Collecting Water Quality Data | [Research]

Water Temperature Monitor In-stream Probe is measuring and collecting date for Ocean Blue 24 hours per day 7 days a week.

Our researchers at Ocean Blue needed a way to continuously monitor water levels and temperatures prior to planting trees that will one day create a stream canopy of shade that will lower water temperatures that are more a consistent year around temperature in return will Chinook Salmon will have a safe habitat to rest along their long journey up the Willamette River Basin.   

 With Summer and Flash flooding in the winter months the water conditions are alternating warmer and cold conditions. The OBP needed instrumentation that could not only withstand the harsh conditions but would also have enough battery power to last for multi-year deployments.

With Funding from Macy's Ocean Blue was able to obtain the equipment needed to collect in stream research quality data on many types of water quality measurements and data collection and we are putting this equipment into action. Our goal is to monitor the Willamette River for safe water measurements like water levels, water temperatures, and we are focusing on confluence of urban streams that are flowing litter and toxins into the Willamette River. 

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Our Found Solution for water data collection interments that make impact

With these limitations, the WVU team set out to identify alternative water-level-data-logging instruments. They began experimenting with HOBO® U20 Water Level Loggers from Onset, a Massachusetts-based manufacturer of portable data loggers and weather stations.

Unlike the previous loggers used, which relied on bulky vent tubes and desiccant packs, the HOBO devices feature a sealed, non-vented design to make logger deployment in the basin faster, easier and more maintenance-free. The loggers also feature a USB-based optical interface for high-speed offload of the collected data in wet environments. The optical design also eliminates the need for failure-prone mechanical connectors found in many traditional water-level-logging instruments.

To prepare the 30+ loggers for deployment, they were first connected to the research center's computer via USB cable and configured in a matter of minutes using accompanying HOBOware® Pro graphing and analysis software. Once configured, the loggers were submerged in monitoring wells using bulk 3/16" stainless steel cable attached to hanging bolts. According to Donovan, readings are taken every hour around the clock and synced to a uniform time base.
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"The loggers are programmed to record absolute pressure at hourly intervals," he explains. "The accompanying software subtracts barometric pressure from absolute pressure recorded in the well and then converts the pressure reading to sensor submergence. The sensor submergence is added to the sensor elevation yielding the mine-water hydraulic head elevation."

Smaller urban streams next to fast food restaurants in Corvallis, Oregon

Enhance Streams for Wildlife, and Clean Water Education Projects for schools, colleges, and business wanting to give back hands on.

Conservation goals/outcomes:
The goal of this project is to restore habitat for threatened riparian animal species by improving water quality and stream stability with an ecological restoration approach. Native plants will be established throughout 50% of the stream section after removing invasive species such as Reed Canary Grass. Through partnership local schools, cities, and neighbors in community capacity building service learning project.

Scientific goals/outcomes:
Pre-implementation includes invasive species removal and establishing 50% native plants. The completion of the project follows with post-implementation water quality monitoring and project effectiveness, including weekly water samples for three years, frequent plant monitoring, and using strategies to maintain consistent water temperatures to improve survival rates. With
Oregon State University interns, OBP tracks animal species through waterfowl counts and amphibian counts using frog traps.

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Marine Wildlife Matter

Project methodology:
The restoration and protection of natural watershed process is the foundation of achieving watershed health. Since natural watershed processes have been eliminated, altered or reduced in many areas, habitat restoration activities are the primary method for reintroducing the necessary functions to watersheds that have been altered due to past management practices and/or disturbance events. This includes, but is not limited to improving water quality, water quantity, habitat complexity, floodplain interaction, vegetation structure, and species diversity.

Tree give back to communities: 
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Healthy trees, healthy Cities, equals, healthy Communities for Oregonians: OBP will be using provided funds to implement watershed and wildlife enhancement of our community service learning projects for the community.  

The restoration of rivers, where we will enhance not only our community but the economic value of Corvallis, Oregon in many ways, by planting trees and green spaces in urban areas provide more than aesthetic benefits. Where there are trees, there are reduced energy costs, decreased stormwater treatment costs, increased property values, increased spending at stores, increased employee satisfaction, and lower healthcare costs through cleaner air and increased recreational opportunities. 

Urban streams can be a great tool to filter water, if abundance of flora and fauna is thriving. Native plants and trees, can not only filter but provide a stream canopy that allows a consistent water temperature for native salmonids species. Water from urban streams flow downhill ending cup in our rivers, and then our world's ocean! By plantings trees increases the value of nearby houses, increases tax revenues, supports local businesses, decreases government spending through the natural provision of ecosystem services, decreases the cost of recreation, and creates jobs. 

Investing in beaches, rivers, streams, and creeks as a strategy to lower pollution. Restoration projects, will enhance economic value for the city's, community, and beyond. Service learning project will are aimed to focus on engaging high schools, College Students, like Oregon State University students, the community of Corvallis, and communities within the United States, straighten wildlife habitat, improve public health, strengthened neighborhoods, environmental protection, that will improve the drinking water for over two million people who live downstream, and preservation of natural beauty, all of which makes communities more livable. 

Evidence is proven, from academic research and first-hand experience of community leaders and government officials who have found that urban stream restoration protection does not “cost” but rather “pays.” ​