The aquatic ecology of the White River basin has been studied since 1875 with researchers having reported 158 fish species belonging to 25 families. Recently, an EPA 319 grant allowed for further research in the Upper White River basin. The two-year study (2002-2004) examined three watersheds in Delaware County for biotic integrity, habitat quality, and stream water quality parameters. Twenty-two sites were selected to gain a perspective on agricultural, urban, and wooded landscape influences in order to locate and implement Best Management Practices (BMPs). Samples exceeded established state regulations and guideline criteria as follows: E. col/ (80%), ammonia-N (71%), dissolved oxygen (55%), nitrate+nitrite-N (38%), orthophosphate (33%), and total suspended solids (18%). A general linear model indicated that the effects of watershed and location within each watershed were significant (p <0.001) for both the Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI) and Index of Biotic hntegrity (IBI) index scores. Digitized land cover developed using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) was created to determine the effects of agricultural and wooded land cover ratios on the IBI and QHEI indices. A significant positive linear relationship between the amount of woodland land cover in a 5-m streamside riparian buffer and QHEI (p<0.001, r2 = 0.55) and with IBI (p<0.001, r-2 = 0.49) was found. A significant negative linear relationship was found with the amount of agricultural land in the created 5-m riparian buffer and IBI (p<0.001, r' 0.41), QHEI (p<0.001, r2 _- 0.36). The 30-nm streamside riparian buffer and delineated subwatershed land cover ratios were significant for the biotic integrity and habitat quality parameters, but were less predictive than the 5-m buffers. In addition, the amount of high runoff soils in the subwatersheds had significant negative effects on the IBI (p < 0.001, r' = 0.47) and QHEI (p = <0.001,r' = 0.43). Wetness accumulation and soil erosion was modeled in each watershed with the use of GIS, soils, and terrain parameters. The maps produced detailed locations where BMPs (wetlands, grassed waterways, riparian buffer strips etc.) could be targeted to reduce non-point source pollutants. / Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/188067 |
| Date | January 2005 |
| Creators | Wright, Andrew W. |
| Contributors | Brown, Hugh J. |
| Source Sets | Ball State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Format | viii, 124 leaves : ill., maps (some col.) ; 28 cm. |
| Source | Virtual Press |
| Coverage | n-us-in |
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