4/4/03 Progress Report

This topic submitted by Sarah Arnason, Jocelyn Ellis, Ryan Lazowski, Katie Zeitler (LAZOWSRD@muohio.edu) on 4/4/03. Additions were last made on Friday, April 4, 2003. Section: Garrison/Green

Thus far, we have finished the natural science testing component of the project. We made three visits to Four Mile Creek at each of the following sites: Hueston Woods, behind Western campus, and Hamilton. We recorded the data for dissolved oxygen concentration and temperature at the testing site; we save the sediment samples, and will weigh them next week.

The data for dissolved oxygen confirm our hypothesis that dissolved oxygen concentration will be higher near the headwaters of the stream (Hueston Woods) compared to farther downstream (behind Western) and near the mouth of the stream (Hamilton). The data for dissolved oxygen also confirm our hypothesis that dissolved oxygen will be higher in an area with low concentration of human development, compared to areas with high agricultural development (behind Western) and areas with high urban development (Hamilton).

A question for Bill Green is: what significance, if any, do the differences in temperature have for dissolved oxygen concentration and sediment concentration?

In our general research of the history of Four Mile Creek at the Smith history library in Lane Public Library, we came across photos of Four Mile Creek taken in the early part of the 20th century. These photos may help us assess how Four Mile Creek has changed over time.

Due to time constraints, we may not test for biodiversity (of fish) above and below the Four Mile Creek dam.

Next week we will divide the work as follows: one group member will conduct interviews with members of the Miami/Oxford community; one group member will research the cultural significance of rivers for Native Americans; one group member will research the social significance of rivers for Native Americans; and one group member will research changes in forest cover along the river and investigate contemporary cultural images and media relating to Four Mile Creek.

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