In the fall of 2014 we all went to Tumalo Creek to collect water quality data, measures of water features, riparian vegetation and macro invertebrates. We used this data to answer a question of our choice that we were wondering about. For the last couple of days in the field we collected data specific to our questions. We used the data after everything to create our TCII's. (Tumalo Creek Independent Investigation.

Tcii by Kai

Question: How has conductivity changed in our Tumalo Creek study site and Shevlin Park since 2011?

Background: There was a large forest fire that could have affected conductivity. The heat of the fire and burning of potential dissolved sediment could have lowered or added on to the levels of conductivity. Conductivity is the measure of how well a stream can pass an electricity current. It is usually measured in a small section such as a cubic centimeter. Conductivity is Important because if it is to low or too high there won't be a healthy electric charge for the fish. The healthy range for conductivity is 150 - 500 uhos/cm, if its out of that range its not suitable for fish. The level of change in conductivity relates to stream health because if it has changed since 2011, the health of the stream could have gone down. You should care because if conductivity increased or decreased then you should know so you are all completely informed.

Hypothesis: I predict that due to the fire conductivity decreased in our Tumalo Creek study site. When the vegetation got burned it also brought the conductivity down due to the introduction of organic matter. The fire could have also burned some potential inorganic matter.

Variables and Constants:

Dependent: The dependent variable I measured is conductivity.

Independent: The independent variable is the years between 2011 and 2014.

Constants: Something that would be good to keep constant is Tumalo in general. Specifically it would be good for the temperature and amount of vegetation to stay the same.

Other variability: Something that could change my data is for a rapid change in conductivity levels to occur. This can happen if there is a large temperature difference or lack of inorganic dissolved solids such as chloride, nitrate, sodium, magnesium ect...

Procedure: To collect conductivity data we had to put a conductivity probe in the water that we wanted to measure. It then collected the measurement of how much electricity was currently passing through the area of collection. The first step of collecting conductivity levels is to calibrate the probe. To calibrate the conductivity probe you put it in purified water. Then it is ready to collect data in the stream. People in past years followed the same procedure with the same tools as I did this year. The tools for collecting conductivity are the conductivity probe and one hundred percent pure water.

Graph notes:

• There weren't any conductivity collections in Shevlin Park in 2012.

• Bars with a black outline are outliers or strange changes.

Analysis and interpretation:

The levels of conductivity in Tumalo Creek (as I expressed in my hypothesis) lowered by almost a quarter. Although I did not predict that it would have lowered as much. From the data collected I can tell that the conductivity levels In Tumalo Creek have lowered a little each year and have overall lowered by about 23%. There is an interesting change in the levels between 2013 and 2014 where it rises by about 6%. The conductivity may have lowered because of a change in both organic and inorganic matter. I also believe that the temperatures could have affected the conductivity levels. If anything the health of Tumalo Creek has decreased in terms of conductivity because the healthy range for conductivity is 150-500. Some possible sources of error could be the actual collection of data because each person during data collections received different results. Also during calibration the probe could have messed up. A new investigation could include more depth into the history of Shevlin Park. Also we could study how other water qualities affect conductivity. If I could do the investigation again I would probably make my question more complex. I could have also included more info on Shevlin Park.

My WIF (Where I'm From) Is a poem I created about my experiences so far in childhood. Humanities was the workshop for WIF poems from the initial brainstorm to the final product. It is based off a poem created by a women named George Ella Lyon. We took her poem as an idea for how we could make ours.

While I made my WIF it helped me realize and get explain what my life is like for me. It was really fun to make and I'm really happy that I got the opportunity to make this poem. From it I've learned how to make and use metaphors and other writing traits. It was overall a really fun and important experience for me. 

Where I'm From by Kai

I'm from trees, dirt and fresh air.

From Albertsons and my cozy living room.

From walks with my dog in my neighborhood to going out of the state.

I'm from the sun, shade and rain that comes sometimes.

From laughing and talking.

I'm from forgiving and guessing what's going to happen.

From the sweet and bitter tastes that come from old memories.

Memories that live in pictures of times we remember.

I'm from my loud guitar and the music around me.

From food that's from here to some that's not.

I'm from wishing and congratulating.

From kaibug to "this is my other job".

From always knowing everything to always being confused.

From hearing stories I can't remember to telling ones that others can't.

From walking with friends to watching movies.

Im from a house of red to a house of blue.

People come, go and stay at the place where I'm from.