Ewww Cu! Muck !🤢What’s Hiding in Our Lagoon Sediments?

I explored muck thickness and copper contamination across several sites in the Sebastian River.

The goal? To figure out why shallow and mid-depth waters are holding so much muck—and why copper levels spike in certain areas.

Using depth, muck thickness, and copper concentration data, I mapped out patterns that reveal a bigger environmental story.

Quick Findings

• 2.5–3.0 m waters = muck hotspots. These sites consistently held 110–180 cm of muck.

• Shallow waters (<2.5 m) = unpredictable copper zones. Copper levels jumped wildly—from 2 mg/kg to over 100 mg/kg—suggesting something external may be contributing to contamination.

• Deeper areas don’t mean cleaner sediment. They still hold muck, but copper doesn’t rise with depth—meaning the contamination source isn’t simply natural settling.

What This Means

Muck buildup follows a predictable pattern: shallow-to-mid depth waters trap more sediment. But copper doesn’t follow that rule. Extreme copper levels at some sites point to external pollution sources, not just sediment composition.

Why It Matters

Understanding these patterns helps us:

• pinpoint where contamination may be entering the ecosystem

• monitor environmental changes over time

• support local conservation efforts with real data

• empower young scientists through hands-on research experiences at STEM & Leaf

See the Full Data Report

Full analysis + chart included here: Ew Cu! Muck!