Lick Creek Water Quality An Environment Audit Proposal

1. Lick Creek Water QualityAn Environment Audit Proposal By Chelsea Castiglioni, Marcus Falion and Debbie Banerjee

2. Lick Creek

3. Introduction: Lick Creek is a small urban stream/storm water drainage and floodplain system very close to Rhodes It runs through the zoo and down Idlewild Road Its role as a storm drain consists of providing an outlet for excess storm water runoff. A floodplain becomes the “beds of channels during high water stages” and are a “natural control on river systems”.

4. Vision of the Community’s Ideal for Lick Creek “Lick Creek provides a picturesque urban stream that flows adjacent to Evergreen and Auburndale. It is a site of a bridge that unites the East and West sections of the V & E Greenline- All of the earlier bridge trestles had been removed by the railroad at the time of the abandonment. The bridge was built by residents and Keeler Iron Works- a plaque at the site commemorates their efforts. Look closely at Lick Creek and you will find families of ducks swimming in the creek. Look to the south and west of the bridge and see the damage that MLGW did by wantonly and unnecessarily cutting trees on the V& E Greenline”.

5. Hypothesis In order to determine the safety of the Lick Creek residents, we will be drawing up a GIS map of the creek, including the drainage intakes and its watershed. We will investigate the actions that the city of Memphis takes with the Creek and make sure the proper laws are being followed. Through these results we will determine the water quality of the creek and whether or not companies have been releasing chemicals or waste into the Creek.

6. Hopefully we do not find this at Lick Creek

7. Purpose To Test the water quality of Lick Creek, to determine the effect it has on the neighboring community. Specifically Rhodes College and the zoo. To create a base line study for the database in the city of Memphis. To understand possible toxins that might be in the water

8. Methods Over a 6 week period we performed several test on lick creek right across the street from the school, adjacent to the Meeman Center. Conduct tests for Dissolved Oxygen, Turbidity, pH, Nitrate, Phosphate, Temperature and E.coli. Taking photos of the water and the area around it. Making written notes of our observation of the water. Explore more then one site in order to get a better understanding of the entire system. Getting in touch with members of the Memphis community who will be able to help us. We took readings with the GPS so that we would be able to create a topographic map of the creek.

9. Possible Toxins We are testing for Dissolved Oxygen: Amount of oxygen within the stream, allows for organism to live. Turbidity: Total amount of suspended solids, major source is phytoplanton. pH: Measure of concentration of hydrogen ions. Nitrate: Amount of fertilizers or other such substances in the water, bad if level is high. Phosphate: Dictates the amount of growth of organisms based on the level. Coliform: detects the presence of fecal matter in the water.

10. Possible contamination??

12. Looking down at Lick Creek

13. Discussion with Tom Lawrence:City of Memphis Division of Public Works Generally, not concerned with the water quality of Lick Creek In response to testing positive for E.coli, he believes it could be from birds, raccoons, and just about anything getting into the water The zoo’s waste does not go into the Creek or the storm drainage, so it is not responsible for the potential contamination of the Creek In response to why it is not monitored: Such a small creek and there are not enough funds to monitor a creek that is so similar to many creeks throughout Memphis, they don’t see a point in monitoring it When asked if the creek is potentially hazardous, he said that it was obviously hazardous because it runs into Cypress Creek so if there was contamination in Lick creek then it would be bad for the bigger Creeks, like Cypress

14. GIS MAP of LICK CREEK

15. Additional GIS MAPS

16. Rhodes College in relation to Lick Creek

17. Discussion: Our results were relatively consistent : Water temperature remained pretty much the same, slow upward trend as the air temperature increased Nitrate remained around 5 ppm which is considered a fair ranking Phosphate remained the same at 2 ppm as well as turbidity which ranged from 0-40 JTU. Both are considered good ratings The only evident change was the pH levels, which ranged from 6 – 9, 6 is the best rating we got whereas 9 is a fairly poor rating

18. Possible Problems with Lick Creek Water Quality: The creek tested positive for E.Coli, although Tom Lawrence did not see that as problematic, we were slightly concerned with the levels in the creek Trash accumulation; some days were a lot worse than others We were surprised at the lack of wildlife by the creek Where is the E.Coli coming from? The zoo perhaps, or other animals like Tom suggested…? We attempted to get in contact with the zoo but we were unable to get through to them

19. In a survey that was conducted on Idlewild residents, we found that: The residents had some interesting things to say One resident of 6 years said: He uses a lot of pesticides to keep his plants fresh and healthy. He did not see a problem with the pesticides seeping into the Creek. Another resident claimed that he sees people frequently throwing trash into the Creek. Another resident said that she had seen a few painters washing their equipment near the storm drains.

20. Recommendations The start of testing by the city of Memphis. Fixing of the cracks in the barricades. Trash cleanup at least four times a year. Conducting more surveys with residents. Cooperation with the Zoo about future monitoring endeavors.

21. References and Acknowledgements Professor Carol Ekstrom Tom Lawrence from the city of Memphis Residents of Idlewild area www.earthforce.org www.vegreenline.com

22. Question and/or Comments Please feel free to direct any questions that you may have to any of us