Data collected from Shell Creek in Nebraska by the 2003 Newman Grove Shell Creek Watershed team.

1. 2003
Shell Creek
Watershed Study
Researchers: Amanda Gasper,
Melissa Gasper, Anjuli Mostek,
Katie Stone, Katie Dunlap,
Courtney Bennett, Brittany Pieke,
Sarah O’Brien,
Instructor: Mark Seier

2. Introduction
•Site 1- Instead of testing on Paul Cederland’s property, we
moved to a site on Tim Krueger’s farm. This enabled
us to have a sight on the South branch
• Site 2- This is the site with established buffer zones. It is
on the North branch. Here we have roadside access to
the site.
• Site 3- Located on Brad Wallin’s land. At this point, the
north and south branches have already converged.
• Site 4- Just below Newman Grove on Katie Hallgren’s
property. Scoured banks are trademark to this site. It
also lies below the waste water treatment facility.

4. WQI
• The Water Quality Index was developed by the
National Sanitation Foundation as a standard system
to compare different bodies of water.
• To determine the WQI, a series of nine tests
were performed. These tests were: dissolved oxygen,
fecal coliform, pH, Biochemical Oxygen Demand
(BOD), temperature, total phosphate, nitrates,
turbidity, and total solids. We also did a water
discharge test which we use to measure the flow of the
creek in cubic feet per second.

5. • After the tests are completed, the WQI for
each section of the creek can be computed. To
formulate the WQI, we first computed Q-values
which is a number determined from a weighting
curve chart. We multiply this number by a
weighting factor, which provides a measure of
the relative importance of each test to overall
water quality. The water quality index ranges
from zero to 100. Zero to 25 is very bad. 25 to
50 is bad. 50 to 70 is medium. 70 to 90 is good,
and 90 to 100 is excellent.

6. DO: % saturation

7. Sample WQI Form
Weighting T o t a l
Test Results Q-value Factor
DO % sat. 50 0.17 8.5
Fecal Coliform col/100 mL 33 0.16 5.28
pH units 93 0.11 10.23
BOD mg/L 58 0.11 6.38
Temperature change in C 85 0.1 8.5
Total Phosphate mg/L 50 0.1 5
Nitrates mg/L 90 0.1 9
Turbidity JTU 33 0.08 2.64
Total Solids mg/L 20 0.07 1.4
Overall Water Quality Index ___56.93___

8. Water Test Natural Readings Cautionary Readings
Dissolved Oxygen 90% or higher Below 90% unless the
% Saturation waters are
supersaturated due to
cultural eutrophication.
pH 6.5 - 8.5 Below 6.5 Above 8.5
Nitrates 0.0 - 1.0 ppm Consistent readings
above 3 ppm
Change in The higher the change,
Temperature the worse the water
quality.
Turbidity 0 – 8 JTU Increasing trends in
turbidity
measurements.

9. Water Test Natural Readings Cautionary Readings
5 Day BOD The higher the
difference between the
original and the 5 day
reading, the worse the
water.
Phosphates Less than 1 mg/L More than 1 mg/L
Total Solids The higher the
concentration, the
worse the water.
Fecal Coliform Over 200
colonies/100 mL of
water

10. pH Turbidity Nitrates Phosphate
units JTU mg/L mg/L
May 23, 24
Site 1 7.5 60 2.5 0.6
Site 2 7.7 20 0.25 0.3
Site 3 8.3 110 3.75 0.3
Site 4 8.5 60 3 0.7
June 25, 26
Site 1 7.8 75 2.75 0.4
Site 2 7.65 17.5 0.75 0.3
Site 3 7.8 2595 0.875 0.7
Site 4 7 5035 0.375 0.9

11. Fecal Total Discharge Change in
Coliform Solids H20 Temp
Col/100ml mg/L ft.3/sec. Celsius
May 23, 24
Site 1 280 680 1.79 2.3
Site 2 120 650 1.45 -1.8
Site 3 140 670 3.24 -0.1
Site 4 120 480 3.43 -0.5
June 25, 26
Site 1 320 425 1.41 3.8
Site 2 200 1545 3.74 -1
Site 3 900 545 5.15 -0.05
Site 4 0 3340 --- -0.1

12. Dissolved 5 Day
Oxygen BOD
% Sat. mg/L
May 23, 24
Site 1 53% 4.9
Site 2 54% 2.2
Site 3 45% 2
Site 4 26% 2.6
June 25, 26
Site 1 41% 3.1
Site 2 25.50% 1.7
Site 3 57.50% 4.5
Site 4 20.50% 1.4

