Sheep grazing on College Creek
Friends of College Creek,
Please join us tomorrow evening, Tuesday January 27th, for the next Creek Chat focusing on the history of College Creek. The Chat will be held in the Founders Suite, at the Ames Public Library from 6:30-8:00pm.
We’ve collected many historic photos and maps from the Ames Historical Society, the Ames Public Library, the ISU Parks Library Archive, and the Iowa DOT. People interested in College Creek and history in general are encouraged to attend. Refreshments!
We hope to see you there.
Summary of the last Creek Chat focusing on water quality - January, 20th 2009
Jen Kurth, Iowa DNR aquatic biologist, interpreted water quality monitoring results for the 2008 calendar year.
These results relate to College Creek from the headwaters (slightly west of Wilder Blvd) to South Dakota Avenuesite of the College Creek Restoration project.
Results were compared with other streams in this region of Iowa (the Western Plains Ecoregion). Jen made the following main points about
water quality, including bacteria: (a) moderately high levels of phosphorus and nitrate-nitrogen were identified as well as low levels of dissolved oxygen; excess algae blooms are likely involved in this nutrient cycling; and (b) high levels of e-coli bacteria were identified in nearly all samples with concentrations generally increasing from upstream to downstream, with the highest levels present directly behind Rockwell Avenue; these levels exceed state recommendations for full body contact.
See our project webpage for more information.
Habitat conditions for fish and insects were very compromised in most sections of the stream, particularly between Thackeray Avenue and behind Rockwell Ave including high rates of bare and unstable banks, a lack of substrate (gravel, sand, cobbles, etc.), deep deposits of silt on the channel bottom, and a lack of riffles and deeper pools. As expected with degraded channel and bank habitat, a very limited number of fish and insects were found; those identified are tolerant of poor water quality. Significant barriers exist limiting fish movement from lower sections of the stream including a dam in the ISU arboretum, multiple underground box culverts, and low head dam structures. Both the lack of riffles & pools and these barriers challenge the ability of fish to carry out their usual seasonal migration and reproduction cycles.
Group discussion yielded the following goals and suggestions: (1)
It is important to enhance / improve aquatic habitat; stream channel construction associated with this project should work toward this goal to the degree possible. (2) Work to better understand possible sources of bacterial contamination are critical (both the City of Ames & ISU have committed to continue assessment); we should work to reduce these levels. (3) The presence and type of fish present in this reach of the stream should not be used as an indicator of restoration successthe physical barriers to movement will preclude a more diverse population. (4) More volunteer monitoring is needed on College Creek (and other urban streams in Ames) to better understand conditions (the project will help recruit and arrange IOWATER training for new volunteers).
Next Creek Chat: Lawn Renovation to reduce fertilizer and pesticide use on Thursday March 12
th from 6:30-8:00pm. Location to be
announced.
…
Ryan Chapman
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