Adam Conner collects water samples

Valparaiso University chemistry majors Wendy Marth and Adam Conner spent the summer exploring water quality at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore as part of a project that could help other parks throughout the country plan wetlands restoration efforts.  Their summer’s work continued research launched by Valpo graduate Jason Feder ‘09 last summer.

Marth and Conner took samples from more than a dozen sites in Indiana Dunes’ Great Marsh area, as well as nearby wetland areas that haven’t had non-native plants removed, to determine whether pollution levels diminish as water flows through the marsh to Lake Michigan.  Samples from each site were analyzed to observe changes in the level of nitrates, phosphorous and other water quality indicators as water enters into the marsh, filters through and then flows out of the marsh.

Our research will be helpful to the park because it shows how well the Great Marsh is doing its job,” said Marth.  “Wetlands act as natural water filters and, since this is a restored marsh, it was interesting to see how the restoration was working.”

Analysis of the collected data showed that E.coli levels drop as water flows through the Great Marsh.  This means that the marsh is indeed filtering water before it reaches Lake Michigan.

Marth and Conner will continue to collect water samples in the Great Marsh area to further this study later this fall.