YORK PRAIRIE CREEK & WHITE RIVER

 

York Prairie Creek and Cardinal Creek are synonymous.  Known for its Cardinals, the Ball State community refers to the creek as Cardinal Creek; however, once it flows past campus, it becomes York Prairie Creek until it merges with the White River.  Through June-July 2016 — part of the third iteration of Water Quality Indiana, enrolled students monitored the creek for temperature, total suspended solids (visible solids that can be trapped by a filter), pH (water acidity), and dissolved oxygen (amount of air available in water) per the request of our community partner, FlatLand Resources, an environmental consulting firm for the Delaware County Soil & Water Conservation District.

York Prairie Creek & White River Slideshow 0:36

Temperature of Cardinal Creek

This graph illustrates the water temperature at all three sites during the period of study. First, and most significantly, temperatures at all three sites follow a seasonable pattern (warmer in summer and colder in winter). For most of the study, temperatures at CC3 (closest to Muncie) are warmest overall, which illustrate the effect of urban headwaters upon stream temperatures—more direct runoff from heated asphalt contributes to warmer stream temperatures.

 

pH of Cardinal Creek

This graph illustrates the pH of waters in each of the three monitoring sites along Cardinal Creek during the period of study. In general, values ranges between 7.2 and 8.5 and reflect waters with significant alkalinity that have been buffered by carbonates in soil and/or bedrock. Over the course of a year, there is a weak trend toward higher pH values in the winter and lower values in the summer. Additionally, there is a trend toward slightly higher pH values further downstream in Cardinal Creek, which likely representative of greater surface water-ground water interaction or enhanced contributions of groundwater to stream flow.

 

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Storm Drains & Ditches Along York Prairie Creek 1:40

 

Total Suspended Solids of Cardinal Creek

This graph illustrates the concentration of particulates transported in water, which include primarily small sediments and also algae and other biologic materials which make water turbid. In the available data from Cardinal Creek, TSS concentrations are largely below 10 mg/L for all sites. All sites are elevated on February 3, 2016 following a significant precipitation event.

 

Dissolved Oxygen of Cardinal Creek

This graph illustrates the available oxygen dissolved in waters of Cardinal Creek. As DO concentrations are inversely proportional to temperature, there is more available oxygen in the stream during winter months. Also, available oxygen is a function of the rate of biologic oxygen demand in the water, which is greater in the more urban runoff at the site closest to Muncie (CC3).

 

Buck Creek & White River

YORK PRAIRIE CREEK & WHITE RIVER
INFORMATION

York Prairie Creek and Cardinal Creek are synonymous.  Known for its Cardinals, the Ball State community refers to the creek as Cardinal Creek; however, once it flows past campus, it becomes York Prairie Creek until it merges with the White River.  Through June-July 2016 — part of the third iteration of Water Quality Indiana, enrolled students monitored the creek for temperature, total suspended solids (visible solids that can be trapped by a filter), pH (water acidity), and dissolved oxygen (amount of air available in water) per the request of our community partner, FlatLand Resources, an environmental consulting firm for the Delaware County Soil & Water Conservation District.

Temperature of Cardinal Creek

Total Suspended Solids of Cardinal Creek

This graph illustrates the water temperature at all three sites during the period of study. First, and most significantly, temperatures at all three sites follow a seasonable pattern (warmer in summer and colder in winter). For most of the study, temperatures at CC3 (closest to Muncie) are warmest overall, which illustrate the effect of urban headwaters upon stream temperatures—more direct runoff from heated asphalt contributes to warmer stream temperatures.

 

This graph illustrates the concentration of particulates transported in water, which include primarily small sediments and also algae and other biologic materials which make water turbid. In the available data from Cardinal Creek, TSS concentrations are largely below 10 mg/L for all sites. All sites are elevated on February 3, 2016 following a significant precipitation event.

 

pH of Cardinal Creek

Dissolved Oxygen of Cardinal Creek

This graph illustrates the pH of waters in each of the three monitoring sites along Cardinal Creek during the period of study. In general, values ranges between 7.2 and 8.5 and reflect waters with significant alkalinity that have been buffered by carbonates in soil and/or bedrock. Over the course of a year, there is a weak trend toward higher pH values in the winter and lower values in the summer. Additionally, there is a trend toward slightly higher pH values further downstream in Cardinal Creek, which likely representative of greater surface water-ground water interaction or enhanced contributions of groundwater to stream flow.

 

This graph illustrates the available oxygen dissolved in waters of Cardinal Creek. As DO concentrations are inversely proportional to temperature, there is more available oxygen in the stream during winter months. Also, available oxygen is a function of the rate of biologic oxygen demand in the water, which is greater in the more urban runoff at the site closest to Muncie (CC3).

 

DATA 
COLLECTED