Lydia Blaisdell and Cole Elliott

Date of Investigation - 10/12/17

Silverton, Colorado
Silverton Report

Problem Statement:

Based on the data that was collected on the Silverton Field Trip, predict the pH levels,
turbidity, streamflow, temperature, and conductivity of the lower Animas River. The
three bodies of water that were tested were Cement Creek, Mineral Creek, and the
Upper Animas. All data from each stream should be utilized in the process.

Introduction:

The goal of this lab was to collect data from Silverton, and then use that data to predict
what the pH levels, turbidity, streamflow, temperature, and conductivity are of the Lower
Animas. pH levels are measured on a scale goes from fourteen to zero, fourteen being
the most alkaline, and zero being the most acidic. Seven, which is in the middle of the
scale is neutral. A substance is generally identified as an acid if it produces hydrogen
ions in water, and a substance is identified as a base if it produces hydroxide ions in
water. Turbidity is the cloudiness in water that is caused by suspended solids that can
contain particles of all different sizes. These particles will eventually settle at the bottom,
but depending on the size of the particle they will settle faster or slower. Turbidity can
be measured by placing a small sample of the liquid in question into a machine that
shines light through the sample and determines the turbidity by the strength of the light.
Streamflow is how much water is passing at a certain point, and is measured in cfs
which stands for cubic feet per second. Temperature is the measure of heat present in
an object, or in this case, a substance.Conductivity is how well something transfers
electricity, and can be measured by placing a conductivity probe in the stream that
youre collecting data from.

After we had collected all of our data, we needed to predict different values of the Lower
Animas with the information we had collected from the Upper Animas, Cement Creek,
and Mineral Creek. We had to use weighted average, which is an average that is found
by multiplying each component by a factor that is based on its importance and then
adding them together, central tendency, and and measures of variability to determine
our predictions.
Visual Representations:

Temperature:

The chart and table above show the data we collected for temperature, as well as the
median/standard deviation that was used to determine our predictions.

pH:
The figures above represent the values we collected for pH, and the math that determined our
predictions.

Turbidity:
These above show the data we collected for turbidity, as well as the math we used for our
predictions.

Streamflow:
The figures above show the data we collected for turbidity, and the math we used to find our
predictions.

Conductivity:

nd the math we used to find our

The figures above show the data we collected for conductivity, a
predictions.

Methods/Process:

To predict the pH level, turbidity, streamflow, temperature, and conductivity of the lower
Animas we took the data that the whole class gathered at the three different bodies of
water, and placed them into a spreadsheet. Next we followed along as our teacher
walked us through put our data into a pivot table. This gave us the median, average,
minimum, maximum, and the standard deviation of each type of data. We then
averaged the averages of each type of data. For example, we took the pH of Cement
Creek, Mineral Creek, and the Upper Animas added them all together and divided by
three. This gave us our prediction for pH. We repeated this process to make our
predictions for the rest of the types of data. We did get help from the USGS website to
determine if our predictions were accurate. We found that there was a very slight
difference from our data and the USGS data but it was an understandable difference.
To find the pH of the three different bodies of water. We took a pH probe which gave us
the groups data for pH. To find the temperature of the three bodies of water we took a
thermometer which gave us the temperature for the three different bodies of water. To
find the turbidity of the water we took a turbidity sensor and calibrated it. To calibrate it
we placed a vial of water that has a set value of 0. This means that it is completely
clear. Then we took another vile that was empty and filled it with water. The sensor then
gave us a reading for what the turbidity was. To test the conductivity of the water we
took a conductivity probe and placed it into the water and gathered the reading. To find
the streamflow we either found it by placing a propeller in the water which gave us
streamflow of we measured a 50 ft long section of river and timed how long it took for a
bobber to travel 50ft.

Solutions/Predictions:

Our predictions go as follows:

temperature(c): 7.18
pH: 5.47
turbidity(NTU): 9.10
conductivity(uS/cm): 686.44
streamflow(cfs): 109.14

