U-High Creek Quality
The water quality of the U-High creek was excellent because it had pollution sensitive micro-invertebrates. However, not all creeks are this way. One example of humans polluting creeks includes farmers’ pesticides and fertilizers that soak through the ground and travel into the water (Lenntech, 1998-2016). These materials hold a lot of phosphorus and nitrogen which causes a surplus of algae. If this occurs, then the water could turn green (causing a low aesthetic value) and also once it breaks down, its’ bacteria will steal away the dissolved oxygen that the fish need to survive. Another example is the runoff of factory waste (Lenntech, 1998-2016). This waste brings toxins that could kill all the organisms and animals that interact with the
creek. A natural solution that could help reduce the amount of pollution in creeks is a riparian zone, also known as a “no mow zone.” This means that around the creek, there would be a variety of plants that would hold back trash items and also soak up the fertilized and toxin-filled waters before they reach the creek. Advantages include that it’s natural and provides diverse plant life (Protecting Streambanks from Erosion, 1999). The natural look is important for aesthetic value, however at the same time it provides a disadvantage. The plants could overgrow and cause people to not like the look. Also, it takes time for the plants to grow their roots into the ground so just because they were planted does not mean that they could protect the creek from toxin-filled waters beneath the ground (Protecting Streambanks from Erosion, 1999). A technical solution could be placing mushrooms in bags with coffee grounds and straw into the creek in order to break down pollutants (Beans, 2014). In example, oyster mushrooms can break down petroleum which could be a runoff pollutant from factories (Beans, 2014). Also, garden giant mushrooms can catch E. coli and other things in their mycelia (Beans. 2014). Disadvantages include that we could run low on mushrooms and also, animals could eat the E. coli that they had previously held away from the river. Breaking down the petroleum and catching the E. coli could prevent more creeks from being polluted.
creek. A natural solution that could help reduce the amount of pollution in creeks is a riparian zone, also known as a “no mow zone.” This means that around the creek, there would be a variety of plants that would hold back trash items and also soak up the fertilized and toxin-filled waters before they reach the creek. Advantages include that it’s natural and provides diverse plant life (Protecting Streambanks from Erosion, 1999). The natural look is important for aesthetic value, however at the same time it provides a disadvantage. The plants could overgrow and cause people to not like the look. Also, it takes time for the plants to grow their roots into the ground so just because they were planted does not mean that they could protect the creek from toxin-filled waters beneath the ground (Protecting Streambanks from Erosion, 1999). A technical solution could be placing mushrooms in bags with coffee grounds and straw into the creek in order to break down pollutants (Beans, 2014). In example, oyster mushrooms can break down petroleum which could be a runoff pollutant from factories (Beans, 2014). Also, garden giant mushrooms can catch E. coli and other things in their mycelia (Beans. 2014). Disadvantages include that we could run low on mushrooms and also, animals could eat the E. coli that they had previously held away from the river. Breaking down the petroleum and catching the E. coli could prevent more creeks from being polluted.