Water Quality Data Through the Years

In May of 2021, I started as a certified water quality monitoring volunteer with Georgia Adopt-A-Stream. Initially, I started helping to collect data at one site, Jamestown Landing, on the Satilla River, but about a year later in March of 2022, we started sampling another site, Hacklebarney Creek, which is a tributary to the Satilla River. Once or twice each month, I help sample water from both sites, gathering the following data: water and air temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and conductivity. Three years later, we can now plot these data to look at the trends at my sites.

As pictured above, the data for Jamestown Landing varies over time. It is relatively consistent between seasons and months over the years. For example, water temperature from March to October is higher then dips in the winter months. Additionally, the pH is typically 6.0 during the summer months and becomes slightly more acidic at 5.5 during the winter. Water conductivity is usually between 60 and 80 µs/cm. While pH and water conductivity are generally less variable, dissolved oxygen and water temperature show larger changes during the year. For example, large spikes in dissolved oxygen are seen in the winter months. This is expected, because cold water can hold more dissolved oxygen than warm water.

As seen in the graphs above, Hacklebarney Creek shows similar patterns throughout the year as Jamestown Landing, but we have been monitoring this site for a shorter time (2022-2024). Conductivity is relatively stable between 60-90 except for a few outliers. The dissolved oxygen and pH here are generally lower than at Jamestown Landing.

These data were so interesting to analyze! The graphs gave insight into the trends in data I had helped collect for years. At times when unexpected spikes occurred, like with conductivity, or big dips, like with dissolved oxygen, Adopt-A-Stream staff were also alerted, because these can indicate there is pollution upstream.

My sites are only two of many that are sampled here in Georgia. You can view any Georgia site’s data using the Georgia Adopt-A-Stream page. To view data from other monitoring sites, you can click this link here and follow these easy steps.

1. Search the site you wish to collect the data from (ex: Hacklebarney Creek).
2. Click on the “recorded monitoring events” link.
3. At the top of the page, select the dates/years you wish to see the data in the blanks (ex: filter dates between March 1, 2021 and March 6, 2022).
4. Scroll to the top of the graph, and select which parameter you would like to see (ex: conductivity, pH, dissolved oxygen, E coli, etc.).
5. The default graph is a line graph, but you can also select the bar graph option.

Overall, my two sites do not show an increasing or decreasing trend, but the data are variable throughout the year. This means that we can use these data as a baseline going forwards in case any changes, such as pollution, occur. Using our baseline, we can tell when the pH, dissolved oxygen, or conductivity is unusually low for Jamestown Landing or Hacklebarney Creek and then Adopt-A-Stream staff can look for any problems. Because of my water quality data, I can assure that these aquatic habitats are protected.