Simple Model for Stream Health Empowers Local Communities

Researchers from West Virginia University have published a model for predicting the water health of streams they hope will make it easier for communities to get EPA permission for future projects. The model, available here, uses water quality data from a 17-year period across the continental U.S. to predict the amount of oxygen dissolved in water using only the data inputs of water temperature and pH. This simple model allows organizations and communities to easily test the dissolved oxygen value of their streams which, under the Clean Water Act, is required to be over 5 milligrams for non-urban streams. This tool works for any freshwater stream in the U.S. except for those with significant geothermal activity. Read more at WVU Today.