Lower Wheeling Creek Report

     Wheeling Creek is the subject of a case study, as a tributary of the Ohio River. Since Wheeling had been first settled in 1769, the Creek had undergone many changes until the present day. It had been a highly industrialized urban center, including river and rail transportation facilities, as well as bridges carrying roads across the Ohio River. In the Wheeling Creek watershed, agriculture is dominated by cattle and dairy operations. There have been many hypothetical asunptions as to why the Creek had become the way it is today. However, after some detailed and meticulous research of Wheeling Creek's background information, I may have evidence to support my theories as to what I believe the causes may be. The two pollutants that are responsible for the pollution of this stream is due to the old process of dredging and surrounding sewage and runoff.

     As I said before, the first source of pollution of the creek would be of agriculture and sewage. This also includes the factor of acid mine drainage. Evidence in support of this assumption is that the creek had been located in an area where mines had been located as well. The high concentrations of sulfuric acid had been drained into the creek. this may account for the fact that closer to the Ohio River there is less oxygen because it had been dissolved until saturation. It may have had a higher temperature as well. It also has a higher alkilinity which shows that it has a higher buffering capacity. This is shown by the relative average in pH of the stream, that never reaches below 6. The creek also has conductivity.Because industries have popped up around the creek, there has been runoff and sewage problems of pollution. Combined sewage outflows carry both sewage and stormwater runoff away as the excess is released into rivers and streams. They are major sources of pollution in watersheds, too. Finally, agriculture had also sprouted up around the creek. It enters the streams in the form of runoff from pesticides, fertilizers and as chemical toxins. When I mentioned that it's an area run by cattle and dairy operations, other examples of pollutants include animal waste from feedlots, siltation from plowing near streams and stream bank erosion caused by cattle.

     Another source of pollutant that causes the contamination of the creek is the previous work of dredging. Dredging of the stream bed has occured throughout history in many stream beds. The shape of the creek has been noticed currently with all of its meanders and the order of all the different streams. Dredging involves the deliberate removing of large rocks and cobble. In this particular watershed, sides of rocks were dredged in order to provide fill material for roads and building activities. However, more recently it has occured due to frequent flooding along the lower area. Because of the machines that were used in order to perform this process, disruption of the stream bed occurs and short-term siltation can cause harm to downstream communities. It alos takes habitats away from plants and animals. This has alluded to the fact that rocks have been dispersed throughout the stream. The closer area to the Ohio River have more uniform rock size and are much smaller, that allow for a greater velocity and water depth. Also, on a negative side, it overturned sediment that therefore polluted the water.

     These are two of the many problems that may have caused the problems in the stream. Combined with sewage and runoff, and dredging, this creek has become yet another victim to pollution of today. There are so many factors today that may cause this. However, in this particular case these two causes are relevant from the beginning of its origin to today. It has been changed drastically and mainly by human interaction and impact. Agricultural industries and factories should become aware or should be reported for such incidents of leaking chemical toxins as pollutants as runoff into streams like this. Streams that have existed since origin, that have provided habitat for many organisms and supplied the natural resource of water for its various services should be maintained and protected. No more dredging should occur either so that the stream could flow naturally. Humans should become aware of how different activities can affect mother nature and how to mitigate these situations from prior actions. The Lower Wheeling Creek is a subject of pollution under intensive case study and its causes are pretty severe.

Case Study 1: Lower Wheeling Creek

Make a list of all of the things that could have caused changes with stream water quality. Which of these could change the water quality in lower Wheeling Creek?

• Urbanization
• Climatic changes
• Drainage basin
• Stormwater runoff
• Chemical toxins from industrious wastes
• Streambed sediment
• Fertilizer runoff

     The changes that would most likely be causes of this stream would probably either be influence from its drainage basin, chemical toxins from runoff or its own sediment. The stream has characteristics that may allude to how the stream became the way it is. Its physical characteristics include velocity, rock size, forest canopy and depth. It'd make sense that as the stream nears the Ohio River, these characteristics vary and begin to change. It is also the same case for that of the stream's chemical characteristics that include its pH, conductivity, hardness and oxygen. These as well change as the stream nears the Ohio River.


A second-order stream joins a fourth-order stream. Does the fourth-order stream double in size with the addition of a second-order stream?

      A fourth-order stream does not double in size with the addition of a second-order stream. In order for this to occur, a fourth-order stream would have to join two separate second-order streams or a third-order stream. Simply the addition of a second-order stream to a fourth-order stream does not double its size.

A third-order stream. How does the stream's width and forest canopy compare with those of the first-order stream and the sixth-order stream?

     A third-order stream's width and forest canopy greatly compare with those of the first-order stream and the sixth-order stream. The first-order stream is very small in width and has the greatest forest canopy surrounding it on either side. A sixth-order stream has a rather larger width than both the first- and third-order streams, and also with lesser forest canopy due to its width.

Aerial view of a third-order stream entering a fourth-order stream. Does stream order change when this tributary enters the larger stream?


     Stream order does not change when this tributary enters the larger stream. A tributary stream is a smaller stream that joins the main stream at different angles and such. They usually bring sediment or waste from sources of higher elevations, yet do not have any effect on the stream order.

Wheeling Creek nearing the Ohio River. How does this stream differ from those above?


     This stream differs from any stream above because of its order. It is a larger order than any other listed above. One could easily observe this by considering the width of the stream and its forest canopy. Because it is a larger stream with a wider width, it is different than the others with lesser forest canopy and more open space.