December Monitoring: Baffling Bacteria

Creek with high flow after storm

Fixing the DO sample

Turtles have returned to the pond!

Jenn measuring conductivity

Baffling bacteria samples

December Monitoring Report

On December 17th, we conducted our monthly water monitoring and our third sampling for  E. coli levels in Rummel Creek!

We had excellent DO levels due to the recent rains. Conductivity was very low which is also to be expected after an influx of fresh water. Our main question at this time regards the bacteria sample.

We expected high bacteria levels, brought in by storm runoff from the neighborhood and streets. We did get hundreds of colonies of other species of bacteria, but we did not find any e.coli colonies! Crazy right?! We’ve contacted the stream team office to see if they can help….stay tuned!

Water Quality Report

We’ll see you next month!

~Beth & Jenn, your Sirens of the Stream

November 2012: Visit from City of Houston Environmental Investigators

Beautiful creek

Lisa shows us the quanta meter

Creek from the bridge

Kirsten demonstrates probe

Robin in the hollies

Bacteria colonies!

November Monitoring Report

On November 30th, we conducted our monthly water monitoring and our second sampling for  E. coli levels in Rummel Creek!

We were honored to be visited by Lisa Groves and Kirsten Nichols from the City of Houston Pollution Control Dept. They demonstrated the use of their super awesome Hydro Lab Quanta Meter! We took our monthly readings using their meter, so our values are much more precise this month! Thank you Lisa and Kirsten! (and thank you Kirsten for the fabulous photos!)

After incubating our water samples for 28 hours, we counted our E.coli colonies and determined that our sample from Rummel Creek had an average value of 283 cfu/100mL – a value that does not exceed the EPA maximum, but does exceed the TCEQ contact recreation standard.

Water Quality Report

We’ll see you next month!

~Beth & Jenn, your Sirens of the Stream

2011-2012 Data Trends

October 2012: Bacteria Testing Begins, Fish Kill, and Special Visitor!

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October Monitoring Report

On October 26th, we conducted our first sampling for  E. coli levels in Rummel Creek!

The EPA has set a standard maximum of allowable E. coli colonies in a water body of 394 cfu (colony forming units)/100 mL.  There is a more stringent maximum of a geometric mean of 126 cfu/100mL, set by the TCEQ for contact recreation.

After incubating our water samples for 28 hours, we counted our E.coli colonies and determined that Rummel Creek has an average value of 450 cfu/100mL – a value that certainly exceeds the EPA and TCEQ standards.  This said, all streams naturally carry microbes, pathogens and E. coli. Our stream’s bacteria level is moderate compared to other Houston area streams.

We will continue to monitor the bacteria levels on a monthly basis to see if any trends develop or if values appear that might indicate point or non-point sources of pollution in the watershed

Water Quality Report

Rummel Creek Water Quality        Stream Team Data Trends
	June	July	August	Sept	Oct	Grade
pH	7	7.5	7	7.25	7.25	good
DO (mg/L)	5.7	5.5	4.25	3.4	2.8	poor
Conductivity (S/m)	120	410	490	480	390	low
water temp (C)	30	28	28	24	21.5	normal
air temp (C)	24	27.5	31	26	16	normal
turbidity (m)	>1	>1	>.25	>.28	>.17	low
E. coli (avg. cfu/100mL)					450	moderately high

Last sig. precipitation: Oct 16th   Flow rate: very low  Algae Cover: none

Fish Kill Event – Tuesday, October 23rd

 

On the morning of Oct 23rd, several volunteers reported seeing many dead fish below the ‘big bridge’ over Rummel Creek. Bethany photographed, collected and reported the kill to the TPWD “kills & spills” Team, Bayou Preservation Association, and the City of Houston Pollution Control Dept. TPWD Biologist Steven Mitchell identified the dead fish as nonnative Asian carp – Grass Carp and Common Carp. The following afternoon, City Environmental Investigator Lisa Groves came out to investigate the situation and monitor the stream’s health.  As of now, the cause of the fish kill is still undetermined.  We have a few working theories on the possible causes. If you have any ideas for us to consider, please let us know!

Special Thanks

Thank You to Steven Mitchell and Lisa Groves for their quick response and active interest in the fish kill. Thank you to Jessica Snider from Texas Stream Team for visiting our site on Rummel Creek and for sharing her knowledge and expertise on water monitoring and microbiology. Jessica taught the girl scouts about the intersection of art and science, and she also shared advice about pursuing a career in the sciences.

