“Our mission at Elk County Catholic High School is to provide a faith- focused community where our...
Transcript of “Our mission at Elk County Catholic High School is to provide a faith- focused community where our...
Elk County Catholic High School
“Our mission at Elk County Catholic High School is to provide a faith-focused community where our students can develop their fullest potential intellectually, physically, morally, culturally, and spiritually.“
Administration
Headmaster: Mr. John Kowach
Principal: Mrs. Sandra Florig
Vice Principal: Mr. John Schneider
Athletic Director: Mr. Aaron Straub
About our School
Approximately 300 students
Includes students 9th through 12th
Offers 31 athletic programs, 8 music programs and 25
other extracurricular activities
94% of graduates are attending a university, college, or
post-secondary school
Precipitation
Climate St. Mary's, PA United States Rainfall (in.) 45.2 36.6 Snowfall (in.) 78.8 25.2 Precipitation Days 174 101 Sunny Days 162 205 Avg. July High 80.9 86.5 Avg. Jan. Low 14.1 20.8 Comfort Index 57 44
UV Index 3.4 4.3 Elevation ft. 1,724 1,062
Population and Education Statistics
Elk County Pennsylvania Population 33,963 12,590,137 Pop Density per Sq Mi 40 281 Pop Change since 2000 0.70% 0.30% Median Age 42.3
40.4 Male / Female Ratio 48.6 / 51.4% 51.5 /
48.5% High School Graduate 50% 38% 2-Year Degree 7% 6% 4-Year Degree 8% 14% Masters Degree 2% 5% Doctorate Degree 0% 1%
Watersheds of Elk County
Presented By:Wetlands Club and Ecology Class of
Elk County Catholic High School, St. Marys, PA
WATERSHEDS OF ELK COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA
•Clarion River•Elk Creek •West Creek•Little Toby Creek •Sinnemahoning Creek
Water Pollution
Clean Water SourcesWater sources with good water quality
East BranchBig MillBearSpringEast and West Branch of MillstoneMillstoneMill Creek
Water QualityDrainage from abandoned coal mines is the
biggest cause of water pollution in Pennsylvania
In Elk County water quality is 92 on a scale of 100
pH levels and fish populations have been
declining
several fish kills have been recorded after spring
stocking due to spring rains and snow melts
Clarion River Basin IssuesWater Quality
Industrial Wastes Polluting River
Lack of Monitoring Programs
Development Along Elk Creek Highest Throughout Entire Watershed
Sewage TreatmentInadequate
TreatmentsTourism Increases
UsageMalfunctions Increase
Pollution
WHAT MAKES A GOOD STREAM
Temperature
Temperature can help one establish the health of a stream. Streams with strong flora communities, including trees, on the side of the stream usually have lower temperatures. Streams without protection of plants will have higher temperatures. Ground water fed streams usually have lower temperatures than those fed by surface runoff. Usually, the lower the stream temperature, the more likely it is to support a fish. Fish such as trout and bass prefer cold water streams.
Conductivity
Conductivity is an measurement of the amount of dissolved ions (such as Na+, Cl-, metals, and toxins) present in the water. One uses a conductivity meter, which determines how electricity moves through the water sample. Example: A conductivity of 800 micro Siemens (µS) or lower it is considered normal for stream water. Streams subject to development and paved surfaces such as roads, driveways, and roofs experience rainwater rinsing chemicals, such as agricultural waste into the creek. Buildings and land development can cause readings higher than 800 µS. These readings are excessive and usually are due to the presence of toxic substances. In addition, there are toxins that may be present that are not picked up by a conductivity test.
Hydrology
The hydrology is a term used to describe the stream and the surrounding area. It can be identified by soils, geology, and land use. It is a critical physical determinant of aquatic life. When groundwater is the primary source, continual flow patterns occur. Typically, one would see decreased seasonal as well as daily changes in the amount of run off. Steady flows help to develop suitable habitats for aquatic life. It provides cover for the animals as well as nutrients.. Unsuitable stream flow can disturb bottom sedimentation. This will then cause disturbances to the aquatic life in the stream.
