Presentation by: Martha Arriagia, Lauren Gaudette, Kimberly Myers, and Jayden Gilmore

1. Water Quality
Testing
at the Nisqually
River
(Riverbend
Campground)

2. Brief Watershed Overview
• Riverbend Campground is set
along the banks of the
Nisqually River
• The mouth of the Nisqually
River meets the Puget Sound
close to our monitoring site
• This area is near an estuary
where the freshwater meets
the Puget Sound.

3. Nisqually Middle School
Scientists Testing on the
Nisqually River

4. Testing for pH
pH levels
of 7-8
are
optimal
•pH is the measure of acidity or alkalinity in water
•pH is measured on a scale from 0-14 with 0 being the
most acidic, 7 is neutral and 14 the most basic or alkaline
•Optimal PH levels are important for the survival and
health of living organisms in the Nisqually Watershed

5. Water
Quality
pH
7.5 - fall
7.5 -winter
Great!

6. Testing For Dissolved Oxygen
• Dissolved Oxygen is the amount of oxygen
in the water.
• Salmon, water bugs, plants and all other
organisms need lots of dissolved oxygen in
the water for survival!

7. Dissolved Oxygen Results
Dissolved
Oxygen at
the Nisqually
River
Trail 1 Trail 2 Trail 3 Average
Fall
(Oct. 2012)
10 mg/L 10mg/L 10mg/L 10mg/L
Winter
(Feb.2012)
11.4mg/L 12.4mg/L 13mg/L 12.3mg/L
Acceptable levels of D.O.= 9.0 mg/l (ideal)
7.0-8.0 mg/l (acceptable)

8. Nisqually Middle School Students Being Smart
Testing for DO

9. Testing for Fecal Coliform
Fecal Coliform indicates the likely presence
of disease-causing bacteria.
This gets into the water through animal and
human feces.
Fecal Coliform optimal levels: Less than 50
FC/100mL.

10. Site Date Weather and
Temperature
Fecal Coliform
Level
River Bend
Campground
October 14 2012 Clear
40 Degrees
160 FC/100 mL
River Bend
Campground
February 21
2013
Clear
40 Degrees
0 FC/100 mL
Fecal Coliform
Optimal Level:
< 50 FC/100ml

12. Fecal Coliform
By Trisha and Irene Villegas
Setting up the Filter
System

13. • Turbidity is the amount of sediment and silt in the
water and is measured in Jackson Turbidity Units
or JTU’s.
• High turbidity can make it hard for underwater
plants to survive, harm the gills of organisms, and
effect the ability of juvenile fish to catch prey.
• Salmon avoid water with high silt amounts.
Testing for Turbidity

14. Fall (October) 2012
Turbidity Test Results
Winter (February) 2013
Turbidity Test Results
Replicate 1: 25 JTUs Replicate 1: 20 JTUs
Replicate 2: 20 JTUs Replicate 2: 15.5 JTUs
Replicate 3: 20 JTUs Replicate 3: 20 JTUs
Average: 21.5 JTUs Average: 18.33 JTUs
Turbidity Results
•Optimal Turbidity: Less than 20 JTUs
•The lower the turbidity the better because it
affects salmon and other organisms.

15. too
Testing for
Nitrates
•This tests for nitrogen-containing compounds.
•In fresh water, nitrogen can cause a decrease
in oxygen levels.
•The main sources of nitrates into bodies of
water are with industrial wastewater, septic
tanks, animal wastes, and fertilizers.

16. Nitrate Optimal levels –
*Nitrate levels should be below 1 mg/L.

17. Nitrate levels Results-
October water
quality testing
February water
quality testing
Replicate#1 - 1.0 mg./l Replicate #1- 1.0 mg/l
Replicate #2- 1.0 mg/l Replicate #2- 1.0 mg/l
Replicate #3- 2.0 mg/l Replicate #3 - 1.0 mg/l
Average: 1.3 mg/l Average: 1.0 mg/l

18. Biological
Monitoring
Testing for
Macroinvertebrates
at Eatonville

19. Benthic Species Tally on Yelm Creek vs Lacamas Creek
Sensitivity Species Yelm Creek
(Disturbed)
LaCamas
Creek
(undisturbed)
Intolerant Mayfly 3 19
Stonefly 11 9
Adult Beetle 2 0
Medium
Tolerance
Caddisfly 1 11
Juvenile Beetle 1 0
Mosquito 0 1
Midges 4 0
Tolerant Snails 3 1
Aquatic Worms 6 10
Total Benthics 31 51
Total Species 8 6

20. Data Interpretation:
• What can we celebrate?
The pH of the Nisqually river is very good!
The Dissolved Oxygen levels were great!
Healthy species diversity of Benthics!
• What might be causing the high amounts
of Fecal Coliform, and nitrates?
Left behind pet waste, farm animals, and fertilizers
from upstream.
• What could be done to improve the Water Quality?
• Pet waste stations
• Recycle
• Regular monitoring throughout the year
• Take the bus, ride a bike, or car pool
• Plant Trees
• Salmon tossing
• Educate people