ENVIROTHON ENVIROTHON AQUATICSAQUATICS

Dianna Ramirez, M.S.Dianna Ramirez, M.S.EIH/UHCLEIH/UHCL

OutlineOutline

• A) Processes & phases of water cycleA) Processes & phases of water cycle• C) Methods of conserving water & C) Methods of conserving water &

reducing NPS reducing NPS pollutionpollution• E) Identify common aquatic organismsE) Identify common aquatic organisms• H) Benefits of wetlandsH) Benefits of wetlands• I) Changes to ecosystem based on I) Changes to ecosystem based on

alterations to alterations to habitathabitat• J) Methods to assess & manage aquatic J) Methods to assess & manage aquatic

environments & use WQ info environments & use WQ info • K) Laws used to protect WQK) Laws used to protect WQ

•http://www.in.gov/idem/water/kids/waterpix/watercycleimage2.gif

The hydrologic cycle: Active The hydrologic cycle: Active modelmodel

http://www.unesco.org/science/waterday2000/Cycle.htm

The hydrologic cycle: Water The hydrologic cycle: Water cycle active modelcycle active model

• The water cycle The water cycle includes:includes:– Precipitation events: rain, fog, Precipitation events: rain, fog,

mist, snowmist, snow– Infiltration and ground and Infiltration and ground and

surface water flow events with surface water flow events with eventual discharge into creeks eventual discharge into creeks and riversand rivers

– Intercepting this process is the Intercepting this process is the vegetation process of root vegetation process of root adsorptionadsorption

– Water enters back into the Water enters back into the atmosphere in the form of water atmosphere in the form of water vapors through transpiration vapors through transpiration (plants) and evapotransporation (plants) and evapotransporation (water bodies)(water bodies)

– Vapors condense, form clouds, Vapors condense, form clouds, and result in another and result in another precipitation eventprecipitation event

Processes/Phases of Water Processes/Phases of Water CycleCycle

• CondensationCondensation

• PrecipitationPrecipitation

• TranspirationTranspiration

• InfiltrationInfiltration

• PercolationPercolation

• UptakeUptake

• StorageStorage

• EvaporationEvaporation

• Surface RunoffSurface Runoff

• Water TableWater Table

• GroundwaterGroundwater

• Storage in Storage in depressions/lakesdepressions/lakes

Reducing (NPS) Pollution:Reducing (NPS) Pollution:Industrial/Construction/AgricultIndustrial/Construction/Agricult

ureure• Buffer StripsBuffer Strips

• Retention PondsRetention Ponds

• Constructed Constructed WetlandsWetlands

• Porous Paving Porous Paving MaterialMaterial

• Sediment FencesSediment Fences

• Plant grass/lay straw Plant grass/lay straw @ construction sites@ construction sites

• Pump out stations Pump out stations @ Marinas @ Marinas

• Conservation Conservation tillagetillage

• Crop nutrient Crop nutrient managementmanagement

• Beneficial insectsBeneficial insects

• Use of “gray Use of “gray water”water”

Reducing (NPS) Pollution:Reducing (NPS) Pollution:HouseholdHousehold

• Plant grass, trees, shrubs in bare areasPlant grass, trees, shrubs in bare areas

• Plant native speciesPlant native species

• Properly dispose of household chemicalsProperly dispose of household chemicals

• Use fertilizers & pesticides sparinglyUse fertilizers & pesticides sparingly

• Put trash in its placePut trash in its place

• RecycleRecycle

• Neighborhood cleanupsNeighborhood cleanups

A Simple Dichotomous Key

A Key to Things Found in a Desk Drawer

1a Non-metallic .................................................................................................

............. 2

1b Metallic .................................................................................................

.................... 3

2a (1a) Contains rubber ...................................................................................... rubber

band

2b Contains no rubber ................................................................................ post-it

notes

3a (1b) All metal and flat ......................................................................................................

4

3b All or partially metal and not flat ............................................................................ 5

4a (3a) Disk-shaped and solid .................................................................................... quarter

4b Not disc shaped ..........................................................................................

paper clip

5a (3b) Sharp point at one end ..................................................................................... tack 6

5b Both ends blunt .......................................................................................... binder

clip

6a (5a) Nonsharp end spherical in shape, may be plastic ..................................... map tack

6b Nonsharp end looks like a flat disk ........................................................ thumb tack

Identifying Aquatic Identifying Aquatic OrganismsOrganisms

Identifying Aquatic Organisms:Identifying Aquatic Organisms:FishFish

• A Guide to Freshwater EcologyA Guide to Freshwater Ecology– TCEQ publication GI-034TCEQ publication GI-034

• Basic fish anatomyBasic fish anatomy

• Common Texas fishCommon Texas fish

Identifying Aquatic Organisms:Identifying Aquatic Organisms:BirdsBirds

• ObservationObservation

• TPWD Fact SheetTPWD Fact Sheet– Project WILD Coordinator 512-389-4369 Project WILD Coordinator 512-389-4369

Identifying Aquatic Organisms:Identifying Aquatic Organisms:InvertebratesInvertebrates

