Turbidity

What is it?

Think of turbidity as the opposite of clarity. It is a measure of how cloudy a water body is. Most people have seen how rivers turn brown after a heavy rain. Soil particles carried by runoff cause this to happen.

Why do high levels of turbidity matter?

High amounts of soil in the water will block sunlight from reaching the bottom of a river or a lake in shallow water. When the water is turbid, floating particles absorb heat from the sun and cause the water temperature to rise. Higher temperatures cause oxygen levels in the water to fall, limiting the ability of fish and insects to survive there.

Another effect is that the floating particles may clog fish gills. When these particles sink, they can smother and kill fish and aquatic insect eggs that lay on the bottom. Turbidity can also limit plant growth. This happens when sunlight cannot reach the plants’ leaves.

The combination of warmer water, less light and oxygen depletion makes it impossible for some forms of aquatic life to survive.

How do turbidity levels rise?

Higher turbidity can be caused by human activity like cutting trees and removing vegetation next to a body of water. Trees provide shade to keep the water cooler, and trees and other plants help block mud and soil from washing into the water. When roads and parking lots are constructed without the proper silt fencing, more soil and mud are likely to reach the water.

Now is the time to take ACTION!