Data collected from Shell Creek in Nebraska by the 2011 Newman Grove Shell Creek Watershed team.

1. 2011 Shell Creek
Watershed Research
Group
Advisors: Mark Seier and Karen
Malmkar
Researchers: Audrey
Wondercheck, Mark O’Brien,
Alisha Dunlap, Caitlin Bennett,
Joan O’Brien, Lila Wondercheck,
Ciera Afrank, Kendra Nelson, Liz
Backhaus, Darienne Pokorny,
Jason Kaufman, Demi Edgell,
Jacob Haase, John O’Brien, Brock
Donelson, Billy O’Brien, Megan
Nelson, Brooke Pieke, Alex Wiese
1

2. Shell Creek and Loseke-Taylor Creek Watersheds
(with Township-Range Labels)
Lower Platte North Natural Resources District
South Branch North Branch
6
2

3. Below Newman Grove
Above Newman Grove
6
3

4. Below Lindsay
6
West Platte Center
4

5. W.Q.I.
• 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, Biological 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

6. • 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.
• 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.
- 0 - 25 is very bad
- 25 - 50 is bad
- 50 - 70 is medium
- 70 - 90 is good
- 90 - 100 is excellent
• The bio-indicator tests are not part of the W.Q.I.,
but do give us a water quality rating.
6

7. Sample W.Q.I. Curve Chart
7

8. Sample W.Q.I. Form
W e ig hting
Te s t R e s ults Q -value Fac tor T o ta l
DO % s at. 0 .1 7
Fe c al C olifor m c ol/1 0 0 mL 0 .1 6
pH units 0 .1 1
BOD mg /L 0 .1 1
Te mpe r atur e c hang e in C 0 .1
Total P hos phate mg /L 0 .1
N itr ate s mg /L 0 .1
Tur bidity J TU 0 .0 8
Total S olids mg /L 0 .0 7
Overall Water Quality Index ___ 8

9. 2011 Precipitation
4.5
4
3.5
3
Inches
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
May June July August
Rainfall 9

10. pH
8.4
8.1
Site 1
7.8
Site 2
pH Level
7.5 Site 3
Site 4
7.2
Site 6
6.9 Site 5
6.6
6.3
May June 23 July 20 August 4
26,27
10
Date

11. Change in Water Temperature
3.5
3
2.5
Site 1
Degrees Celcius
2
Site 2
1.5 Site 3
1 Site 4
Site 6
0.5
Site 5
0
May 26, 27 June 23 July 20 August 4
-0.5
-1
Date
The higher the change, the worse the water quality. 11

12. Total Solids
2500
2000
Site 1
1500
Site 2
mg/L
Site 3
1000 Site 4
Site 6
Site 5
500
0
May 26, 27 June 23 July 20 August 4
Date
The higher the concentration, the worse the water quality. 12

13. Fecal Coliform
13

14. Fecal Coliform
3,500
3,000
2,500
colonies/100 mL
Site 1
2,000 Site 2
Site 3
1,500 Site 4
Site 6
1,000 Site 5
500
0
May 26, 27 June 23 July 20 August 4
Date 14

15. Fecal Coliform
1600 In 2006 In 2010
Site 1- 21,418 Site 1- 11,387
1400 Site 5- 17,800
Site 6- 2,313
1200
colonies/100 mL
Site 1
1000
Site 2
800 Site 3
Site 4
600 Site 6
Site 5
400
200
0
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
15
Date

16. Flow
120 *Flow was not
measured for
May Sites
3,4,5,6
100
Cubic feet per second
80 Site 1
Site 2
Site 3
60
Site 4
Site 6
40
Site 5
20
0
May 26, 27 June 23 July 20 August 4 16
Date

17. Turbidity
1200
1000
800 Site 1
Site 2
JTU's
Site 3
600
Site 4
Site 6
400
Site 5
200
0
May 26, 27 June 23 July 10 August 4 17
Date

18. Dissolved Oxygen
100
90
80
70 Site 1
% Saturation
60 Site 2
50 Site 3
Site 4
40
Site 6
30
Site 5
20
10
0
May 26, 27 June 23 July 20 August 4
Date 18

19. 5 Day Biological Oxygen Demand
6
5
4 Site 1
Site 2
ppm
3 Site 3
Site 4
Site 6
2
Site 5
1
0
May 26, 27 June 23 July 20 August 4
Date 19
The higher the change, the worse the water quality.

