CHARACTERIZATION OF THE HYDROLOGY AND GEOMORPHOLOGY OF THE RICE CREEK WATERSHED

Research was done on the Rice Creek Watershed to establish a water quality-monitoring network, as part of an EPA funded watershed management planning grant. Rice Creek is a tributary to the Kalamazoo River, located in south central Michigan. The Rice Creek is in close proximity to possible sources of pollution, including a hog confinement facility and discharge of wastewater effluent into the south branch. Over a period of about eight weeks, stream flow was monitored, along with pH, turbidity, total suspended solids, dissolved oxygen, nutrient levels, and water temperature at selected sites along Rice Creek. Then a geographical information system (GIS) database was developed to record and compare discharge and water quality variables across the watershed.