envirothon aquatics
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ENVIROTHON ENVIROTHON AQUATICSAQUATICS
Dianna Ramirez, M.S.Dianna Ramirez, M.S.EIH/UHCLEIH/UHCL
OutlineOutline
• A) Processes & phases of water cycleA) Processes & phases of water cycle• C) Methods of conserving water & C) Methods of conserving water &
reducing NPS reducing NPS pollutionpollution• E) Identify common aquatic organismsE) Identify common aquatic organisms• H) Benefits of wetlandsH) Benefits of wetlands• I) Changes to ecosystem based on I) Changes to ecosystem based on
alterations to alterations to habitathabitat• J) Methods to assess & manage aquatic J) Methods to assess & manage aquatic
environments & use WQ info environments & use WQ info • K) Laws used to protect WQK) Laws used to protect WQ
•http://www.in.gov/idem/water/kids/waterpix/watercycleimage2.gif
The hydrologic cycle: Active The hydrologic cycle: Active modelmodel
http://www.unesco.org/science/waterday2000/Cycle.htm
The hydrologic cycle: Water The hydrologic cycle: Water cycle active modelcycle active model
• The water cycle The water cycle includes:includes:– Precipitation events: rain, fog, Precipitation events: rain, fog,
mist, snowmist, snow– Infiltration and ground and Infiltration and ground and
surface water flow events with surface water flow events with eventual discharge into creeks eventual discharge into creeks and riversand rivers
– Intercepting this process is the Intercepting this process is the vegetation process of root vegetation process of root adsorptionadsorption
– Water enters back into the Water enters back into the atmosphere in the form of water atmosphere in the form of water vapors through transpiration vapors through transpiration (plants) and evapotransporation (plants) and evapotransporation (water bodies)(water bodies)
– Vapors condense, form clouds, Vapors condense, form clouds, and result in another and result in another precipitation eventprecipitation event
Processes/Phases of Water Processes/Phases of Water CycleCycle
• CondensationCondensation
• PrecipitationPrecipitation
• TranspirationTranspiration
• InfiltrationInfiltration
• PercolationPercolation
• UptakeUptake
• StorageStorage
• EvaporationEvaporation
• Surface RunoffSurface Runoff
• Water TableWater Table
• GroundwaterGroundwater
• Storage in Storage in depressions/lakesdepressions/lakes
Reducing (NPS) Pollution:Reducing (NPS) Pollution:Industrial/Construction/AgricultIndustrial/Construction/Agricult
ureure• Buffer StripsBuffer Strips
• Retention PondsRetention Ponds
• Constructed Constructed WetlandsWetlands
• Porous Paving Porous Paving MaterialMaterial
• Sediment FencesSediment Fences
• Plant grass/lay straw Plant grass/lay straw @ construction sites@ construction sites
• Pump out stations Pump out stations @ Marinas @ Marinas
• Conservation Conservation tillagetillage
• Crop nutrient Crop nutrient managementmanagement
• Beneficial insectsBeneficial insects
• Use of “gray Use of “gray water”water”
Reducing (NPS) Pollution:Reducing (NPS) Pollution:HouseholdHousehold
• Plant grass, trees, shrubs in bare areasPlant grass, trees, shrubs in bare areas
• Plant native speciesPlant native species
• Properly dispose of household chemicalsProperly dispose of household chemicals
• Use fertilizers & pesticides sparinglyUse fertilizers & pesticides sparingly
• Put trash in its placePut trash in its place
• RecycleRecycle
• Neighborhood cleanupsNeighborhood cleanups
A Simple Dichotomous Key
A Key to Things Found in a Desk Drawer
1a Non-metallic .................................................................................................
............. 2
1b Metallic .................................................................................................
.................... 3
2a (1a) Contains rubber ...................................................................................... rubber
band
2b Contains no rubber ................................................................................ post-it
notes
3a (1b) All metal and flat ......................................................................................................
4
3b All or partially metal and not flat ............................................................................ 5
4a (3a) Disk-shaped and solid .................................................................................... quarter
4b Not disc shaped ..........................................................................................
