Book Description

In 1978 the upper Honey Creek watershed of the Sandusky River Basin in Ohio became part of a national demonstration area for agricultural best management practices (BMP's), especially no-tillage. The present study was conducted in conjunction with studies of stream flow and sediment and nutrient loadings in the Honey Creek drainage. Baseline information was gathered on physical, chemical, and biological parameters which might later reflect the effects of large-scale implementation of no-tillage and other BMP's. The study measured: (1) steam community structure (algae, macrophytes, macroinvertebrates, and fishes); (2) substrate types and distributions; (3) physical and chemical water quality (nutrients, specific conductance, suspended solids, pH, and fecal bacteria), and(4) nutrient exports from the town of Tiro, within the watershed. The biological, physical, and chemical components were measured a total of four times in 1979 and 1980 at six sampling stations within the watershed. Substrate types and distributions were measured on two occasions at each station. This preliminary study indicated (1) large spatial and temporal variability of stream substrates and biological communities; (2) in general, 'good' stream quality at all stations, as reflected by the biological components; (3) fecal contamination at all stations; and (4) an observable effect of septic tank effluents on the nutrient and bacteriological quality of the stream draining Tiro. Recommendations are made for further investigation of the effects of changing agricultural BMP's on the in-stream quality of the Honey Creek watershed. (Author).