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Examining the health of our watershed

Examining the health of our watershed. A further look at Sunset Middle School’s watershed. Why do we care about watersheds?. Watersheds provide water – and the resources that water provides. Most watersheds combine urban, rural, natural & cultural elements.

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Examining the health of our watershed

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  1. Examining the health of our watershed A further look at Sunset Middle School’s watershed

  2. Why do we care about watersheds?

  3. Watersheds provide water – and the resources that water provides.

  4. Most watersheds combine urban, rural, natural & cultural elements

  5. Common Ways People Change Watersheds • Alter land cover and use (e.g., agriculture, urban development) • Simplify surface pathways (e.g., drainage ditches, canals, storm sewers) • Add things to water (e.g., fertilizers, sewage) • Increase runoff and sedimentation from parking lots, roofs, roads • Increase risk of flooding

  6. How are these two areas different? The same? • Waterways • Transportation • Habitats • Land use

  7. How do we test the watershed? • Examine local biodiversity • Evaluate surfaces though mapping • Physically test the water

  8. Water quality testing • Test different areas around the watershed • Sunset Forest • Empire shores & docks • Greater Coos Bay & South Slough • NERRs Centralized Data Management Office • Different parameters • Temperature • Salinity • Dissolved Oxygen

  9. Temperature • Measured in ˚C • Simple! • Pacific Ocean: 12 to 14˚C • PNW Rivers & Streams 5 to 22˚C • Values vary based on season, depth, mixing, etc.

  10. Dissolved Oxygen • Milligrams per Liter (mg/L) • Fresh: want 6mg/L or more • Saltwater can hold onto less • % Saturation • Dependent on temperature of waters • Why do we care? • Life in the water needs oxygen too

  11. Salinity • Parts per thousand (ppt) • Refractometers • More important when looking at coastal areas, especially estuaries • Must be adapted to living in different salinities Estuaries are the places where The ebb and flow of the tides connect a watershed to the ocean.

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