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Northern Lights Community School

Swan River Water Quality Report

The future needs a different student!

PO Box 2829 Warba, MN 55793

www.nlcschool.org 218 492-4400

http://www.nlcschool.org/

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 - Introduction

2.0 - Site Information

3.0 - Sample location

4.0 - Swan River Sampling Results

5.0 - River Water Quality

6.0 - Summary

7.0 - Bibliography

Northern Lights Community SchoolPO Box 2829 Warba, MN 55793

1.0 Introduction

The Northern Lights Community School (NLCS) Youth Energy Summit (YES) Club

completed a project analyzing the water quality of the Swan River in Warba, Minnesota. The

YES Club is an active organization at NLCS that is environmentally focused and community

orientated. The YES Club produced projects that included a community supported agricultural

program and a school milk dispenser that helped reduce wasted milk and eliminated milk carton

disposal at NLCS.

NLCS is a public charter school located in Warba, Minnesota. NLCS and the YES

Club’s mission are in alignment with each other. The focus of NLCS is project based learning

with an emphasis on environmental curriculum. This is the second operational year of the YES

Club. The main project of this year’s YES Club project is this water quality report for the Swan

River.

The reason NLCS YES Club decided to analyze the water quality of the Swan River is

because it is located approximately 1,200 feet east of the school. Students studied the local

topography near the school. Based on this research water sample locations were selected.

Samples were collected and analyzed for temperature, pH, nitrate, phosphate, alkalinity,

dissolved oxygen. Sample data was evaluated and recorded in this report. Results and

conclusions will follow in later chapters.


2.0 Site Information


because it is located approximately 1,200 feet east of the school. Figure 1 shows the location of

NLCS and the Swan River, provided by Google maps. Figure 2 is the satellite view provided by

Google earth. The city of Warba is located in Itasca County, Minnesota. The total area of

Warba is 3.27 square miles at an elevation of 1,283 feet (Warba, Minnesota 2016).

The Swan River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately 60 mi (97 km)

long, in northeastern Minnesota in the United States (GNIS Detail 2016). Swan River begins at

Swan Lake, in southeast Itasca County near the city of Pengilly, approximately 13 mi (21 km)

southwest of Hibbing. It flows southwest curving east where the swan river enters Warba. The

Swan River flows past Warba where it joins the Mississippi in northern Aitkin County at

Jacobson (Swan River 2016).

In the area near Warba the Swan River is used for recreational boating and fishing.

People enjoy canoeing and kayaking on the Swan River. The main species of fish that attract

anglers includes; northern pike, bass, bluegill, and bullhead. The water quality of the Swan

River is important to maintain its value as a fishery and recreational waterway.


Figure 1.


Figure 2.


3.0 Sample LocationStudents studied the local topography near the school. Based on this research, water

sample locations were selected. Samples of the Swan River were collected just north and south

of the Highway 2 Bridge over the Swan River on the east end of the town of Warba, MN. Figure

3, displays the water sample locations collected from the Swan River. The YES Club concluded

that sampling near the highway bridge is the best location. The area near the highway bridge is

easily accessible for sampling. Because the sampling location is near the highway bridge the

YES Club believes that pollution from the highway could potentially affect water quality in this

area.

Figure 3.

= Swan River water sample locations


4.0 Swan River Sampling Results

Water samples from the Swan River were collected on March 16th, 2016. Water Samples

were collected and analyzed for temperature, pH, nitrate, phosphate, alkalinity, dissolved

oxygen. Results from the water sampling are listed in the table below.

Analyses Results UnitspH #1 7.63 Moles per literpH #2 7.00 Moles per liter

Temperature 37.2 Degrees FahrenheitHardness Range 120 - 200 mg/L

Hardness as CaCO3 180 mg/LNitrate 1 ppm

Dissolved Oxygen #1

12 ppm

Dissolved Oxygen #2

11 ppm

Dissolved Oxygen #3

10 ppm

Phosphate .02 ppm

mg/L = milligrams per liter

ppm = parts per million


5.0 River Water Quality

Through YES Club discussions and available water quality testing materials, the

sampling parameters were selected. Based on resources, samples were collected and analyzed

for temperature, pH, nitrate, phosphate, alkalinity, dissolved oxygen.

pH

The pH of river water is the measure of how acidic or basic the water is on a scale of 0-

14. Most natural water falls between 6.5 and 8.5 on the pH scale with 7.0 being neutral. The

optimum pH for river water is around 7.4. Water's acidity can be increased by acid rain and other

pollutants. Extremes in pH can make a river inhospitable to life. Low pH (acidic) is especially

harmful to immature fish and insects. Acidic water also speeds the leaching of heavy metals

harmful to fish (Water Treatment Solutions 2016). Two different pH samples were collected at

the Swan River Sampling locations. The results from the pH samples collected were 7.0 and

7.63. These pH levels fall within the range of a healthy river pH level and they are very close to

optimum.

