2025 Research in the Capitol

Water Quality Index of Coldwater Creek and Analysis of it's Subterranean Branch in Coldwater Cave

Presentation Type

Poster Presentation (UNI Access Only)

Abstract

Northeastern Iowa is home to Iowa’s longest cave system Coldwater Cave. Nestled under the rolling hills and farms of the karst driftless region the ground gives way to seventeen and half miles of river passage decorated with large carbonate flowstone formations of stalagmites and stalactites. By calculating the saturation index (LSI) of the waters as it moves through the drainage basin, we can get a better understanding of if these delicate formations are still actively growing or slowly dissolving away. Furthermore, by calculating the current water quality index (WQI) of the surface stream above the cave, Coldwater Creek, we analyze the ions making their way into the freshwaters both on the surface and deep within the cave.

Start Date

31-3-2025 11:30 AM

End Date

31-3-2025 1:30 PM

Event Host

University Honors Programs, Iowa Regent Universities

Faculty Advisor

Mohammad Z. Iqbal

Department

Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences

Department

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

File Format

application/pdf

Link to Full Text
Off-Campus Access

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Mar 31st, 11:30 AM Mar 31st, 1:30 PM

Water Quality Index of Coldwater Creek and Analysis of it's Subterranean Branch in Coldwater Cave

Northeastern Iowa is home to Iowa’s longest cave system Coldwater Cave. Nestled under the rolling hills and farms of the karst driftless region the ground gives way to seventeen and half miles of river passage decorated with large carbonate flowstone formations of stalagmites and stalactites. By calculating the saturation index (LSI) of the waters as it moves through the drainage basin, we can get a better understanding of if these delicate formations are still actively growing or slowly dissolving away. Furthermore, by calculating the current water quality index (WQI) of the surface stream above the cave, Coldwater Creek, we analyze the ions making their way into the freshwaters both on the surface and deep within the cave.