The Role Of Pollution In Conodoguinet Creek

Introduction: The purpose of this research is to determine whether there has been a change in the overall water quality of the Lake Tarpon Basin, and if so, whether the quality has improved or worsened. The variables that will determine whether the quality has changed are: nutrients (phosphates and nitrates) and dissolved oxygen (DO). The expected changes are lower dissolved oxygen levels (from the already low levels), higher nitrogen levels (from the already high nitrogen levels), and the state qualifications still are not met for nutrients and dissolved oxygen (Levy, Flock, Burnes, Myers, Weed, River 2010). This topic relates to environmental management because the changes in water quality would be due to pollution, which relates to the question “How does human activity lead to the pollution of water stores?” The hypothesis that will be tested is that Lake Tarpon’s water quality will have worsened since the last measurements by Levy, Flock, Burnes, Myers, Weed, and Rivera in 2010.

Each watershed varies depending on location. The Salem Creek watershed naturally consists of rocks, vegetation, water, clay and loam soils, slopes, and juvenile aquatic life. Conversely, there is naturally some stream bank and soil erosion. As for human features, the watershed consists of drainage pipes, sewage pipes, bridges, mounds of cement, and pollution sources. Most of the human features are generally in the highly urbanized areas of the watershed, which consists of northwestern portion of Winston-Salem, NC. There were also impervious surfaces bordering both sides of the watershed. On the stretch parallel to Old Salem Road, there was Old Salem Road on one side of the watershed, and housing and other buildings on the other. With the portion that is appears near South Main Street, there is a multiuse development and major road bordering it. There is also cement on the furthest side of the watershed and a sidewalk on the other that border the wide portion of the watershed that is located in the Salem Creek Greenway.

Our class has concluded that the conodoguinet creek is not polluted. If we test the Conodoguinet Creek for signs of pollution, then the creek will be polluted. That was my hypothesis for the creek, but it was wrong. There are many creatures that are pollution sensitive, which means they can’t survive in pollution. We found many of these creatures in the stream. Also, we have tested the creek for pollutants and other chemicals. Lastly, acid rain is a problem, so we tested the rocks for neutralizing acid. Here are some reasons why we think the creek is not polluted.

On October 8th, 2015 I went to the Conodoguinet Creek with the rest of my 8-orange team. The main thing we were doing there was testing the level of water pollution. Before we arrived there we had to make a hypothesis stating whether or not we thought the water was polluted. Knowing a little bit about the creek and looking back on past years data, I stated in my hypothesis that I thought the water was polluted. While we were there, they had us do other activities that helped us determine the pollution level and helped us learn more about the creek. In total we did three stations to get all the information we needed to be positive about our statement on the level of pollution. We accomplished finding critters, testing the pollution levels, and testing the velocity of the surface water in one day.

Through our research we aimed to determine if there were any differences in water quality of both the north and south forks of Strawberry Creek. As time progresses and the environment changes it is important to keep track of how certain species are being impacted by these features, and how they cope with change. We hypothesized that due to the lack of pollution, the south fork will promote a greater diversity of macroinvertebrates. This was due to the fact that there was less runoff and trash that could be introduced to the water in the south fork, than there was in the north fork. We gathered data by analyzing the different organisms living in both forks. We collected a total of fifty vials composed of five organisms from each fork, and inspected them under microscopic view. After gathering data and identifying the different kinds of organisms living in the different forks we assessed whether the organisms from the samples could live in high or low resolution water. We also took a t-test to assess the probability of these differences being due to relevant factors or by chance. Our major findings suggest that organisms in the south fork showed a higher demand to living in cleaner water indicating that our hypothesis was correct.

On October 8th, 2015 our 8-Orange team took a field trip to the Conodoguinet Creek to test the water quality. The Conodoguinet Creek was tested about 2 different times. It was tested about 2 times to take a test to see if the water was polluted or unpolluted. The results will help you understand the conflict of the Conodoguinet Creek.The water came up to about our knees. This trip was different but very informational.

