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Additional information on this topic provided below. |
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It's that time of year again — Watershed
Snapshot time that is! This week we're taking a look at last
year's snapshot event to encourage you to get involved in this
year's event in your local watershed.
Stay tuned in the coming weeks for stories about the events
unfolding in Snapshot 2004.
Watershed Snapshot 2003
By Kelly
Meinhart, Producer
f course the word ‘snapshot’ makes us think of a
photograph – and that’s exactly what “Watershed
Snapshot 2003” is all about – forming a ‘picture’
of the health of the waterways throughout Pennsylvania.
 ach
year during Earth Week, monitors, volunteers, state agency folks,
and others gather together to get their feet wet in their local
river or stream to take a look at the overall health of that
waterway. It’s a statewide program, with everyone monitoring
during the same week. At the end of the week all the data is
compiled and used to create the ‘Snapshot’ of the
health of Pennsylvania’s water quality. That data is turned
into a report detailing the improvements to water quality as
well as the negative impacts affecting our streams.
 he
Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) began the program in
1996 as a way to assess the health of the Delaware River basin.
The program was so successful that the Citizens Volunteer Monitoring
Program and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
(PaDEP) decided to take the program statewide, and so it has
been since 1998.
 heryl
Snyder, Water Pollution Biologist for the Bureau of Watershed
Management at PaDEP, and one of the folks in charge of the statewide
program comments:
“It’s really an educational activity designed
to get people into the watershed. We study water chemistry,
macroinvertebrates, habitat and buffer assessments –
so we’re really getting a full view of what’s
going on along our waterways. It’s a very popular program
with watershed associations, state agencies, and especially
with students.”
 s
Cheryl commented, a variety of tests are done streamside, and
it doesn’t take an expert at stream studies to perform
them. As long as you have a few skilled individuals who know
what to do, and how to do it, they can teach others to help
out.
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he
tests include studying the chemical composition of the water,
such as measuring the dissolved oxygen, acidity, temperature,
and the amount of nitrates present in the water. Taking a close
look at the macroinvertebrates is also extremely important to
determining water quality. Groups use a key to macroinvertebrate
life to identify species and then record their findings. In
general, some species are more tolerant of pollution than others
– and so if a group finds only leeches and other pollution-tolerant
organisms, they can get an immediate picture that the quality
may be compromised. However, signs of crayfish and freshwater
shells paint a more positive picture.
dditionally,
the actual physical composition of the water and its surroundings
are studied, for instance; does the water appear cloudy or have
an odor? That may indicate a presence of nitrates or other pollutants.
How is the surrounding land being used? Is the stream near cattle
grazing areas, a commercial/industrial complex, or is it situated
in a heavily forested area? These factors can definitely contribute
to the health of the stream.
 olunteers
also look at the types of litter that are present in or near
the stream and record the information for possible clean up
projects, as well as creating a cause and effect for pollution.
The monitors also keep an eye out for aquatic life and what
types they’re seeing, such as algae, the types of fish,
amphibians, etc. If a group notes a variety of indicator fish
species present in a waterway that has historically had poor
quality, then they may interpret the fish presence as a positive
sign that the water quality is improving.
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 ew
to the program this year is the study of the riparian zone.
Assessing the width, length, canopy cover, and details of the
riparian area are all influences to water quality. Monitors
study the area to note if grassy, paved over, has thick brush
and invasive species, as well as noting the number of trees
and whether they are a young or mature stand.
 t
sounds like a lot, doesn’t it? It may sound that way,
but the truth is, it’s a really fun, interactive way to
get involved with your watershed and to understand how our land
uses effect water quality and streambank stability. How do I
know? Well, I’ve done monitoring before but never for
the ‘Snapshot’ – not until this past April
that is.
was invited along with a volunteer group who was teaching new
monitors the skills, and assessing the Swatara Creek as it passes
through Ravine, PA, which is approximately 45 minutes north
of Harrisburg – in a beautiful mountainous area –
literally a ravine. So I trekked with the group on a very cold
morning to check out the “Swattie” as it’s
called.
 everal
folks from PaDEP, USGS, and the Schuylkill County Conservation
District office lead the way with a brief introduction to the
history of the Swatara Creek and the improvements that have
been made over the years. Dan Koury of the PaDEP Mining office
explained that the watershed has been impacted for over 150
years by surface and ground mining. The entire watershed is
571 square miles, however, the negative affects of mine drainage
were coming from only 43 square miles located in the upper part
of the watershed.
he
stream ran orange and was devoid of life, with locals in the
Lebanon area remembering the days when it was called the “Black
Swattie” because the coal dirt actually washed ashore
– allowing people to re-mine it downstream.
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hrough
partnerships with the conservation district, EPA, DEP, USGS,
the Department of Energy and the Swatara Creek Watershed Association,
restoration efforts got into full swing around 1996. Developing
ways to treat the pollution was the first order – and
that’s where studies such as those listed above are helpful.
They assist scientists in developing the best treatment system
to deal with the threat. To date, there are numerous treatment
systems throughout the Swatara Creek watershed. Thankfully,
the water quality has improved for the Swattie and the insects
and fish are returning.
isiting
the site in Ravine was also especially important, because it
is the only national monitoring site that is impacted by abandoned
mine drainage (AMD). Chuck Cravotta, of the US Geological Survey
(USGS) introduced the group to the monitoring efforts that have
been done at the site, and their importance to developing treatment
systems to improve the Swattie.
nce
acclimated with the Swattie and her diverse problems, our group
set out to find out for ourselves what the water quality was
like. We studied the chemical composition, the macroinvertebrates,
the riparian zone and the physical appearance. For a group of
15 or so it was a first-hand experience at getting our feet
wet and to a better understanding of how stream systems work.
f
you’re interested in becoming a monitor of the streams
in your local watershed, be sure to get in contact with someone
from your local watershed association. Many of the groups throughout
the state do monitoring, as does the Pennsylvania Environmental
Alliance for Senior Involvement. (Pa EASI).
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 To find
the nearest watershed association in your area, check out the
Pennsylvania
Organization for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR) website, and
to get involved with the Pa EASI program, visit
their website.
To check
out the Watershed Snapshot report for 2003, or to get involved
with the program for next years’ event, contact either
the Delaware
River Basin Commission or the PaDEP
and Citizens Volunteer Monitoring Program.
Learn
more about macroinvertebrates from the Watershed
Snapshot Macroinvertebrate Key (PDF File).
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