Kibelstis, Erin, Department of Biology, Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, 400 East Second ST, Bloomsburg, PA, 17815, ek57304@huskies.bloomu.edu; Rier, Steven, Department of Biology, `Watershed Ecology Center, Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, 400 East Second ST, Bloomsburg, PA, 17815, srier@commonwealthu.edu.
Nutrients within aquatic systems are vital for the overall productivity and diversity of the ecosystem: however, an excess of nutrients in these systems can cause detrimental effects. Runoff from not only urban areas, but also rural agricultural areas has become a point of focus for researchers who wish to find solutions to excess nutrients in waterways. This project was done to determine if rainwater runoff into Fishing Creek, a stream located in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, causes a significant influx of nutrient deposition. An increase of nutrient deposition within this fifth order stream may be likely to cause complications further downstream, such as oxygen depletion or reduction of species diversity.