A Biogeographic Inventory and Water Quality Analysis of the Upper Drainage Basin of the Meramec River, Missouri

This research concerns a physical inventory of the Upper Drainage Basin of the Meramec River. The inventory was completed in three parts: a biogeographic inventory, which is the relationships between soil, plant, bedrock, flora, and fauna of a given area; land use classification of the study area; and a water quality analysis. The study area has nine biogeographic classes. The land use is mainly forested, with scattered agriculture and urban land use. The water quality was sampled over a one year period. Ecological parameters such as dissolved oxygen, total hardness, specific conductance, pH, alkalinity, and temperature were analyzed. Bacteria parameters analyzed were fecal coliform and fecal streptococcus which live in human and animal waste. A regression analysis was performed to identify correlation between the ecological parameters and the bacteria parameters. This correlation revealed relationships between total hardness and specific conductance. The water quality analysis also reveals that the water quality in the study area has not changed significantly in the last 25 years. The study area at the present time is in a "semi-natural" state, but agriculture expansion as well as residential expansion are concerns for the future. Major recommendations concerning cattle production were emphasized in the study.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Geospatial Sciences

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Geography, Geology, and Planning

Year

1991

Author dc:creator

• Lea, Mary Ellen

Contributors dc:contributor

• David Castillon

• Earth Sciences

Statement dc:rights

• © Mary Ellen Lea

Repository record dc:identifier

https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/765

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:bearworks.missouristate.edu:theses-1766