Temperature

Temperature impacts the rates of metabolism and growth of aquatic organisms, rate of

plants' photosynthesis, solubility of oxygen in river water, and organisms' sensitivity to disease,

parasites, and toxic materials. At a higher temperature, plants grow and die faster, leaving behind

matter that requires oxygen for decomposition (Water Treatment Solutions 2016). Temperature

was collect from the sampling locations at the Swan River. The temperature recorded was 37.2 Northern Lights Community SchoolPO Box 2829 Warba, MN 55793

degrees Fahrenheit. The sample was collect on March 16th, 2016. This is a normal temperature

for the Swan River during March.

Dissolved Oxygen

Dissolved oxygen is oxygen gas molecules (O2) present in the water. Dissolved oxygen is

measured in milligrams per liter (mg/L). Plants and animals cannot directly use the oxygen that

is part of the water molecule (H2O), instead depending on dissolved oxygen for respiration.

Oxygen enters streams from the surrounding air and as a product of photosynthesis from aquatic

plants. Consistently high levels of dissolved oxygen are best for a healthy ecosystem (Water

Quality 2016). Human factors that affect dissolved oxygen in streams include addition of

oxygen consuming organic wastes such as sewage, addition of nutrients, changing the flow of

water, raising the water temperature, and the addition of chemicals (Water Quality 2016).

Dissolved Oxygen Levels Effect on Rivers

0-2 mg/L: not enough oxygen to support life.2-4 mg/L: only a few fish and aquatic insects can survive.4-7 mg/L: good for many aquatic animals, low for cold water fish7-11 mg/L: very good for most river fish

Dissolved oxygen was sampled three times at the Swan River sampling locations.

Sample results were 12 mg/L, 11 mg/L, 10 mg/L, respectively. All dissolved oxygen sample

results fall in the range of very good for river ecosystems including fish.


Nitrate

Plants use nitrate to build protein, and animals that eat plants also use organic nitrogen to

build protein. When plants and animals die or excrete waste, this nitrogen is released into the

environment as NH4+ (ammonium). This ammonium is eventually oxidized by bacteria into

nitrite (NO2-) and then into nitrate. In this form it is relatively common in freshwater aquatic

ecosystems. Nitrate thus enters streams from natural sources like decomposing plants and animal

waste as well as human sources like sewage or fertilizer (Water Quality 2016). Nitrate is

measured in mg/L. Natural levels of nitrate are usually less than 1 mg/L. Concentrations over 10

mg/L will have an effect on the freshwater aquatic environment (Water Quality 2016).

Nitrate samples were collected at the Swan River. The Nitrate sample result was 1mg/L.

This result is on the high end of natural levels of Nitrate in River ecosystems. The Swan River

does border areas of agricultural development traveling from its source until it reaches Warba,

MN. These areas could be potential sources of nitrate contamination from fertilizer. Even

though the sample result is on the high end of normal nitrate levels, this does not appear to

negatively affect the water quality of the Swan River.

Phosphate

Phosphorus in small quantities is essential for plant growth and metabolic reactions in

animals and plants. Even small amounts of the nutrient can have a large effect on the aquatic

ecosystem. Phosphate-induced algal blooms may initially increase dissolved oxygen via

photosynthesis, but after these blooms die more oxygen is consumed by bacteria aiding their

decomposition. This may cause a change in the types of plants which live in an ecosystem


(Water Quality 2016). Sources of phosphate include animal wastes, sewage, detergent,

fertilizer, disturbed land, and road salts used in the winter. Phosphate is measured in mg/L. In

general, concentrations over 0.05 mg/L will likely have an impact on river water quality while

concentrations greater than 0.1 mg/L will certainly have impact on a river (Water Quality 2016).

