TC Monitoring

Biological - Biological monitoring focuses on the aquatic organisms that live in streams and rivers. Biological stream monitoring is based on the fact that different species react to pollution in different ways. Pollution-sensitive organisms such as mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies are more susceptible to the effects of physical or chemical changes in a stream than other organisms. These organisms act as indicators of the absences of pollutants. Pollution-tolerant organisms such as midges and worms are less susceptible to changes in physical and chemical parameters in a stream. The presence or absence of such indicator organisms is an indirect measure of pollution. When the stream becomes polluted, pollution-sensitive organisms decrease in number or disappear; pollution tolerant organisms increase in variety and number.

Chemical - Hoosier Riverwatch volunteers are trained to conduct eight chemical tests considered by the National Sanitation Foundation and The Field Manual for Global Low-Cost Water Quality Monitoring (Mitchell and Stapp, 1997) to be the most useful in determining stream water quality. Those tests include:

Dissolved Oxygen
pH
Biochemical Oxygen Demand
Phosphates (Ortho and Total)
E. Coli
Water Temperature Change
Nitrates
Turbidity

Flow - Discharge is the amount (volume) of water flowing in the stream per second. This measurement is important because it influences other physical, chemical, and biological factors in the stream. A high discharge rate may indicate recent rainfall or snowmelt events. When a large amount of rain runs off the land, it often carries sediments and nutrients to the stream. Very low discharge rates may indicate drought conditions, which also affect water quality and aquatic life. The discharge rate is obtained by multiplying the average width, depthm and velcit of the stream. All measurements are taken (or converted) into feet.

Habitat - A natural stream channel provides a variety of habitats for many species of plants and animals. Pools, riffles, undercut banks and snags (fallen limbs or snall log piles) all provide different types of habitat. The more types of habitat present in a stram system, the greater the potential for aquatic plant and animal diversity. A uniformly straight or deep channel provides less potential habitat than a stream with variable flows and depths.


		Monitoring
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	The Monitoring Committee consists of volunteer Hoosier RiverWatch water monitors called "The Dearborn Stream Team." This committee is responsible for the chemical and biological monitoring of Tanners Creek and its tributaries. Committee Chairperson: Cynthia Merrill

	Biological - Biological monitoring focuses on the aquatic organisms that live in streams and rivers. Biological stream monitoring is based on the fact that different species react to pollution in different ways. Pollution-sensitive organisms such as mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies are more susceptible to the effects of physical or chemical changes in a stream than other organisms. These organisms act as indicators of the absences of pollutants. Pollution-tolerant organisms such as midges and worms are less susceptible to changes in physical and chemical parameters in a stream. The presence or absence of such indicator organisms is an indirect measure of pollution. When the stream becomes polluted, pollution-sensitive organisms decrease in number or disappear; pollution tolerant organisms increase in variety and number. Chemical - Hoosier Riverwatch volunteers are trained to conduct eight chemical tests considered by the National Sanitation Foundation and The Field Manual for Global Low-Cost Water Quality Monitoring (Mitchell and Stapp, 1997) to be the most useful in determining stream water quality. Those tests include: Dissolved Oxygen pH Biochemical Oxygen Demand Phosphates (Ortho and Total) E. Coli Water Temperature Change Nitrates Turbidity Flow - Discharge is the amount (volume) of water flowing in the stream per second. This measurement is important because it influences other physical, chemical, and biological factors in the stream. A high discharge rate may indicate recent rainfall or snowmelt events. When a large amount of rain runs off the land, it often carries sediments and nutrients to the stream. Very low discharge rates may indicate drought conditions, which also affect water quality and aquatic life. The discharge rate is obtained by multiplying the average width, depthm and velcit of the stream. All measurements are taken (or converted) into feet. Habitat - A natural stream channel provides a variety of habitats for many species of plants and animals. Pools, riffles, undercut banks and snags (fallen limbs or snall log piles) all provide different types of habitat. The more types of habitat present in a stram system, the greater the potential for aquatic plant and animal diversity. A uniformly straight or deep channel provides less potential habitat than a stream with variable flows and depths.