Lake Tarpon’s Water Quality: Change over an Eight Year Span

1345 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: water pollution ecosystem effects

Introduction: The purpose of this research is to determine whether there has been a change in the overall water quality of the Lake Tarpon Basin, and if so, whether the quality has improved or worsened. The variables that will determine whether the quality has changed are: nutrients (phosphates and nitrates) and dissolved oxygen (DO). The expected changes are lower dissolved oxygen levels (from the already low levels), higher nitrogen levels (from the already high nitrogen levels), and the state qualifications still are not met for nutrients and dissolved oxygen (Levy, Flock, Burnes, Myers, Weed, River 2010). This topic relates to environmental management because the changes in water quality would be due to pollution, which relates to the question “How does human activity lead to the pollution of water stores?” The hypothesis that will be tested is that Lake Tarpon’s water quality will have worsened since the last measurements by Levy, Flock, Burnes, Myers, Weed, and Rivera in 2010.

Methodology: The water samples will be collected from the Lake Tarpon Basin utilizing sterile plastic water bottles. The location the samples will be collected from is Anderson Park, by the boat docks, located at 39669 U.S. 19, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689. The water samples will be brought to Tarpon Springs High School to be tested, located at 1411 Gulf Rd, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689. The phosphate, nitrate, and dissolved oxygen levels will be tested utilizing various LaMotte water testing kits, following the instructions within the testing kit. The LaMotte instructions for testing for the presence of phosphates are: fill the provided test tube with 5 milliliters of water, add one Phosphorous TesTab, cap the tube and mix until the tablet has d...

... middle of paper ...

...iteria." Florida Administrative Code and Florida Administrative Register. Florida Department of State, 6 Jan. 2006. Web. 20 Apr. 2014. .

"Water Quality." Center for Earth and Environmental Science School of Science. Indiana University - Purdue University, Indianapolis, n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2014. .

"Water Resource Protection Programs." Florida Department of Environmental Protection. MyFLorida.com, 20 Feb. 2014. Web. 20 Apr. 2014. .

http://www.pca.state.mn.us/index.php/view-document.html?gid=8545

http://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/giam/fyn/florida_friendly_yards/nitrogen_water.html

http://www.water.ncsu.edu/watershedss/info/do.html

Show More
Related

  • Potassium Phosphate Lab Report

    1389 Words  | 3 Pages

    This is an experimental lab that tested if drinking water passes the United States maximum phosphate standard. The results of this lab can help the American who drink the water know if there are too much phosphate in the water. Each group made a Potassium phosphate dilution from a stock solution. The concentration of the solution that needed to made affected the amount of Potassium phosphate that was diluted. To create a calibration curve, each group used the different concentrated Potassium phosphate solutions in their test.

    Read More

  • Florida Manatee and Sea Turtle Efforts

    1410 Words  | 3 Pages

    Within the state of Florida there are dozens of individualized, non-profit organizations making an effort to help the local wildlife. The local land and marine wildlife includes birds, geckos, frogs, snakes, panthers, manatees, sea turtles, fishes, sharks, corals, lizards and many, many more. Florida State is located on the Southeastern tip of the United States providing a unique opportunity for conservation of salt-water animals. While there are animal conservation efforts taking place all over the world, this essay will focus on two animal species that humans are specifically trying to save in Florida State. The two main animal species of focus are manatees and sea turtles.

    Read More

  • Water Problems in Texas

    1966 Words  | 4 Pages

    Texas, with its abundances of natural resources, is facing a new demon, one that doesn’t even seem possible, a shortage of water. Water, without it nothing can survive. Texas is the second largest state for landmass in the nation and ninth for water square miles. Within the borders of Texas are more than 100 lakes, 14 major rivers, and 23 aquifers, so why has water become such an important issue for the state? Politicians and conservationists all agree that without a new working water plan, the state could be facing one of the most damaging environmental disasters they have ever seen. The issues that shape the states positions are population growth, current drought conditions, and who actually owns the water.

    Read More

  • Falling Water Levels in the Great Lakes

    1071 Words  | 3 Pages

    As global temperatures and ocean levels rise, the water levels of the Great Lakes continues to fall. As the lakes hit their all time lowest level in global history in 2012, society remains ignorant to the imposing doom that lurks ahead. Since the Great Lakes make up the largest group of fresh water lakes on Earth and are responsible for approximately 21% of the Earth’s fresh water supply, this issue is becoming one of the largest environmental and economical issues our modern world faces. The effects of this issue include destroying animal habitats and a major economic market; shipping. Water levels in the Great Lakes have been dropping for the past fourteen years, but it wasn’t until boats were scraping the bottom of Lake Huron that people began to take notice. This terrible environmental issue has been dubbed a long term cycle of over evaporation and not enough precipitation to replenish the Lakes. Keith Kompoltowicz, chief of watershed hydrology for the United States Army Corps of Engineers in Detroit has been monitoring this issue for a decade and has made startling discoveries, such as in 2012, he discovered Lake Michigan and Lake Huron’s water levels only rose four inches after winter, whereas the Lakes have been regularly recorded as gaining a foot of water after the winter season had ended. This amount of water added is not enough to maintain a proper water level during the dry, hot summer seasons that evaporate much water from the Great Lakes. While some scientists say that this is just a cycle that will adjust itself naturally, most experts that have been studying this phenomenon, such as Kompoltwicz, would agree that the issue has gone to far

