Student Research Reports

This study examines how dissolved oxygen (DO), nitrate, and pH levels vary across six urban sampling sites along the Chena River in Fairbanks, Alaska, during the fall season. These water quality parameters play important roles in supporting aquatic ecosystem health, particularly in rivers influenced by urban runoff and seasonal temperature changes. Results show that nitrate concentrations remained consistently low (0.9–1.3 ppm), while DO levels exhibited moderate variation (3.1–4.6 ppm), likely reflecting localized differences in flow conditions, vegetation cover, and organic matter. Cooler fall water temperatures (4 °C) helped stabilize DO levels, whereas shifts in nitrate and pH suggest site-specific impacts of land use and environmental change. A key limitation of this study was the need to collect water samples from the riverbank rather than mid-channel, which may influence representativeness. Overall, these findings provide a baseline for understanding seasonal urban water quality in the Chena River and highlight the importance of continued monitoring to support effective watershed management in Interior Alaska.