Fairview Creek Water Quality Inquiry Ideas

1. Compare overall water quality of both sites during the 2 visits this year.

2. Compare overall water quality of all sites on Fairview Creek during the 2 visits this year. (Note that the other sites were probably tested on slightly different days.

3. Hypothesize a relationship between 2 sets of water quality data. This works best when using data from an extended period of time. Check the SWRP site (Student Data) or the 2001-2002 data collected by GHS on Fairview Creek. Examples: Temp. vs. Oxygen, Turbidity vs. Oxygen, Streamflow vs. Turbidity, Streamflow vs. Oxygen, pH vs. Nitrate, pH vs. Ammonia, etc.......

4. Determine the level of plant fertilizers (nitrate, ammonia & phosphate) in the creek.

5. Compare water quality vs. the animal life found at each site.

Background Info:

a. Why is it important to study water quality in a given stream or river?

b. Background about the water test studied: info about its cycle, sources, ways the problem can be improved, etc. Any general info about the tests relating to that water quality parameters. See online info both at GHS or at SWRP. Mr. Slichter also has some info.

c. Background collected should help write a description of why your hypothesis would occur.

d. List variables.