American Journal of Sciences and Engineering Research wwww.iarjournals.com 1 Received-02-12-2021, Accepted- 26-12-2021 American Journal of Sciences and Engineering Research E-ISSN -2348 – 703X, Volume 5, Issue 1, 2022 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Downstream Sediments Analysis of Dredged Site along Onuebum/Agura Axis of Ekole Creek, Nigeria Churchill Ebinimitei Simon 1 , Opololaoluwa Oladimarum Ogunlowo 2 1 Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Federal University Otuoke, Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. 2 Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Federal University Otuoke, Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ABSTRACT: Water is vital for the survival of living organisms, but the water sediments reduce the availability of the fresh water for use, hence the need to manage it through dredging. This study analysed the sediments of Downstream of the dredged Ekole creek, where sediment samples were collected from the; Upstream, Dredge point I, Dredge point II and Downstream. The pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Nitrate, Fe, Pb, Cr, Mn, Ni, Zn and Cu were analysed from the sample using standard methods. It was observed that the Downstream pH increased to 7.79 from 7.17 pH of the Upstream, though it is reduced at Dredge point I (6.37) and latter increased to 6.57 at Dredge point II; similar trend was noticed for EC concentration; 37µS value of Downstream is higher than 33µS Upstream that is increased to 160µS Dredge point I, but dropped at Dredge point II to 31µS however, the Nitrate concentration at the Upstream was 0.0018 mg/kg, raised at Dredge point I to 0.065 mg/kg then dropped at Dredge point II and the Downstream to 0.0562 mg/kg and 0.0174 mg/kg respectively. Low concentration of heavy metals were found in the Dredge points of the sediment samples while high levels were found at the Upstream and Downstream points. Sediments at Downstream are more alkaline with higher EC, low nitrate but, more iron. It can be inferred that, the dredging activities increases the pH and heavy metals of the sediment in the water, at the Downstream. Hence water at the Downstream is less toxic and can be used. Keywords: Sediments, Water, ions, heavy metals, Upstream. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Corresponding Author : Opololaoluwa Oladimarum Ogunlowo (nee Ijaola) I. INTRODUCTION There is no amount of money use in maintaining a river to provide water quality steadily and enhance productive ecosystem for the aquatic life either plant or animal that is too much, since water is greatly voluminous in the planet and it is essential for living. Smol (2008) asserts that the water coverage on the earth’s surface is approximately 75%; but quickly noted that very small portion is fresh and is readily available for use. However the fresh and accessible portion of water is becoming unavailable for use because of water impurities thereby affecting the water quality. One of the enemies to water quality is turbidity. It blocks sunlight reaching deeper into the water body, thereby retarding photosynthesis in aquatic plants (Phytoplankton) systems (Narayanan, 2009). It reduces Dissolved Oxygen (DO) in the water column, and the value of water because of its poor aesthetic value. Turbidity in water is caused by suspended particle and colloidal matter such as clay, mud, silt, finely divided organic and inorganic matters either due to natural causes or due to release of pollutants into the water body, soil erosion, high levels of algae population and