LFUCG, Third Rock Consultants and the Kentucky Division of Water worked together from October 2018 to March 2020 to sample water quality data in West Hickman Creek. The following is a list of potential parameters included with each sample.
- Site ID
- Date
- Estimated Flow (cfs)
- Dissolved Oxygen Saturation (%)
- Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L)
- pH (SU)
- Conductivity (µS/cm)
- Temp (C)
- Chlorine (mg/L)
- Fluoride (mg/L)
- Nitrogen (mg/L)
- Phosphorous (mg/L)
- Total Suspended Solids (mg/L)
- E. Coli (MPN/100mL)
- Various qualitative measurements (weather, canopy cover, odor, etc.)
- Various metal concentrations (antimony, aluminum, copper, lead, etc.)
In addition to these water quality metrics the project team measured stream biology, stream habitat and Microbial Source Tracking (MST). MST is a scientific method which determines the source of E. coli pollution from human, dog or bird.
As shown in the map below, 18 stream sites were selected for study. A stream site refers to the single location where sampling occurred in the stream. Water health at each stream site is impacted by the entire upstream sub-watershed which contributes flow to that site. Some stream sites accept flow from multiple other stream sites. For instance, site WH-23 is the most downstream of all sites and all other sites drain to it. Read chapter 4 of the full watershed management plan for more information on this topic.
