Runoff-Rainfall that drains into a
  water system

• Tillage-Cultivation of land or soil

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Graphs, Charts, and Data
Nutrient Enrichment is the worst cause of
impairment
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Graphs, Charts, and Data
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Land Use In Riparian Zone
Commercial/Industrial/Transportation Deciduous
Forest Wetlands Evergreen Forest High Intensity
Residential Low Intensity Residential Mixed
Forest Open Water Pasture Quarries/Strip
Mines/Gravel Pits Row Crops Transitional Urban
Areas Woody Wetlands
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Graphs, Charts, and Data
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Graphs, Charts, and Data
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Conclusion to my hypothesis

• I have concluded that agriculture is a major
  cause of excess nutrient enrichment in Scioto
  Bokes. I have supported this by showing that
  there is more nutrient enrichment in areas with
  more agriculture, and in areas where there is
  less nutrient enrichment, there is less
  agriculture.

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Hypothesis 3

• My Hypothesis is that an increase in agriculture
  leads to a decrease in QHEI (Qualitative Habitat
  Evaluation Index).

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QHEI

• Vegetation - to block the runoff and sediment.
• Cover - to keep the temperature cool and more
  oxygen flowing
• Substrate - to give the insects a home and help
  keep them safe. It also gives fish a safe place
  to lay eggs.

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QHEI vs. Agriculture

• Relationship of QHEI and percent of agricultural
  land.
• As percent of agricultural increases, QHEI value
  lowers.
• As agriculture approaches the stream, value drops
  and river can be contaminated.

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Agriculture

• Most land is agricultural
• Not many forests or wetlands
• Therefore, not many rivers are clean.

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Conclusion for my hypothesis

• I have supported my hypothesis. When more and
  more land is being used for agriculture, the QHEI
  is reduced. This causes a decrease in the quality
  of the stream and threatens the animals that live
  in it.

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Conclusion

• Overall, we conclude that the reduction of
  biodiversity in the Bokes Creek Watershed is due
  to the agricultural practices along the banks.
  Excess fertilizer, animal waste, and silitation
  particles enter the water through runoff. QHEI is
  impaired by the livestock and farming too close
  to the water.

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Recommendations

• Riparian land should be restored and not used for
  farming.
• Livestock should not have access to the Riparian
  Zone.
• By practicing better farming methods, chemical,
  biological, and habitat qualities of the stream
  would improve.

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