Field test on the Dan River began with thirty one participants, from Meadows of Dan School in
Patrick County, gathered at the headwaters of the Dan River. This location was named Dan River
1. The weather conditions at Dan River 1 were clear and sunny. An area at the headwaters,
where the stream width was approximately 10 feet and depth was 6 inches, was chosen for
testing. The flow rate was normal, and the stream was reported to flow in a curve or meander.
The stream bed was silty with sand and gravel size rocks; the color of the water was clean-with
the color remaining the same. No trash was seen in or around the stream, and no unusual smells
were detected.
The stream banks were comprised of soil, rock, and vegetation/roots. Vegetation growing on the
streambanks was reported to be evergreen and deciduous trees, laurel, honeysuckle, shrubs, and
grasses (orchard grasses).
Land uses along Dan River 1 were recorded as pastures, and forests with a gravel road nearby.
The stream was clear and low due to lack of rain.
Animal tracks (racoon) were seen along the stream; crayfish and crickets were also spotted.
The water temperature was recorded as 50 degrees Fahrenheit and the air temperature was 43
degrees Fahrenheit.
Dan River 1 was seined for macro invertebrates according to the standards set forth by the Save
Our Streams Program-Izaak Walton League of America. Three different varieties of
macroinvertabrates sensitive to pollution were collected and identified, the caddisfly,
hellgrammite, and stonefly. One variety of macroinvertabrates somewhat sensitive to pollution,
the crane fly larva was identified, and one aquatic worm was identified. The total index value of
water quality was determined to be 39 which is excellent water quality.
Chemical test were performed at the Dan River 1 site using the La Motte Water Quality and
monitoring outfit. Dan River 1 was tested for pH, alkalinity, nitrate/nitrogen, dissolved oxygen,
and phosphate. Water at the Dan River 1 was tested for pH levels-one of the most common
analysis in water testing. PH at Dan River 1 was recorded as 6.5; a range of 6.5 to 8.2 is optimal
for most organisms. Alkalinity was tested and recorded as 20 ppm-levels between 20 and 200
ppm are typically found in freshwater. Nitrate/nitrogen at Dan River 1 was recorded as 0.
Unpolluted waters generally have a nitrate/nitrogen level below 1 ppm. (Nitrogen and
phosphorus enter the water from human and animal waste, decomposing organic matter and
fertilizer runoff.) Phosphate was recorded as 0 (over half the phosphates in lakes and streams
come from detergents). Dissolved oxygen at the Dan River 1 site was reported at 3 ppm-DO
(Dissolve Oxygen) levels below 3 ppm are stressful to most aquatic organisms. Turbidity,
cloudiness in water, was recorded moderately low which indicated a healthy, well functioning
ecosystem.
Field tests continued on the Dan River when students and teachers gathered at the Patrick County
mid point of the river, labeled Dan River 2. The weather conditions were clear and sunny. Air
temperature was recorded as 61 degrees Fahrenheit; water temperature was 50 degrees
Fahrenheit. The stream bed contained cobbles, gravels, and sand. The flow rate at the mid point
was normal. The color of the water was clear. No unusual smells were detected at Dan River 2.
The streambed had soil, rock, vegetation/root. The vegetation growing on the stream beds were
reported to be trees, shrubs, grasses, and vines. The land uses along the stream consists of roads,
forests, houses, crops, and pastures. Racoon tracks were spotted along the stream, and birds
nests were located. The stream was reported to be low due to lack of rain.
Dan River 2 was seined for macroinvertabrates. The macro invertebrate count for sensitive
included caddisfly larva, hellgrammiate and stonefly nymphs, and gilled snails; for somewhat
sensitive included crayfish, damselfly nymphs, dragonfly nymphs. The water quality rating at Dan
River 2 was EXCELLENT!
Chemical tests were performed at the Dan River 2 site. Dan River 2 was tested for pH, alkalinity,
nitrate/nitrogen, dissolved oxygen, and phosphate. The pH at Dan River 2 was recorded at
6.0-6.5 (6.5 is optimal). Alkalinity was tested and recorded as 140 ppm (20-200 ppm is typically
found in fresh water). Nitrate/nitrogen at Dan River 2 was reported as 0 (no recorded animal or
human waste or fertilize runoff). Phosphates were recorded as 0. Dissolved oxygen at the Dan
River 2 site was reported as 5 ppm (levels of 5 to 6 ppm are required for growth and activity).
Turbidity was moderately low and healthy.
Field tests on the Smith River began with thirty nine participants from Meadows of Dan School in
Patrick County, Virginia, gathered at the headwaters of the Smith River. This location was in
Meadows of Dan, Virginia, within 7 miles of the headwaters of the Dan River. The location was
named Smith River 1. The weather conditions at Smith River 1 were sunny and mild. The stream
flows in a curve indicating a meandering beginning to the river. The stream bed was made of
sand, gravel, and cobbles. The color of the water was recorded as clear. There was no foam on
the surface of the water. The color of the stream did not change. No unusual smells were
reported at the headwaters. The stream banks were reported to have vegetation/roots, with
vegetation growing on the streambanks-shrubs, trees, grasses. The land along the stream is
wooded with a variety of trees. The land uses surrounding the Smith River headwaters was
reported to be forests, roads, crop fields, pastures, and houses. Animal tracks, deer and racoon,
were noted. Water spiders and snails were spotted and insects were heard at Smith River 1.