The phosphate sample collected at the Swan River displayed a level of 0.02 mg/L. This level

does not have a negative effect on the water quality of the Swan River.

Hardness

Hardness is caused by compounds of calcium and magnesium, and by a variety of other

metals. General guidelines for classification of waters are: 0 to 60 mg/L as calcium carbonate is

classified as soft; 61 to 120 mg/L as moderately hard; 121 to 180 mg/L as hard; and more than

180 mg/L as very hard (Water Quality 2016). Two hardness samples were collected at the Swan

River. The first sample displayed a hardness range of 120 mg/L – 200 mg/L. Another sample

revealed a result of 180 mg/L. The water in the Swan River has a high hardness level. This is

likely due to weathering of minerals in the river bed. The hardness levels at the Swan River do

not appear to have any negative effect on water quality.


6.0 - Summary


because it is located approximately 1,200 feet east of the school. Students studied the local

topography near the school. The YES Club concluded that sampling near the highway bridge is

the best location. The area near the highway bridge is easily accessible for sampling. Because

the sampling location is near the highway bridge the YES Club believes that pollution from the

highway could potentially affect water quality in this area. Samples were collected and analyzed

for temperature, pH, nitrate, phosphate, alkalinity, dissolved oxygen.

The results from the pH samples collected were 7.0 and 7.63. These pH levels fall within

the range of a healthy river pH level and they are very close to optimum. Temperature was

collect from the sampling locations at the Swan River. The temperature recorded was 37.2

degrees Fahrenheit. The sample was collect on March 16th, 2016. This is a normal temperature

for the Swan River during March. Dissolved oxygen was sampled three times at the Swan River

sampling locations. Sample results were 12 mg/L, 11 mg/L, 10 mg/L, respectively. All

dissolved oxygen sample results fall in the range of very good for river ecosystems including

fish. A Nitrate sample was collected and the sample result is on the high end of normal nitrate

levels. This level does not appear to negatively affect the water quality of the Swan River. The

phosphate sample collected at the Swan River displayed a level of 0.02 mg/L. This result is in

the normal range of phosphate in river water. Two hardness samples were collected at the Swan

River. The first sample displayed a hardness range of 120 mg/L – 200 mg/L. Another sample

revealed a result of 180 mg/L. The water in the Swan River has a high hardness level. This is


likely due to weathering of minerals in the river bed. The hardness levels at the Swan River do

not appear to have any negative effect on water quality.

Overall test results indicate that the water quality in the Swan River is very good.

Sample results fall within normal levels of what would be expected for good water quality in a

river. Based on the Swan River’s location and development in the area the water quality in the

Swan River at Warba should be stable and healthy in the future. The NLCS YES Club

recommends and hopes the community of Warba will take advantage of the recreational

opportunities the Swan River offers.


7.0 Bibliography

"[EnvirSci Inquiry] Lehigh River Watershed Explorations." [EnvirSci Inquiry] Lehigh River Watershed Explorations. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2016. <http://www.ei.lehigh.edu/envirosci/watershed/wq/wqbackground/calciumbg.html>.

"GNIS Detail - Swan River." GNIS Detail - Swan River. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2016. <http://geonames.usgs.gov/apex/f?p=gnispq%3A3%3A0%3A%3ANO%3A%3AP3_FID%3A658570>.

"Google Maps." Google Maps. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2016. <https://www.google.com/maps/place/Warba,+MN/@47.1383496,-93.2853756,14z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x52b061245e4f73fb:0x6d66503a54e3c64d>.

"Minnesota Geographic Names." Google Books. Web. 02 Apr. 2016. <https://books.google.com/books?id=ShcLAAAAYAAJ>.

"Topographic Maps." : Minnesota DNR. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2016. <http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/tomo.html?x=479796&y=5219522&layer=24k&size=7>.

"Water Quality." Water Quality. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2016. <http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/fenlewis/Waterquality.html>.

"Water Treatment Solutions." Rivers Quality and Pollution. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2016. <http://www.lenntech.com/rivers-pollution-quality.htm>.

Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swan_River_%28northern_Minnesota%29>.

Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warba,_Minnesota>.

"Your Geography Selections." American FactFinder. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2016.


NLCS YES Club!

Daniel, Kylee, Desaree, Matt (club advisor), James, Tyler, Josiah, Cole, Jeff, Ben, Ashley


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