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An important part of Centennial Woods is the watershed. We tested 14 different points (2 of them 3 times) including streams, ground water seeps, and ponds for pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, temperature, width, depth, velocity, and phosphorus.

pH
For the most part, the pH of the watershed was around 7, or neutral. However, there was one point with a pH of 9.5. This was at a drainage pond that was covered with algae. The resulting photosynthesis takes hydrogen ions out of the water creating an alkaline environment.

Dissolved Oxygen
The most common source of oxygen in a body of water is photosynthesis. The majority of our water samples contained a healthy amount of dissolved oxygen (around 100%). One point, the algae covered pond contained 190% dissolved oxygen. Low dissolved oxygen occurred in ponds with rotting vegetation. Decomposition takes up oxygen.

Temperature
Our time in Centennial woods was characterized by intense heat. As a result, we recorded an overall increase in temperature throughout out testing. Predictably, the ponds and areas of streams in the sun were the warmest, while the seeps and shaded areas were the coolest.

Phosphorus
A chemical water pollutant that encourages algal growth on stagnant water. It commonly is released in the decomposition of organic mater, as well as from human activities such as manufacturing and water purification.

Velocity
This is the measure of the speed at which water flows. Velocity is an indicator of the amount of water moving through the system, and if this volume is normal. High velocity can indicate that abnormally high volumes of water are in the watershed.

Depth and Width
Also a measurement of the amount of water a channel can handle, the dimensions of a waterway are critical to assessing how much stress the watershed is under.

Conductivity
Conductivity measures the ability of water to conduct electricity, thus it measures the amount of ions dissolved in the water. The most common source of ions is salt from road runoff. Our entire watershed was characterized by high conductivity from road runoff. Our only points with low conductivity were ground water seeps.

And for all the water data...