A Comparison of the A Comparison of the River Raisin and Ottawa River Raisin and Ottawa

RiverRiver

Connie AtkissonConnie Atkisson

Jim DornbergJim Dornberg

Lynda WlodarskiLynda Wlodarski

PurposePurpose

Compare the water quality of two Compare the water quality of two rivers in Northwest Ohio/Southeast rivers in Northwest Ohio/Southeast MichiganMichigan

HypothesisHypothesis

The overall water quality of the River The overall water quality of the River Raisin and Ottawa River will be Raisin and Ottawa River will be similarsimilar

ProcedureProcedure

Conduct the following water quality Conduct the following water quality tests at two test sites:tests at two test sites:– TemperatureTemperature– pHpH– Dissolved oxygenDissolved oxygen– NitratesNitrates– PhosphatesPhosphates– AlkalinityAlkalinity– TransparencyTransparency

ProcedureProcedure

Compute the overall water quality of Compute the overall water quality of both samples using the Water Quality both samples using the Water Quality Index (WQI)Index (WQI)

1702 square miles1702 square miles 150 miles long150 miles long Agriculture: 65%Agriculture: 65% Urbanized: 11%Urbanized: 11% Wetlands: 8%Wetlands: 8% Forested: 7%Forested: 7% Grassland: 7%Grassland: 7%

276 square miles276 square miles 45 miles long45 miles long Cultivated: 15%Cultivated: 15% Mixed vegetation: 38%Mixed vegetation: 38% Urban/Residential: 21%Urban/Residential: 21% Forested: 16%Forested: 16% Grassland: 7%Grassland: 7%

River Raisin Ottawa River

Sources: River Raisin Watershed Council; Partners for Clean Streams

Site One

Site Two

ResultsResults

Water TestWater Test River River RaisinRaisin

Ottawa Ottawa RiverRiver

Dissolved Dissolved OxygenOxygen 10.0 mg/L10.0 mg/L 8.8 mg/L8.8 mg/L

pHpH 7.07.0 7.07.0

Total Total PhosphatePhosphate 1.0 mg/L1.0 mg/L 1.0 mg/L1.0 mg/L

NitratesNitrates .3 mg/L.3 mg/L .3 mg/L.3 mg/L

TransparencyTransparency 46 cm46 cm 59 cm59 cm

AlkalinityAlkalinity NoneNone NoneNone

TemperatureTemperature 24.024.0°° C C 22.122.1°° C C

Overall Water Quality (WQI)Overall Water Quality (WQI)

River Raisin: 70.8River Raisin: 70.8 Ottawa River: 53.0Ottawa River: 53.0

Overall Water QualityOverall Water Quality

• 90% - 100% The water is in excellent condition.

• 70% - 89% The water has problems but is still in good condition.

• 50% - 69% The water is in medium to very poor condition.

• 25% - 49% This water is in bad condition and need major help.

• 0% - 24% The water is in very bad condition. Don’t touch without gloves!

ConclusionConclusion

For our two test sites, the Ottawa For our two test sites, the Ottawa River is in much worse shape than River is in much worse shape than the River Raisinthe River Raisin

RecommendationRecommendation

Conduct a longitudinal study on Conduct a longitudinal study on water quality of the River Raisin water quality of the River Raisin watershedwatershed

Involve schools from Monroe and Involve schools from Monroe and Lenawee countiesLenawee counties

Record data on Globe websiteRecord data on Globe website

Capstone ProjectsCapstone Projects

The challenges of the 21st century The challenges of the 21st century require students to be globally literate require students to be globally literate regarding major global issues and the regarding major global issues and the processes necessary to inquire about processes necessary to inquire about issues, gather information, and make issues, gather information, and make decisions that arise during their decisions that arise during their lifetimes. They will need to practice lifetimes. They will need to practice responsible citizenship and make responsible citizenship and make informed and reasoned decisions for the informed and reasoned decisions for the public good in a pluralistic, democratic public good in a pluralistic, democratic society and an interdependent world. society and an interdependent world.