20. Nitrates
50
45
40
35 Site 1
30 Site 2
ppm
25 Site 3
Site 4
20
Site 6
15 Site 5
10
5
0
May 26, 27 June 23 July 20 August 4
20
Date

21. Nitrates
60
50
40 Site 1
Site 2
ppm
30 Site 3
Site 4
20 Site 6
Site 5
10
0
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Date 21

22. Phosphates
3.5
3
2.5
Site 1
2 Site 2
ppm
Site 3
1.5 Site 4
Site 6
1
Site 5
0.5
0
May 26, 27 June 23 July 20 August 4
Date 22

23. WQI Averages by Site
70
Good
65
60
Medium
WQI
55
50 Bad
45
Site 1 Site 2 Site 3 Site 4 Site 6 Site 5
2003 Averages 2004 Averages 2005 Averages
2006 Averages 2007 Averages 2008 Averages
23
2009 Averages 2010 Average 2011 Average

24. Total WQI Averages by Year
70
Good
65
60
Medium
WQI
55
50
Bad
45
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
WQI 24

25. 2003 - 2011 Chemical Test Average Comparisons
30
2003 Averages
2004 Averages
25 2005 Averages
2006 Averages
2007 Averages
20
2008 Averages
2009 Averages
15 2010 Average
2011 Average
10
5
0
Total Rainfall Inches Discharge CFS Nitrates ppm pH 25

26. 2003 - 2011 Chemical Test Average Comparisons
3
2003 Averages
2.5 2004 Averages
2005 Averages
2006 Averages
2
2007 Averages
2008 Averages
1.5 2009 Averages
2010 Average
2011 Average
1
0.5
0
Phosphates ppm B.O.D. ppm Change in Temp. Celcius
26

27. 2003 - 2011 Chemical Test Average Comparisons
1200
*2006 Fecal Coliform Average
8,058 col/100 mL 2003 Averages
1000 2004 Averages
2005 Averages
2006 Averages
800 2007 Averages
*2010 Fecal Coliform
Average 3,648 col/100 mL 2008 Averages
600 2009 Averages
2010 Average
2011 Average
400
200
0
D.O. % Sat. Turbidity JTU Fecal Coliform Total Solids 27
Colonies/100 mL mg/L

28. Chemical Test Conclusions
• Upstream sites have a decreasing
WQI, while lower stream sites have
an increasing WQI.
• Flow and Nitrate are continuing to
follow each other.
• May phosphate levels are high.
• Nitrates overall are stabilizing.
28

29. Macro Invertebrates
Sensitive Somewhat Sensitive Tolerant
29

30. Beaver-Shell Creek Comparison
2011
20
18
16
14
Beaver Creek
12
Shell Creek
10
8
6
4
2
0 30
pH Nitrates Phosphates B.O.D

31. Beaver-Shell Creek Comparison
2011
800
700
600
500
400 Beaver Creek
300 Shell Creek
200
100
0
Turbidity Fecal Total Solids D.O. % Sat.
31
Coliform

32. Beaver-Shell Creek
WQI Comparison
70
Good
60
Medium
50
Bad
40
30
WQI
20
10
0
May June July August Summer Summer Summer Summer
Average Average Average Average
Beaver Creek Average WQI 11 10 09 08
32
Shell Creek Average WQI

