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Trapezoidal Channels vs. Natural Creeks Effects on Habitat

CSEF · 2005 Environmental Science (Junior Division Only)

Daniel A. Huthsing · Goleta Valley Junior High School, Goleta

Overview

Objectives/Goals In this experiment I address the effects of trpaezoidal channels on the physical and biological characteristics of a Santa Barbara, California creek ecosystem. Two 100 ft. sections of San Jose Creek, one natural run and one trapezoidal run, were described and compared using measurements of water flow rate varience, water temperature, potential for water oxygenation, and insect population. Methods/Materials Each of the 100 ft. runs were divided into 20 ft subsections to allow a more precise measurement of the characteristics of the creek. The flow rate was found by droping an orage at the top of the run and using a stopwatch to measure the time, in seconds, that it took for the orange to travel by each subsection. Water temperature was taken every twenty feet statring at zero with an analog thermomiter. Potential for water oxygenation was measured by finding the length of white water in the creek. Finaly the incect population was meeasured by using a seine net to capture the insects when the were kicked up out of the bottom sediment. Results The natural creeks flow time variance was 12.93 times grater than the the trapezoidal channel. The average water temperature of the trapezoidal channel was 59.5°F versus 60.7°F in the natural creek. The potential for water ozygenation was 15 times grater in the natural creek that it was in the trapezoidal channel. There was only 1 more insect in the natural creek, 43, than in the trapezoidal channel. Conclusions/Discussion The physical characteristics of a creek are clearly affected by trapezoidla channels. These changes in physical characteristics may be responible for the slight decline fo the insect community. The resluts of this experiment could be used to modify trapezoidal channels so they have less of an impact on the creek ecosystem.

Summary statement

Creek channelization changes physical and biological characteristics of natural creeks in Sanat Barbara, California.

Help received

I worked with an ecologist who works a UCSB during my field testing.

Competition history

  • CSEF 2005 Environmental Science (Junior Division Only) · Entry J0918

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