13. pH Turbidity Nitrates Phosphate
units JTU mg/L mg/L
July 17, 18
Site 1 7.75 170 1.6 0.1
Site 2 7.45 7.5 0.25 0
Site 3 8.05 60 0.35 0.4
Site 4 8.05 35 0.65 0.4
August 7,8
Site 1 8.4 80 0.75 0.4
Site 2 7.8 5 0 0.3
Site 3 7.9 5 <.25 0.1
Site 4 8 50 <.25 0.4

14. Fecal Total Discharge Change in
Coliform Solids H20 Temp
Col/100ml mg/L ft.3/sec. Celsius
July 17, 18
Site 1 260 920 1.05 0.45
Site 2 40 550 1.37 -1.6
Site 3 80 570 2.38 -0.3
Site 4 40 550 --- -0.3
August 7, 8
Site 1 120 600 1.001 6
Site 2 0 490 0.537 -3.6
Site 3 20 370 1.57 -0.3
Site 4 60 410 --- 0.7

15. Dissolved 5 Day
Oxygen BOD
% Sat. mg/L
July 17, 18
Site 1 30% 0.65
Site 2 9% 0.6
Site 3 17% 0.8
Site 4 24% 1.2
August 7, 8
Site 1 85% 7
Site 2 8% 1
Site 3 47% 4.4
Site 4 46% 4.4

16. May 23 Site 1
Weighting T o t a l
Test Results Q-value Factor
DO % sat. 50 0.17 8.5
Fecal Coliform col/100 mL 33 0.16 5.28
pH units 93 0.11 10.23
BOD mg/L 98 0.11 10.78
Temperature change in C 85 0.1 8.5
Total Phosphate mg/L 50 0.1 5
Nitrates mg/L 90 0.1 9
Turbidity JTU 33 0.08 2.64
Total Solids mg/L 20 0.07 1.4
Overall Water Quality Index ___61.33___

17. May 23 Site 2
Weighting T o t a l
Test Results Q-value Factor
DO % sat. 45 0.17 7.65
Fecal Coliform col/100 mL 41 0.16
pH units 92 0.11 6.56
BOD mg/L 65 0.11 7.15
Temperature change in C 89 0.1 10.12
8.9
Total Phosphate mg/L 72 0.1 7.2
Nitrates mg/L 58 0.1 5.8
Turbidity JTU 61 0.08 4.88
Total Solids mg/L 20 0.07 1.4
Overall Water Quality Index ___59.66___

18. May 23 Site 3
Weighting T o t a l
Test Results Q-value Factor
DO % sat. 37 0.17 7.31
Fecal Coliform col/100 mL 40 0.16 6.4
pH units 75 0.11
BOD mg/L 80 0.11 8.03
8.8
Temperature change in C 91 0.1 9.2
Total Phosphate mg/L 79 0.1
Nitrates mg/L 80 0.1 7.4
8.0
Turbidity JTU 5 0.08 0.4
Total Solids mg/L 20 0.07
1.4
Overall Water Quality Index ___56.94___

19. May 23 Site 4
Weighting T o t a l
Test Results Q-value Factor
DO % sat. 18 0.17 3.06
Fecal Coliform col/100 mL 41 0.16
pH units 67 0.11 6.56
BOD mg/L 88 0.11 9.68
Temperature change in C 90 0.1 7.37
9.0
Total Phosphate mg/L 50 0.1
Nitrates mg/L 75 0.1 5.0
7.5
Turbidity JTU 33 0.08 2.64
Total Solids mg/L 34 0.07
2.38
Overall Water Quality Index ___53.19___

20. June 26 Site 1
Weighting T o t a l
Test Results Q-value Factor
DO % sat. 33 0.17 5.61
Fecal Coliform col/100 mL 33 0.16 5.28
pH units 93 0.11 10.23
BOD mg/L 95 0.11 10.45
Temperature change in C 80 0.1 8
Total Phosphate mg/L 66 0.1 6.6
Nitrates mg/L 94 0.1 9.4
Turbidity JTU 27 0.08 2.61
Total Solids mg/L 44 0.07 3.08
Overall Water Quality Index ___61.26___

21. June 26 Site 2
Weighting T o t a l
Test Results Q-value Factor
DO % sat. 16 0.17 2.72
Fecal Coliform col/100 mL 36 0.16 5.76
pH units 93 0.11 10.23
BOD mg/L 98 0.11 10.78
Temperature change in C 90 0.1 9
Total Phosphate mg/L 72 0.1 7.2
Nitrates mg/L 97 0.1 9.7
Turbidity JTU 64 0.08 5.12
Total Solids mg/L 20 0.07 1.4
Overall Water Quality Index ___61.91___