33. 2010 Flood Study
33

34. Total Dissolved Dissolved
Temp. Solids Fecal Flow Turbidity Oxygen % Oxygen 5 day WQI
Date Site pH Chan. mg/L Coliform CFS JTU's Saturation ppm BOD Nitrates Phosphates number WQI Rating
6/22
Site 1 8 0.2 410 750 5.4 171.77 36% 3.8 0 40.92 1.44 44.71 Bad
Site 2 7.5 1 390 2800 2.93 399.02 12% 0.2 0 9.68 0.2 35.05 Bad
Site 3 7.3 0.2 670 350 8.96 379.2 10% 1 0 12.5 0.19 52.53 Medium
Site 4 7.9 1.1 670 750 28.44 410 18% 1.7 0.7 4.62 1.23 48.94 Bad
Site 6 7.9 0 1600 200 43.89 406 14% 0.1 0 2.83 2.8 48.97 Bad
Site 5 7.8 0.3 1660 400 81.2 1076 11% 1.4 0 2.82 1.56 51.03 Medium
6/23
Site 1 8.1 0.1 540 550 5.78 66.7 64% 6.7 0 26.22 0.84 63.11 Medium
Site 2 7.7 1.9 590 550 2.34 114.2 47% 4.5 0 10.56 0.69 57.66 Medium
Site 3 7.8 -0.2 730 300 17.3 139.81 48% 4.6 0 32.65 0.56 56.66 Medium
Site 4 7.8 0.3 630 400 11.16 177 65% 6.2 0.7 11.66 1 56.3 Medium
Site 6 7.7 2 600 300 30.42 245 53% 5.2 0 9.6 1.27 53.9 Medium
34
Site 5 7.8 0.2 670 800 101.89 358 62% 6.2 0 11.04 1.19 54.31 Medium

35. Total Dissolved Dissolved
Temp. Solids Fecal Flow Turbidity Oxygen % Oxygen 5 Day WQI
Date Site pH Chang. mg/L Coliform CFS JTU's Saturation ppm BOD Nitrates Phosphates number WQI Rating
7/20
Site 1 7.9 1.5 620 50 1.97 89.5 50% 4.3 0.7 38.02 0.81 53.86 Medium
Site 2 7.8 2.1 650 0 2.32 86.4 39% 3.3 0 33.79 0.65 60.87 Medium
Site 3 8.2 0 580 150 6.89 52.17 55% 4.6 0.3 29.04 0.76 54.77 Medium
Site 4 7.7 0.2 660 100 16.0997 67 50% 4.1 0.1 21.47 0.87 59.07 Medium
Site 6 8.3 0.2 640 200 50.41 61 63% 5.4 2.8 22.704 1.09 52.37 Medium
Site 5 8 0.3 400 150 11.283 52 63% 5.4 3 20.5 1.12 54.21 Medium
7/21
Site 1 7.9N/A 430 400N/A 70.91 23% 3.5 0.7 26.576 1.19 42.87 Bad
Site 2 7.9N/A 440 50N/A 120.09 16% 2.5 0 12.32 0.55 46.93 Bad
Site 3 7.9N/A 540 50N/A 217.27 14% 2.3 0.3 12.012 0.47 47.16 Bad
Site 4 7.6N/A 2510 400N/A 235.4 0% 0 0 0 2.25 42.64 Bad
Site 6 8.2N/A 1320 200N/A 760.84 0% 0 3 5.02 2.25 41.03 Bad
35
Site 5 7.5N/A 4170 150N/A 271.56 0% 0 2.8 13.16 0.96 38.38 Bad

36. Student Scientists in Action
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37. 37

38. 38

39. 39

40. 40

41. Website
• http://www.newman.esu8.org/
• Click “Activities”
• Click “Watershed Project”
• Click “Watershed Homepage”
• You can see our data and further
information concerning this project,
including pictures.
41

42. Thank You To:
• Lower Platte North Natural
Resource District
• PrairieLand RC&D
• Natural Resource Conservation
Service
• Nebraska Department of
Environmental Quality
• Shell Creek Watershed 42
Improvement Group