In the academic journal written by Ronald A. MacGillivray the purpose was to find out information about the Delaware River and how polluted it is. The research was done over a four-year period to find out if lethal toxins were coming out of tributaries (MacGillivrary et al., 2011). The research was done by a sampling procedure. The researchers would go out into the field and collect samples on a weekly basis depending on the weather to see how the toxic levels in the river were from 16 different locations (MacGillivrary et al., 2011). At the end of the four years that the research was taken the results were conclusive that the tributaries that led into the Delaware River were found to be at normal toxic water level rates (MacGillivrary et al., 2011). The pollution levels found were normal with a few exceptions depending on the water content of the day (MacGillivrary et al., 2011).

This experiment was testing the alkalinity in the creek’s water to prove whether the creek was polluted or not. We were split into groups and then within each group we worked in groups of two

The Silver Bow Creek watershed in southwest Montana encompasses approximately 474 square miles and forms a portion of the headwaters of the Clark Fork River and ultimately, the Columbia River (Montana Natural Resource Damage Program, 2009). The site covers about 26 miles of stream and stream side habitat. Silver Bow Creek was used as a conduit for mining, smelting, industrial and municipal wastes for more than a hundred years (Weitz, Luxenberg). Rather large amounts of mine tailings deposits are found along the creek. These deposits contain elevated levels of metals and have been dispersed over the entire flood plain (Weitz, Luxenberg).

Introduction & Background The Conodoguinet Creek flows through Cumberland and Franklin counties of Southcentral Pennsylvania. From the Horse Valley next to Kittatinny Mountain at an elevation of 1680 feet, the Conodoguinet Creek flows 104 miles through the fertile Cumberland Valley of Pennsylvania, joining the Susquehanna River near Harrisburg. As it meanders north-eastwardly across a broad plain between Blue Mountain on the north and South Mountain on the south, the Conodoguinet flows through Buchanan State Forest and State Game Lands No. 76 then flows into Letterkenny Reservoir and changes course to a southeasterly flow.

On October 7, 2015 the orange team from East pennsboro middle school conducted extensive testing regarding whether or not the Conodoguinet creek is polluted. The team tested for, number of crustacean, macroinvertebrates, alkalinity , velocity,and eutrophication in the water. The findings can dismiss the assumption that the Conodoguinet creek is polluted. Also the findings can shed light about how clean the creek really is.

In the first experiment, my partner and I were retrieving rocks from the Conodoguinet creek and observing the organisms on them. We were doing this because there are organisms that cannot survive in pollution. Those organisms are called group 1 organisms. There are 2 other groups. Group 2 organisms can survive in slightly polluted water, and group 3 organisms can survive in any water. If we found a lot of group 1 organisms, than that would tell us that the water was not polluted, or if it was, then it was only very slightly polluted. When we had finished observing the rocks, we noticed that we had found more group 1 organisms than group 2 or 3 organisms. That means the creek is not polluted, or if it is, then only very slightly.

After researching all the chemicals that were given, I have concluded that the company, Sarah’s House of Wax, is responsible for the “burning water” in Big Darby Creek. They use the chemical petroleum ether, which is causing the many unwanted flames in the water. Petroleum ether has many physical and chemical properties that led me to believe it was the contender causing the problem. After watching the video of the burning water, petroleum ether’s slightly flammability, white color, insolubility in water, and extremely low flash point has caused me to believe it is the chemical to blame.

Often, toxic substances are being drained into the air, waterways, and undergrounds wells. According to the report by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), over 60 million pounds of deadly chemicals are produced by industries in Florida. Notably, Florida’s water has been suffering mercury contamination until the state’s department of migration issues a circular regularly for regulations of eating freshwater fish in the region (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission). In fact, such metals emanate from coal combustion’s emissions which run into water bodies. Not to mention, pesticides and herbicides utilized by government and homeowners pollute the environment (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission). Indeed, all chemicals released into the atmosphere find themselves in rivers.

On our following field trip to the Conodoguinet Creek, our mission was to determine if the creek was polluted or not. We tested different kinds of experiments with measurements to determine, in our opinion if the creek was polluted. We would then travel to different stations to collect the following data that would reveal the truth about the creek. If the Conodoguinet Creek is polluted then the phosphate level will be high.