paper clip
5a (3b) Sharp point at one end ..................................................................................... tack 6
5b Both ends blunt .......................................................................................... binder
clip
6a (5a) Nonsharp end spherical in shape, may be plastic ..................................... map tack
6b Nonsharp end looks like a flat disk ........................................................ thumb tack
Identifying Aquatic Identifying Aquatic OrganismsOrganisms
Identifying Aquatic Organisms:Identifying Aquatic Organisms:FishFish
• A Guide to Freshwater EcologyA Guide to Freshwater Ecology– TCEQ publication GI-034TCEQ publication GI-034
• Basic fish anatomyBasic fish anatomy
• Common Texas fishCommon Texas fish
Identifying Aquatic Organisms:Identifying Aquatic Organisms:BirdsBirds
• ObservationObservation
• TPWD Fact SheetTPWD Fact Sheet– Project WILD Coordinator 512-389-4369 Project WILD Coordinator 512-389-4369
Identifying Aquatic Organisms:Identifying Aquatic Organisms:InvertebratesInvertebrates
• Used as indicators of pollutionUsed as indicators of pollution– Intolerant: sensitive to poor stream Intolerant: sensitive to poor stream
conditionsconditions– Intermediate: moderately tolerant to Intermediate: moderately tolerant to
degraded habitat & water qualitydegraded habitat & water quality– Tolerant: most tolerant to degraded Tolerant: most tolerant to degraded
habitat & water qualityhabitat & water quality
Identifying Aquatic Organisms: Identifying Aquatic Organisms: ReptilesReptiles
• SnakesSnakes
• TurtlesTurtles– TX Diamondback TerrapinTX Diamondback Terrapin– Sea Turtles (Kemp’s Ridley)Sea Turtles (Kemp’s Ridley)
WetlandsWetlands
• Cover 4-6% of Earth’s land surfaceCover 4-6% of Earth’s land surface
• Definition: variesDefinition: varies– USFWS Cowardin et al. 1979USFWS Cowardin et al. 1979
• Transitional areas b/t water & land with 3 attributesTransitional areas b/t water & land with 3 attributes
1.1. Supports hydrophytesSupports hydrophytes
2.2. Substrate dominated by hydric soilsSubstrate dominated by hydric soils
3.3. Substrate is nonsoil & saturated w/ water or Substrate is nonsoil & saturated w/ water or covered w/ shallow water at sometime during the covered w/ shallow water at sometime during the growing season each yeargrowing season each year
Wetlands: Wetlands: FunctionsFunctions
• Fossil fuel production (eventually)Fossil fuel production (eventually)
• Flood protectionFlood protection
• Water Quality ImprovementWater Quality Improvement
• Nursery habitatNursery habitat
• BiodiversityBiodiversity
Wetlands:Wetlands:BenefitsBenefits
• Animals harvested Animals harvested – Muskrat, beaver, Muskrat, beaver,
nutrianutria
• WaterfowlWaterfowl– Hunting, migratory Hunting, migratory
birdsbirds
• Fish/ShellfishFish/Shellfish– 95% wetland 95% wetland
dependentdependent
• Ecosystem valuesEcosystem values– Flood mitigationFlood mitigation– Storm abatementStorm abatement– Aquifer rechargeAquifer recharge– Water qualityWater quality– AestheticsAesthetics– SubsistenceSubsistence– Nitrogen cycleNitrogen cycle– Sulfur cycleSulfur cycle– CarbonCarbon
Changes to aquatic ecosystem Changes to aquatic ecosystem based on habitat alterationsbased on habitat alterations
• Mineral & water extractionMineral & water extraction– Subsidence, hydrology changes, runoffSubsidence, hydrology changes, runoff
• PollutionPollution– Oil spills, metals, nutrientsOil spills, metals, nutrients
• Invasive SpeciesInvasive Species• Vegetation lossVegetation loss
– Wetland loss = ~50% in U.S.Wetland loss = ~50% in U.S.• Landscape changesLandscape changes• Loss of biodiversityLoss of biodiversity• Changes in water quality/ water chemistryChanges in water quality/ water chemistry
Changes to aquatic ecosystem Changes to aquatic ecosystem based on habitat alterations:based on habitat alterations:
CausesCauses
• AgricultureAgriculture• ForestryForestry• Stream Stream
channelizationchannelization• Mosquito controlMosquito control• DredgingDredging• FillingFilling• Flood controlFlood control• Conversion to Conversion to
aquacultureaquaculture
• Levee constructionLevee construction• SeawallSeawall• Dikes/DamsDikes/Dams• Water pollutionWater pollution• Sediment retentionSediment retention• SubsidenceSubsidence• ErosionErosion• Sea level riseSea level rise
Methods used to assess Methods used to assess aquatic environmentsaquatic environments
• Surface water quality monitoring Surface water quality monitoring (SWQM)(SWQM)
• Continuous water quality monitoring Continuous water quality monitoring (CWQM)(CWQM)– Clean Rivers ProgramClean Rivers Program
• Fish studiesFish studies
• Benthic studiesBenthic studies
Utilizing water quality info to Utilizing water quality info to assess WQ of a body of water:assess WQ of a body of water:
Sampling TechniquesSampling Techniques
• EquipmentEquipment– Sonde/ test kitsSonde/ test kits
• Flow meterFlow meter
• Secchi tube/ diskSecchi tube/ disk
• Bucket to collect waterBucket to collect water
Utilizing water quality info to Utilizing water quality info to assess WQ of a body of water:assess WQ of a body of water:
Parameters usedParameters used• pHpH
• DODO
• TemperatureTemperature
• ConductivityConductivity
• SalinitySalinity
• DepthDepth
• FlowFlow
• TSS, VSS,TDSTSS, VSS,TDS
• NH3, NO2+NO3, TPNH3, NO2+NO3, TP
• TOCTOC
• BacteriaBacteria
• ChlorophyllChlorophyll
• OrthophosphatesOrthophosphates
Laws used to protect water Laws used to protect water qualityquality
• Clean Water ActClean Water Act
• Texas Water Code (TWC)Texas Water Code (TWC)
• TX Senate Bill 503 TX Senate Bill 503 – Water Quality Management Plan Water Quality Management Plan
(WQMP) program(WQMP) program
• TX Administrative Code (TAC) Title TX Administrative Code (TAC) Title 3030
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