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Great Lakes Conservation

    1298 Words  | 3 Pages

    The American Great Lakes; Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario make up 21% of the world’s surface, fresh water. These lakes are home to a variety of wildlife species and fish that are a concern. The lakes also provide drinking water for 40 million people. Commercial fishing, sport fishing and Native American fishing are the major industries providing jobs in the Great Lakes Region and this impacts the fragile ecosystem. The urban runoff and sprawl, sewage disposal, agriculture and toxic industrial waste also affect human health, fish populations, and aquatic food chains. The Great Lakes Restoration initiative is the largest investment in the Great Lakes in two decades. There is a task force of 11 federal agencies that developed an action plan to implement the initiative. The action plan is to cover fiscal years 2010-2014 and addressed five urgent issues. Those issues include; 1. Cleaning up toxics and areas of concern. 2. Combating invasive species, 3. Promoting nearshore health by protecting watersheds from polluted runoff, 4. Restoring wetlands and other habitats. 5. Tracking progress and working with strategic partners. In 2012 and 2013 with the input of citizens 3 key priorities helped to guide the restoration project. They were cleaning up areas of concern, reducing nutrients entering the lakes and preventing the introduction of new, invasive species. New technologies, such as a swimming video camera and an all-terrain robot, are granting researchers their first glimpse of a region critical to the Great Lakes’ health.

    Read More

  • Lake Winnipesaukee Research Paper

    472 Words  | 1 Pages

    This assignment has encouraged me to do research on the lake that shaped my childhood and founded my love for New Hampshire and for water itself. Apparently, most professionals consider the state of Lake Winnipesaukee to be “good,” other research would show that the overall quality of the lake has been in a declining state for the past ten years. The beach has experienced closings due to e. Coli, which, according to the Center for Disease Control, can cause abdominal cramping and several bowel issues. The lake has also experienced a decrease in wildlife populations, namely of fish and loon (Winnipesaukee Gateway).

    Read More

  • Texas-Mexico Water Treaty

    1217 Words  | 3 Pages

    Staples, Todd, and Carlos Rubinstein. Letter to Ambassador Anthony Wayne. 10 Sept. 2013. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2013. .

    Read More

  • Canada´s Mixedwood Plains and Pollution

    727 Words  | 2 Pages

    Great Lakes Regional Pollution Prevention Roundtable. GLRPPR, 12 Dec. 2013. Web. 15 Dec. 2013. .

    Read More

  • Drinking Water Quality and Health

    689 Words  | 2 Pages

    Three Medical Doctors wrote the book, The Water We Drink: Water Quality and Its Effects on Health. Their names are Joshua I. Barzilay, M.D., Winkler G. Weinberg, M.D., and J. William Eley, M.D. In order to put the issue of drinking water quality and its effects on health into perspective, the book is divided into three parts. It first reviews the history of water, disease, and sanitation. The next section deals with health issues. At the conclusion of the book are chapters regarding bottled water and methods of purification. The intent of the book is to educate consumers.

    Read More

  • The Effects of Ocean Pollution on the Environment

    1635 Words  | 4 Pages

    "Water Pollution." Current Issues: Macmillan Social Science Library. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 5 May 2014.

    Read More

  • Case Study of Waste Water Treatment Plants

    1046 Words  | 3 Pages

    Richardson, S. Water Analysis: Emerging Containments and Current Issues. Journal of Analytical Chemistry. 2003, 75, 2831-2857.

    Read More

  • Causes, Effects and Solution of Water Polution

    1069 Words  | 3 Pages

    Water Pollution is a current issue that has serious consequences; it progresses everyday in our lakes, oceans, rivers and other bodies of water.

    Read More

  • The Problem of Water Scarcity

    1538 Words  | 4 Pages

    Smith, Zachary A., and Grenetta Thomassey. Freshwater Issues: A Reference Handbook. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2002. Print

    Read More

  • Water Engineering: The Importance Of Water Quality In Civil Engineering

    938 Words  | 2 Pages

    Water quality can be described as the measurement of the condition of water relative to the requirements of humans, animals and plant’s need. When we talk about water quality testing, we are highlighting a critical piece of natural observing for civil engineers in order to create a specific structure or decision. At the point when water quality is poor, it influences almost every single form of life in our planet; going from plants to animals and thereon. Hydrology, in the other hand, is the study of water. It is important to state that hydrology is a critical part for civil engineers to determine and predicting decisions that will affect our biological environment.

    Read More

  • Water Shortage in India: Problems and Solutions

    985 Words  | 2 Pages

    Rogers, Peter. 2008. "Facing the Freshwater CRISIS. (Cover story)." Scientific American 299, no. 2: 46-53. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed November 4, 2010).

    Read More

More about Lake Tarpon’s Water Quality: Change over an Eight Year Span

Open Document