Do the thousands of geese that migrate to and winter at Ransom Canyon Lake
affect the water quality?
A science project by Ronnie Kendall of Ransom Canyon shows that their resulting organic waste in winter does not lower the water quality.
Abstract   |   Project   |   Research   |   Data
 
Research

Student Name: Ronnie Kendall

A. Question
Will the thousands of geese that migrate to and winter at Ransom Canyon Lake affect the water quality?
   
B. Hypothesis
Therefore, I hypothesize that the migration of geese into the Ransom Canyon Lake in the winter and their resulting organic waste will lower the water quality.
   
C. Description
To test this hypothesis I assembled sample water bottles and coordinated my work with A&L Laboratory, Lubbock, Texas and at a Texas Tech University Laboratory. Water samples were collected by me for analysis of the following:
 
  1. Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
2. pH (acidity or alkalinity of the water)
3. Fluoride
4. Chloride
5. Nitrate
6. Sulfate
  I also counted the geese on multiple days. I got the average daily weather from the National Weather Service. I consulted with Professors Steve Cox and Todd Anderson at Texas Tech University regarding data analysis and environmental chemistry, respectively.
   

D.

Bibliography
1. www.gov.mb.ca/ugwg
2. Kendall, R.J. and T. E. Lacher. 1990. Wildlife Toxicology and Population Modeling
3. Personal communication with DR. Steve Cox and Dr. Todd Anderson