Elements of a Capstone Elements of a Capstone ProjectProject

use technologyuse technology collect datacollect data develop a product or performancedevelop a product or performance apply content from the core disciplinesapply content from the core disciplines demonstrate ability to participate in public demonstrate ability to participate in public

discoursediscourse make reasoned decisionsmake reasoned decisions demonstrate citizen involvementdemonstrate citizen involvement use methods of inquiryuse methods of inquiry compose persuasive civic essays using compose persuasive civic essays using

reasoned argumentsreasoned arguments

Contemporary Investigation Contemporary Investigation TopicsTopics

Global Climate Change Global Climate Change – Investigate – Investigate the impact of global climate change the impact of global climate change and describe the significance for and describe the significance for human/environment relationships. human/environment relationships.

Human-Environmental Interactions Human-Environmental Interactions – Investigate how policies from the past – Investigate how policies from the past and their implementation have had and their implementation have had positive or negative consequences for positive or negative consequences for the environment in the future.the environment in the future.

Problem/Purpose: Problem/Purpose: MegafarmsMegafarms

““Confined animal feeding operations” Confined animal feeding operations” (CAFOs)(CAFOs)

Source: Michigan Department of Environmental Quality

Sources: River Raisin Watershed Council, Google Maps

“Industrial farm operations impact all major environmental media, including water, soil, and air. Of most concern are the pollution of ground and surface water resources with nutrients, industrial and agricultural chemicals and microorganisms…”

www.pewtrusts.org

Manure-related Discharges Manure-related Discharges Include:Include:

AntibioticsAntibiotics, which may contribute to the development of , which may contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant pathogens antibiotic-resistant pathogens

PathogensPathogens, such as parasites, bacteria, and viruses, which , such as parasites, bacteria, and viruses, which can cause disease in animals and humans can cause disease in animals and humans

NutrientsNutrients, such as ammonia, nitrogen, and phosphorus, , such as ammonia, nitrogen, and phosphorus, which can reduce oxygen in surface waters, encourage the which can reduce oxygen in surface waters, encourage the growth of harmful algal blooms, and contaminate drinking-growth of harmful algal blooms, and contaminate drinking-water sources water sources

Pesticides and hormonesPesticides and hormones, which researchers have , which researchers have associated with hormone-related changes in fish associated with hormone-related changes in fish

SolidsSolids, such as feed and feathers, which can limit the , such as feed and feathers, which can limit the growth of desirable aquatic plants in surface waters and growth of desirable aquatic plants in surface waters and protect disease-causing microorganisms protect disease-causing microorganisms

Trace elementsTrace elements, such as arsenic and copper, which can , such as arsenic and copper, which can contaminate surface waters and possibly harm human health contaminate surface waters and possibly harm human health

Source: Centers for Disease Control

USDA Research:USDA Research:

1 million tons of dry manure per day1 million tons of dry manure per day 86% from animals held in 86% from animals held in

confinementconfinement

Vreba-Hoff II milkhouse waste discharge, (DEQ confirmed) 11/02

Downstream from Bruinsma CAFO, DEQ confirmed illegal discharge, 9/00

Source: Environmentally Concerned Citizens of South Central Michigan

Bakerlads waste running off the manure-black field to Cadmus Rd, drains to S.Branch River Raisin 3/08

Source: Environmentally Concerned Citizens of South Central Michigan

Lagoon waste management system for a 900-head hog farm in Georgia.Source: Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production

Lagoon Data from 2007 CAFOs Lagoon Data from 2007 CAFOs CNMPsCNMPs

Hartland Farms - Hartland Farms - 3 - 3,265,0003 - 3,265,000 Hoffland Dairy- Hoffland Dairy- 3 - 9,723,9753 - 9,723,975 Bruinsma Dairy - Bruinsma Dairy - 5 - 12,500,0005 - 12,500,000 Flevo Dairy - Flevo Dairy - 8 - 20,791,5008 - 20,791,500

Source: Environmentally Concerned Citizens of South Central Michigan

Source: Michigan Department of Environmental Quality

CAFOs in Southeast CAFOs in Southeast MichiganMichigan

When liquid manure enters streams When liquid manure enters streams or lakes, it is called a or lakes, it is called a dischargedischarge. . Discharges that violate Michigan's Discharges that violate Michigan's water quality standards are illegal.water quality standards are illegal.