22. June 26 Site 3
Weighting T o t a l
Test Results Q-value Factor
DO % sat. 87 0.17 14.97
Fecal Coliform col/100 mL 22 0.16 3.52
pH units 91 0.11 10.01
BOD mg/L 84 0.11 9.24
Temperature change in C 92 0.1 9.2
Total Phosphate mg/L 57 0.1 5.7
Nitrates mg/L 80 0.1 8
Turbidity JTU 5 0.08 0.4
Total Solids mg/L 20 0.07 1.4
Overall Water Quality Index ___62.44___

23. June 26 Site 4
Weighting T o t a l
Test Results Q-value Factor
DO % sat. 13 0.17 2.21
Fecal Coliform col/100 mL 98 0.16 15.68
pH units 89 0.11 9.79
BOD mg/L 85 0.11 9.35
Temperature change in C 92 0.1 9.2
Total Phosphate mg/L 96 0.1 9.6
Nitrates mg/L 96 0.1 9.6
Turbidity JTU 5 0.08 0.4
Total Solids mg/L 20 0.07 1.4
Overall Water Quality Index ___67.23___

24. July 18 Site 1
Weighting T o t a l
Test Results Q-value Factor
DO % sat. 19 0.17 3.23
Fecal Coliform col/100 mL 32 0.16 5.12
pH units 91 0.11 10.01
BOD mg/L 69 0.11 7.59
Temperature change in C 85 0.1 8.5
Total Phosphate mg/L 97 0.1 9.7
Nitrates mg/L 97 0.1 9.7
Turbidity JTU 5 0.08 0.4
Total Solids mg/L 20 0.07 1.4
Overall Water Quality Index ___55.65___

25. July 18 Site 2
Weighting T o t a l
Test Results Q-value Factor
DO % sat. 6 0.17 1.02
Fecal Coliform col/100 mL 55 0.16 8.8
pH units 93 0.11 10.23
BOD mg/L 99 0.11 10.89
Temperature change in C 88 0.1 8.8
Total Phosphate mg/L 98 0.1 9.8
Nitrates mg/L 98 0.1 9.8
Turbidity JTU 81 0.08 6.48
Total Solids mg/L 20 0.07 1.4
Overall Water Quality Index ___67.22___

26. July 18 Site 3
Weighting T o t a l
Test Results Q-value Factor
DO % sat. 10 0.17 1.7
Fecal Coliform col/100 mL 48 0.16 7.68
pH units 83 0.11 9.13
BOD mg/L 88 0.11 9.68
Temperature change in C 91 0.1 9.1
Total Phosphate mg/L 67 0.1 6.7
Nitrates mg/L 97 0.1 9.7
Turbidity JTU 33 0.08 2.64
Total Solids mg/L 20 0.07 1.4
Overall Water Quality Index ___57.73___

27. July 18 Site 4
Weighting T o t a l
Test Results Q-value Factor
DO % sat. 15 0.17 2.55
Fecal Coliform col/100 mL 55 0.16 8.8
pH units 83 0.11 9.13
BOD mg/L 99 0.11 10.89
Temperature change in C 91 0.1 9.1
Total Phosphate mg/L 67 0.1 6.7
Nitrates mg/L 97 0.1 9.7
Turbidity JTU 48 0.08 3.84
Total Solids mg/L 20 0.07 1.4
Overall Water Quality Index ___62.11___

28. August 8 Site 1
Weighting T o t a l
Test Results Q-value Factor
DO % sat. 93 0.17 8.5
Fecal Coliform col/100 mL 42 0.16 6.72
pH units 70 0.11 7.7
BOD mg/L 48 0.11 5.28
Temperature change in C 70 0.1 7
Total Phosphate mg/L 70 0.1 7
Nitrates mg/L 97 0.1 9.7
Turbidity JTU 25 0.08 2
Total Solids mg/L 20 0.07 1.4
Overall Water Quality Index ___55.3___

29. August 8 Site 2
Weighting T o t a l
Test Results Q-value Factor
DO % sat. 5 0.17 0.85
Fecal Coliform col/100 mL 98 0.16 15.68
pH units 89 0.11 9.79
BOD mg/L 95 0.11 10.45
Temperature change in C 78 0.1 7.8
Total Phosphate mg/L 80 0.1 8
Nitrates mg/L 97 0.1 9.7
Turbidity JTU 86 0.08 6.88
Total Solids mg/L 32 0.07 2.24
Overall Water Quality Index ___71.39___