Water temperature was reported as 12 degrees Celsius. Smith River 1 was seined for
macroinvertabrates according to the SAVE our Streams standards. Water quality was determined
to be excellent with a variety of macroinvertabrates that are sensitive to pollution living in the
waters. Caddisfly larvae, mayfly nymphs, dragonfly nymphs, crayfish, and stone fly nymphs were
found. The water quality rating at Smith River 1 was 29 (excellent). Chemical tests were
performed using the La Motte Water Quality and Monitoring Outfit. Smith River 1 was tested for
pH, Alkalinity, nitrate 1 nitrogen, dissolved oxygen, and phosphates. PH was recorded as 6.0 to
7.0. Alkalinity was less the 10 parts per million. Nitrate/nitrogen was 0, dissolved oxygen 12.4
PPM, and traces of phosphates, turbidity 5, and water temperature 12 degrees Celsius.
Field tests continued on the Smith River when students and teachers traveled to Woolwine,
Virginia. Weather conditions at Smith River 2 were clear and sunny. The stream flows in a curve
with the streambed containing silt, sand, gravel, cobbles, boulders, and bedrock. The color of the
water was clear with no foam. The color of the stream remained the same. No trash was
reported along the stream at Smith River 2, and there was no unusual smells reported. The
streambanks contained soil, rock, and vegetation/roots. The vegetation growing along the
streambanks were reported to be grasses, shrubs, and trees. The land along the stream contained
lawn and trees. Land uses along the stream at Smith River 2 include roads, forests, houses, and
pastures. Bird nests were found in the trees along Smith River 2; birds, spiders, lizards, lighting
bugs, and fish were seen.
Water temperature at Smith River 2 was recorded as 16 degrees Celsius. The stream was seined for macroinvertabrates. A variety of macroinvertabrates sensitive to pollution were found-Caddisfly larvae, hellgrammites, mayfly nymphs, gilled snails, stonefly nymphs, and water pennies.
Crayfish, sowbugs, and midge larvae were also found. (These are somewhat sensitive and
tolerant to pollution.) A water quality rating of 24, excellent, was found at Smith River 2.
Chemical tests were performed at Smith River 2. Dissolved oxygen 8.1, nitrate/nitrogen 0,
phosphates 0, pH 6.5-7.0, alkalinity 1.5 PPM, turbidity 5, and water temperature 19 degrees
Celsius.
Field tests on the Mayo River began with students from Meadows of Dan School gathered at the
headwaters of the Mayo River. This location was named Mayo 1. The weather conditions at
Mayo 1 were warm and sunny. An area at the headwaters, where the stream was approximately 9
feet wide and 1 feet deep, was chosen for testing. The flow rate was high. The streambed was
stable; the color of the water was clear but tea colored. There was no odor to the water at Mayo
1. The stream channel shade was reported to be 50%-80% with shading noted to be
predominately from trees and shrubs.
The water temperature was recorded and 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Mayo 1 was seined for
macroinvertabrates. Four differenttypes of macroinvertabrates sensitive to pollution were
found-the Caddisfly larvae, the Mayfly nymphs, the stonefly nymphs, and the water penny larvae.
Two varieties of macroinvertabrates somewhat sensitive to pollution were found- the crayfish and
the dragonfly nymph and one macroinvertabrates type tolerant to pollution was found- the aquatic
worms. Water quality at Mayo 1 was determined to be excellent.
Chemical tests were performed at Mayo 1. PH, alkalinity, nitrate/nitrogen, dissolved oxygen and
phosphates were all within normal ranges.
Field tests on the Mayo River continued when students and teachers gathered at a midpoint of the
river-labeled Mayo 2. The weather conditions were sunny and warm. The stream was 7 feet wide
and 2 feet dep at Mayo 2. The water flow was slow, the stream was shaded and in the woods.
No trash was reported at Mayo 2. No plants were reported to be in the water, but plants, shrubs
and trees grew along the stream bank. The color of the water was clear.
Macroinvertabrates were collected and identified at Mayo 2. Four varieties of macroinvertabrates
sensitive to pollution were found-mayfly nymphs, gilled snail, stonefly nymphs, and water penny
larvae. Two varieties of macroinvertabrates somewhat sensitive to pollution were found-crayfish
and dragonfly nymphs, and two varieties of macroinvertabrates tolerant to pollution were
found-aquatic worm and midge larvae. Water quality rating at Mayo 2 was excellent.
Chemical tests were performed at Mayo 2 with all tests within the normal ranges. A trace of
phosphates were noted.
Field tests were continued when students and teachers traveled to Stella, Virginia. Weather
conditions at Mayo 3 were clear and warm. The stream was 15 feet wide and 3 feet deep. The
water flow was slow with the stream partly in the sunshine and partly in the woods. Some trash
was reported in and around the stream-bottles were spotted. No plants were found in the water,
but plants and trees were located along the streambanks. The water was clear and the streambed
was not falling into the stream.
Macroinvertabrates were collected at Mayo 3. Three varieties of macroinvertabrates sensitive to
pollution were found-the caddisfly larvae, hellgrammites, and stonefly nymphs. Two varieties
somewhat sensitive to pollution were found to be the beetle larvae and crayfish and one type, the
midge larvae, tolerant to pollution was found. The water quality rating was reported as excellent
at Mayo 3.
Chemical tests were performed and found to be within the normal limits with a trace of
phosphates reported.
Three rivers are born the mountains of Patrick County in the Meadows of Dan community. They
are the Dan, the Smith, and the Mayo Rivers.
Students and teachers at Meadows of Dan School tested the waters of the Dan, Smith, and Mayo
Rivers in Patrick County. Macroinvertabrates were collected and identified from all three rivers,
and chemical tests were performed.
The results of these tests determined that the Dan, Smith, and Mayo Rivers have excellent water
quality at the headwaters, midpoints, points where the rivers travel into adjoining counties.
The students concluded that water quality in Patrick County in the Dan, Smith, and Mayo Rivers
is excellent!
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