All area CAFOs have discharged All area CAFOs have discharged illegallyillegally

317 violations and discharges since 317 violations and discharges since 20002000

Source: Environmentally Concerned Citizens of South Central Michigan

ReferencesReferences (2008). River Raisin watershed information. Retrieved July 17, 2008, from (2008). River Raisin watershed information. Retrieved July 17, 2008, from

River Raisin Watershed Council Web site: River Raisin Watershed Council Web site: http://riverraisin.org/features/river_raisin_watershed_info http://riverraisin.org/features/river_raisin_watershed_info

(2005, December 21). Ottawa River/Ten Mile Creek watershed. Retrieved (2005, December 21). Ottawa River/Ten Mile Creek watershed. Retrieved July 17, 2008, from Partners for Clean Streams Web site: July 17, 2008, from Partners for Clean Streams Web site: http://www.maumeerap.org/7-draft-HUC-Ottawa12-21-05.pdf http://www.maumeerap.org/7-draft-HUC-Ottawa12-21-05.pdf

(2008). CAFO polluted streams. Retrieved July 6, 2008, from (2008). CAFO polluted streams. Retrieved July 6, 2008, from Environmentally Concerned Citizens of South Central Michigan Web site: Environmentally Concerned Citizens of South Central Michigan Web site: http://www.nocafos.org/pictures.htmhttp://www.nocafos.org/pictures.htm

Bill (2008, May 20). CAFOs near Hudson, MI. Retrieved July 16, 2008, from Bill (2008, May 20). CAFOs near Hudson, MI. Retrieved July 16, 2008, from Google Maps Web site: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?Google Maps Web site: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=108994510678770320186.000001129c5die=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=108994510678770320186.000001129c5d663822c95&z=10 663822c95&z=10

Wuycheck, Rhonda. Michigan's concentrated animal feeding operation Wuycheck, Rhonda. Michigan's concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) program. Retrieved July 18, 2008, from Michigan Department of (CAFO) program. Retrieved July 18, 2008, from Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Web site: Environmental Quality Web site: http://www.deq.state.mi.us/documents/deq-whm-eac-attach3-http://www.deq.state.mi.us/documents/deq-whm-eac-attach3-CAFOProgram.pdf CAFOProgram.pdf

ReferencesReferences (2006, May). Guide to the Rouge Education Project. Retrieved July 18, 2008, (2006, May). Guide to the Rouge Education Project. Retrieved July 18, 2008,

from Friends of the Rouge Web site: from Friends of the Rouge Web site: http://www-personal.umd.umich.edu/~emilyjoh/LaMotteGuide.zip http://www-personal.umd.umich.edu/~emilyjoh/LaMotteGuide.zip

(2008). More on capstone projects. Retrieved July 18, 2008, from Michigan (2008). More on capstone projects. Retrieved July 18, 2008, from Michigan Department of Education Web site: Department of Education Web site: http://michigan.gov/documents/mde/MoreonCapstone_232750_7.pdf http://michigan.gov/documents/mde/MoreonCapstone_232750_7.pdf

(2008). Environmental impact of industrial farm animal production. (2008). Environmental impact of industrial farm animal production. Retrieved July 18, 2008, from Pew Charitable Trusts Web site: Retrieved July 18, 2008, from Pew Charitable Trusts Web site: http://www.pewtrusts.org/uploadedFiles/wwwpewtrustsorg/Reports/Industrihttp://www.pewtrusts.org/uploadedFiles/wwwpewtrustsorg/Reports/Industrial_Agriculture/PCIFAP_EnvImpact.pdfal_Agriculture/PCIFAP_EnvImpact.pdf

(2008, April). Putting meat on the table: Industrial farm animal production (2008, April). Putting meat on the table: Industrial farm animal production in America executive summary. Retrieved July 18, 2008, from Pew in America executive summary. Retrieved July 18, 2008, from Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production Web site: Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production Web site: http://www.ncifap.org/_images/PCIFAPSmry.pdfhttp://www.ncifap.org/_images/PCIFAPSmry.pdf

(2004, March). Concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). Retrieved (2004, March). Concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). Retrieved July 18, 2008, from Centers for Disease Control Web site: July 18, 2008, from Centers for Disease Control Web site: http://www.cdc.gov/cafos/about.htm http://www.cdc.gov/cafos/about.htm