Thanks also to Houston Audubon Sanctuary Steward, Stephan Kieval, for assisting us this month. And thanks again to our Stream Team Members from the St. Marks Girl Scouts Troop!

We’ll see you next month!

~Beth & Jenn, your Sirens of the Stream

September 2012 Monitoring Day…Artistry on the Creek

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This month we led a litter pickup and enjoyed the tranquility of the creek by sketching.

Field Observations

This month the Girl Scouts led our field observations, and they did an excellent job! The girls also assisted us in a litter cleanup on the bend in the creek just upstream from the island. In honor of John James Audubon, we combined art with scientific observations by sketching the creek environment. The creek was running very low, and unfortunately the DO levels were poor due to the lack of rainfall. Turbidity continues to be low, and the pH level is still neutral.

We are proud to announce that we are taking bacteria training at H-GAC later this month, and we will begin monitoring bacteria levels in October! Stay tuned!

Water Quality Report

Rummel Creek Water Quality      Stream Team Data Trends
	May	June	July	August	September	Grade
pH	7	7	7.5	7	7.25	good
DO (mg/L)	4.1	5.7	5.5	4.25	3.4	poor
Conductivity (S/m)	610	120	410	490	480	low
water temp (C)	27	30	28	28	24	normal
air temp (C)	32	24	27.5	31	26	normal
turbidity (m)	>.23	>1	>1	>.25	>.28	low

Last significant precipitation: Sept 14th   Flow rate: low  Algae Cover: none

Special Thanks

Thank you to Steve Hupp from Bayou Preservation Association (BPA) for visiting our site on Rummel Creek and for sharing his knowledge and expertise on water monitoring techniques.

And thanks again to our Stream Team Members from the St. Marks Girl Scouts Troop!

We’ll see you next month!

~Beth & Jenn, your Sirens of the Stream

August 2012 Monitoring Day…The Island and The Oxbow

  

The St. Marks Girl Scouts Stream Team members explore the island and collect litter at the oxbow in Rummel Creek.

Field Observations

 

This month we explored Rummel Creek downstream from our monitoring location under the bridge. We discussed the relationship between aquatic macroinvertebrates and water quality. We also observed the impact of stormwater runoff into the creek through the storm drain outfalls — the accumulation of litter and erosion which exposed tree roots and weakened the banks of the stream.

 

Water Quality Report

Stream Team Data Trends
		May	June	July	August	Grade
pH		7	7	7.5	7	good
DO (mg/L)		4.1	5.7	5.5	4.25	fair
Conductivity(S/m)		610	120	410	490	low
water temp (C)		27	30	28	28	high
air temp (C)		32	24	27.5	31	normal
turbidity (m)		>.23	>1	>1	>.25	low

Flow rate: normal     Algae Cover: none

Last significant precipitation: August 24th

 

Thank you again to our Stream Team Members from the St. Marks Girl Scouts Troop!

We’ll see you next month!

~Beth & Jenn, your Sirens of the Stream

July 2012 Monitoring Day…Intrepid Explorers of the Stream!

Bethany leads our St. Marks Girl Scouts Stream Team members down Rummel Creek.

Field Observations

What a beautiful, sunny day we had for our monitoring experience this month! Rummel Creek was running clear and a bit deeper than last  month, due to rainfall two days before. The dissolved oxygen level was at a healthy level again this month. The girls were able to make field observations on the bridge overlooking our sampling location and down at the water’s edge. They also learned how to assess the health of our stream by identifying the macroinvertebrate indicator species, such as dragonfly nymphs, crayfish and scud.

 

Water Quality Report

Stream Team Data Trends
	March	April	May	June	July	Grade
pH	8	7.5	7	7	7.5	good
DO (mg/L)	6.37	6.15	4.1	5.7	5.5	good
Conductivity (S/m)	560	110	610	120	410	normal
water temp (C)	21.9	21.5	27	30	28	normal
air temp (C)	23	22	32	24	27.5	normal
turbidity (m)	>.32	0.37	>.23	>1	>1	low

Algae Cover: none

Flow rate: high

Last significant precipitation: July 26th

 

Stream Team Appreciation

Thank you again to our Stream Team Members from the St. Marks Girl Scouts Troop!

The girls learned how to assess the biological health of the stream by catching and identifying Pollution Indicator Species of Aquatic Macroinvertebrates.  (See guide here if you’d like to learn how to assess your own stream.)

We’ll see you next month!

~Beth & Jenn, your Sirens of the Stream