Groeger, A., Brown, P., Tietjen, T., Kelsey T. (1997). Water Quality of the San Marcos River.

The Texas Journal

of Science. , 49. Retrieved May 6, 2010, from http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/SciRC?
locID=aber26599rpa&bi=SU&bt=Stream+water+&c=11&t=4&ste=23&docNum=A128705167&st=b&tc=
31&tf=16 .

This article describes the process of recording the process of changing physical and chemical
characteristics of the San Marcos River as it flows down to the Guadalupe River. These changes in water quality
includes a change in its effects on groundwater to a more runoff-dominated river ecosystem, human influences of
pollution, and the change in other characteristics as the stream flows through different geographical areas. The
stream’s turbidity and other characteristics of the stream are monitored at 14 points along the stream as it flowes
towards the Gonzales.
The characteristics of the stream, are measured using specific methods. The 14 sites along the river were
measured on seven dates: 27 March 1992, 22 July 1992, 16 November 1992, 31 January 1993, 16 April 1993, 12
September 1993, and 10 October 1994. Temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen levels, and specific conductivity were
measured with a Hydrolab Surveyor 2 which was calibrated daily. The ability of the stream to neutralize acids, or
alkalinity, was measured according to Wetzel & Likens. Turbidity was measured with a HF Instruments model
DRT turbidimeter. Nutrient analyses were carried out on an Alpkem RFA 300 autoanalyzer, and were based on the
methods described by Strickland & Parsons. On October 10 and 11 sampling over a diel period was done at five
sites in the upper river area in which all of the variables describes were measured over 3 hour intervals. In February,
and experiment was done to determine the limiting nutrients in the upper area of the stream. This was done by
placing unglazed bathroom tiles at two sites to measure periphyton colonization rates through chlorophyll a
accumulation upstream and downstream of the SMSTP. The tiles were suspended at a depth were 75% of the light
rays would penetrate, and were left for 14 days. Simultaneously, water samples were collected at each site for a
nutrient limitation analysis with the alga Selenastrum capricornutum. Samples collected into 1 liter cubitainers, and
appropriate nutrient additions were made. The treatments were control, +P, +N, and +M was dissolved into
micronutrient solutions of Woods Hole MBL algal growth media. Four treatments at the same enrichments abover
were also included. The metal solution included EDTA, iron, copper, zinc, cobalt, manganese, and molybdenum.
All treatments were done in triplicate at both sites except for the control treatments, which had six. The containters
were then incubated in 24 hour light and shaken on a shaker table for 14 d. Response to these nutrients was
determined by a change in chlorophyll a content within the containers. Chlorophyll a was determined in DMSO-
acetone extracts. Data from the U.S. Geological Survey was gathered to supply the specific chemical characteristics
of the stream.
The results were separated into a table, which displayed the median, mean, 1-3 Q value, range, and n value
for the values of the counts of: pH, calcium ions, magnesium ions, sodium ions, potassium ions, Alk, chlorine
levels, sulfate ion, and silicon in the stream, visually comparing the San Marcos River to San Marcos Springs and
Blanco River. The turbidity of the water increased downstream, as well as the specific conductance, alkalinity, and
the concentrations of nitrates and ammonium.
The overall result was that the increases in values were natural, with the exception of nitrates, and
ammonium, which may have been due to the release of high quantities of algae by the State Fish Hatchery as they
emptied their ponds, and elevated conductance was due mostly to the increase in concentrations of sodium and
chloride in treated sewage, and changes in nutrients was due to limestone erosion.
This article provides a description for many techniques on measuring the stream water quality; for example,
it provided a very specific technique on measuring the nutrients located inside of the stream through analysis of the
algae found inside of the stream water, found through a culture. Measurements of the nutrients was not only
performed through the use of the culture of algae, but through the measurement of the growth of algae on the surface
of the tile, acting as an indicator as to whether or not the stream is healthy enough to support algae growth. This
article provided much useful information for analyzing the stream water and determining the stream’s health.