• Used as indicators of pollutionUsed as indicators of pollution– Intolerant: sensitive to poor stream Intolerant: sensitive to poor stream

conditionsconditions– Intermediate: moderately tolerant to Intermediate: moderately tolerant to

degraded habitat & water qualitydegraded habitat & water quality– Tolerant: most tolerant to degraded Tolerant: most tolerant to degraded

habitat & water qualityhabitat & water quality

Identifying Aquatic Organisms: Identifying Aquatic Organisms: ReptilesReptiles

• SnakesSnakes

• TurtlesTurtles– TX Diamondback TerrapinTX Diamondback Terrapin– Sea Turtles (Kemp’s Ridley)Sea Turtles (Kemp’s Ridley)

WetlandsWetlands

• Cover 4-6% of Earth’s land surfaceCover 4-6% of Earth’s land surface

• Definition: variesDefinition: varies– USFWS Cowardin et al. 1979USFWS Cowardin et al. 1979

• Transitional areas b/t water & land with 3 attributesTransitional areas b/t water & land with 3 attributes

1.1. Supports hydrophytesSupports hydrophytes

2.2. Substrate dominated by hydric soilsSubstrate dominated by hydric soils

3.3. Substrate is nonsoil & saturated w/ water or Substrate is nonsoil & saturated w/ water or covered w/ shallow water at sometime during the covered w/ shallow water at sometime during the growing season each yeargrowing season each year

Wetlands: Wetlands: FunctionsFunctions

• Fossil fuel production (eventually)Fossil fuel production (eventually)

• Flood protectionFlood protection

• Water Quality ImprovementWater Quality Improvement

• Nursery habitatNursery habitat

• BiodiversityBiodiversity

Wetlands:Wetlands:BenefitsBenefits

• Animals harvested Animals harvested – Muskrat, beaver, Muskrat, beaver,

nutrianutria

• WaterfowlWaterfowl– Hunting, migratory Hunting, migratory

birdsbirds

• Fish/ShellfishFish/Shellfish– 95% wetland 95% wetland

dependentdependent

• Ecosystem valuesEcosystem values– Flood mitigationFlood mitigation– Storm abatementStorm abatement– Aquifer rechargeAquifer recharge– Water qualityWater quality– AestheticsAesthetics– SubsistenceSubsistence– Nitrogen cycleNitrogen cycle– Sulfur cycleSulfur cycle– CarbonCarbon

Changes to aquatic ecosystem Changes to aquatic ecosystem based on habitat alterationsbased on habitat alterations

• Mineral & water extractionMineral & water extraction– Subsidence, hydrology changes, runoffSubsidence, hydrology changes, runoff

• PollutionPollution– Oil spills, metals, nutrientsOil spills, metals, nutrients

• Invasive SpeciesInvasive Species• Vegetation lossVegetation loss

– Wetland loss = ~50% in U.S.Wetland loss = ~50% in U.S.• Landscape changesLandscape changes• Loss of biodiversityLoss of biodiversity• Changes in water quality/ water chemistryChanges in water quality/ water chemistry

Changes to aquatic ecosystem Changes to aquatic ecosystem based on habitat alterations:based on habitat alterations:

CausesCauses

• AgricultureAgriculture• ForestryForestry• Stream Stream

channelizationchannelization• Mosquito controlMosquito control• DredgingDredging• FillingFilling• Flood controlFlood control• Conversion to Conversion to

aquacultureaquaculture

• Levee constructionLevee construction• SeawallSeawall• Dikes/DamsDikes/Dams• Water pollutionWater pollution• Sediment retentionSediment retention• SubsidenceSubsidence• ErosionErosion• Sea level riseSea level rise

Methods used to assess Methods used to assess aquatic environmentsaquatic environments

• Surface water quality monitoring Surface water quality monitoring (SWQM)(SWQM)

• Continuous water quality monitoring Continuous water quality monitoring (CWQM)(CWQM)– Clean Rivers ProgramClean Rivers Program

• Fish studiesFish studies

• Benthic studiesBenthic studies

Utilizing water quality info to Utilizing water quality info to assess WQ of a body of water:assess WQ of a body of water:

Sampling TechniquesSampling Techniques

• EquipmentEquipment– Sonde/ test kitsSonde/ test kits

• Flow meterFlow meter

• Secchi tube/ diskSecchi tube/ disk

• Bucket to collect waterBucket to collect water

Utilizing water quality info to Utilizing water quality info to assess WQ of a body of water:assess WQ of a body of water:

Parameters usedParameters used• pHpH

• DODO

• TemperatureTemperature

• ConductivityConductivity

• SalinitySalinity

• DepthDepth

• FlowFlow

• TSS, VSS,TDSTSS, VSS,TDS

• NH3, NO2+NO3, TPNH3, NO2+NO3, TP

• TOCTOC

• BacteriaBacteria

• ChlorophyllChlorophyll

• OrthophosphatesOrthophosphates

Laws used to protect water Laws used to protect water qualityquality

• Clean Water ActClean Water Act

• Texas Water Code (TWC)Texas Water Code (TWC)

• TX Senate Bill 503 TX Senate Bill 503 – Water Quality Management Plan Water Quality Management Plan

(WQMP) program(WQMP) program

• TX Administrative Code (TAC) Title TX Administrative Code (TAC) Title 3030