We did not predict the dissolved oxygen in the lower Animals because we could not
make accurate predictions. This is due to the fact that we did not have for dissolved
oxygen from either cement creek and mineral creek. For the data gathered in
temperature we did see that the data for each stream was similar and there were no
outlier. Out of all the data collected we only found two outliers. These were in
streamflow and conductivity. We choose not to take out these outliers and our data was
still sound with these outliers included. Like we stated previously we averaged the
averages of all the data in any given section (minus dissolved oxygen) to make our
predictions. For example in temperature we had the following data:
Cement Creek 9.1
Cement Creek 9.6
Cement Creek 9.5
Cement Creek 9.5
Cement Creek 9.8
Cement Creek 9.4
Mineral Creek
Mineral Creek 6.7
Mineral Creek 7
Mineral Creek 6.8
Mineral Creek 6.9
Mineral Creek 7
Upper Animas 4.7
Upper Animas 4.5
Upper Animas 4.6
Upper Animas 4.9
Upper Animas 4.9
To find the average of any given set of data you add all of the data and then divided by
however many numbers are in the set. So for Cement creek we added
9.1+9.6+9.5+9.5+9.8+9.4 to equal 56.9 then we divided it by 6 because that is how
many numbers are given for Cement creek to equal 9.48. This is the average
temperature for Cement creek in our data. We repeated this process to find the and
4.72 for the upper Animas. This gave us three numbers to work with 9.48, 6.88, and
averages of Mineral creek and the upper Animas these equaled 6.88 for Mineral creek
4.72. We then repeated the averaging process to gain the average temperature of all
three of the streams. This gave us our answer of 7.18 degrees C. We then repeated this
whole process to make our predictions for the rest of the data. We realized later on that
there were three streams flowing into the lower Animas so we took our prediction of
streamflow and multiplied it by three because we realized that those three streams
would make a larger river rather than being the same size. Our predictions are correct.
We checked them against the USGS website which matched our predictions. After
checking our data against the USGS website we talked to other groups and a lot of
other groups had made predictions in a different way. They had found what percent
each tributary contributed to the lower Animas and made predictions after doing some
other math which makes sense. We were doubting what we had done except that our
own data had been close to the USGS data. We are confident in our predictions based
on what has been explained here and we have seen no fault in our methods. So we will
stand by what we predicted.
Evaluation:

Lydia: Overall I felt like this project was definitely educationally worthwhile because I
learned a lot about how to test bodies of water for different values, and how those
values affect the environment. After this project I have much more of an understanding
of how to identify pH, conductivity, temperature, as everything else that we tested in the
various creeks/rivers. The part of this project that I enjoyed the most was when we were
in Silverton actually testing the water, and learning about the environment. I didnt enjoy
the write-up and predictions as much but I can see why it was important to apply our
research and data so that we could have an understanding of why collecting data like
we did is important. I think that the difficulty level was perfect, although the day of the
field trip may have run smoother if we had more practice with the various tools we were
using to collect data.

Cole: The project overall was educational. I didnt enjoy it because I do not find pH and
other river data interesting but I do see how it is important. Scientist can use this data to
help determine the quality of water as well as how much is going to be available for use.
It can also help us to protect wildlife in case something does happen. For example in
the Gold King mine spill lots of sediments and other potentially hazardous materials spill
out into the river and polluted it. This means that if and animal were to drink then it
ingest it. The materials could travel around the circle of life causing massive damage.
We can prevent such problems from happening again by making sure that mines are
safe and are not going to send more harmful materials down the river. We can also
periodically test the river for pH and other types of data to ensure that nothing is wrong
and to warn us if something is wrong. The testing of the three tributaries was easy but
the report was long and excessive in my opinion. I think that finding the averages and
such in the data was beneficial but not writing a report on it. I would give myself and my
Partner an A on this project because we have worked really hard to complete what has
been asked as well as we worked really well together and each contributed equally.

Importance:

The field work we did in Silverton to find temperature, conductivity, streamflow, pH, and
turbidity is very important, seeing as it can tell us how the rivers, creeks, and streams
are affecting the environment around us. For example, knowing the pH of the lower
Animas River will allow us to identify what wildlife is living in the river, and area
surrounding it. If the pH of the river is too high, this will cause some species of fish to
die off, and by having this knowledge we can start trying to change this. We can also
protect the river from harmful chemicals if we know what these chemicals are, and how
they either benefit or cause issues in Durangos ecosystem. Other values like
streamflow and conductivity tell us how much water from certain streams make up the
water in the Animas River, this information can tell us where certain chemicals in the
river are coming from, and possibly how to lessen these harmful chemicals.

Assessment:

I think that we deserve an A for this assignment, because we used all the data that was
given to us, as well as individual research to come up with predictions that are within the
range of the data that we found on the usgs website. The lab report has is written in a
detailed and understandable way that communicates our process and the predictions
that we determined for the lower Animas River.