Community-based Water Quality Monitoring by the Upper Oconee Watershed Network
Author(s)
Conners, Deanna E.
Eggert, Susan
Keyes, Jennifer
Merrill, Michael D.
Advisor(s)
Editor(s)
Hatcher, Kathryn J.
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Abstract
The Upper Oconee Watershed Network is
a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting streams
and rivers by community oriented water quality
education, advocacy and monitoring. Presently,
community volunteers have collected water quality data
on over 150 sites in the Middle and North Oconee
Rivers. The purpose of this study was to compile data
on visual assessments, physical and chemical analyses
(temperature, pH, turbidity, conductivity and dissolved
oxygen) and biological measurements (fecal coliform
levels and macroinvertebrate indices) from 11 primary sites to evaluate seasonal trends in water quality and to
assess the effects of land-use on water quality in the
Upper Oconee watershed. Of all parameters tested,
biological measurements were the most sensitive
indicators of degraded water quality. Seasonally, water
temperatures and fecal coliform levels were highest in the summer, whereas dissolved oxygen concentrations
were lowest. Turbidity was highest in the spring and
winter possibly because of increased rainfall and
corresponding runoff during that time. Water quality
degradation was more apparent at sites with urban land-uses. Together, these data illustrate the importance of
including land-use observations and seasonal biological
assessments in community-based water quality
monitoring.
Sponsor
Sponsored and Organized by: U.S. Geological Survey, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Natural Resources Conservation Service, The University of Georgia, Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology
Date
2001-03
Extent
Resource Type
Text
Resource Subtype
Proceedings