30. August 8 Site 3
Weighting T o t a l
Test Results Q-value Factor
DO % sat. 41 0.17 6.97
Fecal Coliform col/100 mL 61 0.16 9.76
pH units 87 0.11 9.57
BOD mg/L 56 0.11 6.16
Temperature change in C 92 0.1 9.2
Total Phosphate mg/L 96 0.1 9.6
Nitrates mg/L 98 0.1 9.8
Turbidity JTU 86 0.08 6.88
Total Solids mg/L 51 0.07 3.57
Overall Water Quality Index ___71.51___

31. August 8 Site 4
Weighting T o t a l
Test Results Q-value Factor
DO % sat. 40 0.17 6.8
Fecal Coliform col/100 mL 51 0.16 8.16
pH units 83 0.11 9.13
BOD mg/L 56 0.11 6.16
Temperature change in C 93 0.1 9.3
Total Phosphate mg/L 70 0.1 7.0
Nitrates mg/L 98 0.1 9.8
Turbidity JTU 34 0.08 2.72
Total Solids mg/L 45 0.07 3.15
Overall Water Quality Index ___62.22___

32. Precipitation
2.0
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0
May 04 May 05 May 08 May 10 May 13 May 19 May 22 May 24 June 01 June 02

33. Precipitation cont.
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0
June 07 June 25 June 27 July 04 July 05 July 09 July 27 July 31 August 04 August 05

34. Site 1
Site 2 Dissolved Oxygen ppm
7
Site 3
Site 4
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
May 23&24 June 25&26 July 17& 18 August 7&8

35. Site 1 Dissolved Oxygen % Saturation
0.9
Site 2
0.8 Site 3
Site 4
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.0
May 23&24 June 25&26 July 17& 18 August 7&8

36. Site 1
Site 2
Site 3
Turbidity
180
Site 4
160 2 5
140
5 0
9 3
120
5 5
100
80
60
40
20
0
May 23&24 June 25&26 July 17& 18 August 7&8

37. Site 1
Site 2 Nitrates
Site 3
4.0
Site 4
3.5
3.0
0 0<.25
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
May 23&24 June 25&26 July 17& 18 August 7&8

38. Change in Temperature
Degrees Celsius
6
5
4
3
2
site 1
1 site 2
0 site 3
-1 site 4
-2
-3
-4
May 23 June 25 July 17 August
& 24 & 26 & 18 7& 8

39. Total Solids
3500
3000
2500
2000 Site 1
mg/L
1500 Site 2
Site 3
1000 Site 4
500
0
May 23 June 25 July August
& 24 & 26 17&18 7& 8

40. Fecal Coliform
900
800
700
600
500 site 1
400 site 2
300 site 3
site 4
200
100
0
May 23 June 25 July 17 August 7
& 24 & 26 & 18 &8

41. Phosphates
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
mg/L 0.5 Site 1
0.4 Site 2
0.3 Site 3
0.2
Site 4
0.1
0
May 23 June 25 July 17 August 7
& 24 & 26 & 18 &8

42. Stream Discharge
Cubic feet per second
6
5
4
Site 1
3
Site 2
2 Site 3
Site 4
1
0
May 23 & June 25 & July 17 & August 7 &
24 26 18 8

43. Averages by Site
Site 1
5 8 . 3 9
Site 2
6 5 . 0 5
Site 3
6 2 . 1 6
Site 4
6 1 . 1 9
Averages by Date
May 23
5 7 . 7 8
June 25 & 26
6 3 . 2 1
July 17 & 18
6 0 . 6 8
Aug. 7 & 8
6 5 . 1 1

44. 70
WQI Averages by Site
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Site 1 Site 2 Site 3 Site 4

45. 70
WQI Averages by Date
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
May 23&24 June 25&26 July 17&18 Aug. 7&8

46. Conclusions
•All WQI numbers were within the medium range or
slightly above
•Best overall date: August 7&8 had lowest overall amount of
dissolved oxygen
•Best overall site: 2; may be due to buffer strips
•Beaver dams on sites 1 & 2
•Low nitrates
•BOD tests not significant due to low oxygen numbers
•Site 1 had high fecal coliform numbers
•High levels of silt and sediment causing high turbidity
•Good pH levels

47. Site 1

48. Site 3
Site 2

49. Site 3
Site 3

50. Site 4

51. Brittany and Amanda
performing the Fecal coliform
test

52. Amanda
measuring the
depth

53. Brittany and
Melissa after a
flow rate test

54. Fecal Coliform
sample

55. Melissa with
duckweed sample
from Site 2

56. Courtney
entering data
on the
computer

57. Anjuli
performing
phosphate
test

58. Melissa and
Brittany
performing
turbidity test