Student Research Reports

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This research focused on two sites selected for water quality monitoring along Ecorse Creek in the southern portion of Dearborn Heights, Michigan just outside of the Metropolitan Detroit area. These sites are found within nearby residential areas and located upstream of a densely industrial region. The first site is located near a city recreational center and the second site is located in a light industrial and residential area. Water quality parameters tested in this research included nitrates, transparency, turbidity, air and water temperature, and dissolved oxygen. All data was collected following GLOBE protocols where applicable. Data collection began during July 2023 and continued until mid-November. A significant rainstorm in August 2023 caused substantial flooding in the surrounding area and resulted in 18.2 mm of precipitation. Researchers found that as precipitation levels increased, turbidity levels also increased. Additionally, there was a correlation between precipitation and turbidity, with both parameters significantly increasing after the storm, demonstrating variations among seasons. For future research, this team would like to expand and extend their research to include additional water quality parameters and collect data during different seasons. To extend the range of this research, they hope that future researchers will compare water quality throughout different parts of Ecorse Creek.