Insects
The most common aquatic insects such as mayflies, caddisflies, and stoneflies depend on constant flows, superb water quality, and habitats for invertebrate survival. Typically found in fresh water streams are insects from the orders Ephemeroptera (mayflies), Plecoptera (stoneflies), as well as Trichoptera (caddisflies). These are usually called the EPT orders. These insects are unusually sensitive to indicators that reduce oxygen, stream flow, or cause temperatures to be elevated disrupt metabolic rates in a stream.
WATER SAMPLING
WINSLOW HILL
WINSLOW HILL Most Popular Elk
Viewing Area in Pennsylvania
Trails Open for Exploration
Extensive WildlifeWhite Tailed-DeerBlack BearFoxTurkeySongbirdsElk
TREATMENT FACILITY
POLLUTED VS. HEALTHY STREAM
TAKING NOTES
COLLECTING SAMPLES
STUDYING SAMPLES
A HARD DAYS WORK
STREAM INVESTIGATION Stream Name: Bear Creek County: Elk Township: Highland
Weather Conditions: Clear Wind: Calm Air Temp: 4.4°C Water Temp: 5.23˚C
POLLUTION SOURCES Acid rain Land use Road near creek Logging
All contribute to non-point pollution
VELOCITY OF WATER FLOWMeasurements
Area #1 Area #2 Area #3
Distance (m) 10m 10m 10m
Time (sec) 112 sec 135 sec 159 sec
Final Velocity (m/sec)
0.089 m/sec 0.74 m/sec 0.063 m/sec
V1= 10/112 V2=10/135 V3=10/159
Final Velocity=0.757
VOLUME OF FLOWMeasurements
Area #1 Area #2 Area #3
Length (m) L 10m 10m 10m
Width (m) W 2.5908m 1.905m 1.9812m
Average Depth (m) D
13.3 cm 8.3 cm 18.4 cm
Time (sec) T 112 sec 135 sec 159 sec
Flow Constant A
0.8 0.8 0.8
Final Volume (m3/sec)
275.7 126.5 291.6
QUANTITATIVE
Temperature (°C)
1) 5.5°C
2) 5.2°C
3) 5.0°C
Average Temperature= 5.233°C
QUALITATIVE Water Appearance
Foam under bridgeClear
Stream Bed CoatingOrange/red tint
Water Odornone
WATER CHEMISTRYParameter or Pollutant measured
Reading
1. pH 5.83
2. Iron 0
3. Alkalinity 0
4. Conductivity 32.66
5. Dissolved Oxygen 12.8
WATER QUALITY OF POOLAnimal Number Found
Caddisflies 5
Dobsonflies 0
Mayflies 7
Stoneflies 1
Crane Flies 0
Beetles 0
Flatworms 0
Snails 0
Aquatic Worms 0
Midges 0
Clams 0
Black Flies 0
Crawfish 7
WATER QUALITY OF RIFFLE
Animals Number Found
Caddisflies 24
Dobsonflies 0
Mayflies 2
Stoneflies 11
Crane flies 0
Beetles 1
Flatworms 0
Snails 0
Aquatic Worms 0
Midges 0
Clams 0
Black Flies 0
Crawfish 1
Works Cited
Arnowitt, Myron. “Clean Water Action Reaches Settlement with Horsehead Corp. over Clean Water Act Violations.” Clean Water Action. 29 Dec. 2009. Web. 29 Apr. 2010.http://www.cleanwateraction.org/pa
“Best Places to Live in St. Marys, Pennsylvania.” Sperling’s BestPlaces. Fast Forward, Inc., 2010. Web. 29 Apr. 2010.
http://www.bestplaces.net.city/St._Marys-Pennsylvania.aspx#
Elkcountyfreshwater.org Elk County Fresh Water Association. Web. 29 Apr. 2010
http://www.elkcountyfreshwater.org/index/php.
Ostergen, David M. “Tribal Watershed Management: Culture, Science, Capacity, and Collaboration.” Britannica. 2007. Web.
29 Apr. 2010. http://wwww.britannica.com/bps/additionalcontent/18/23975216/Tribal-Watershed-Management-Culture-Science-Capacity-and-Collaboration.
“What Are Some Indicators of a Healthy Stream or River?” The Watershed Center. 6 Jan. 2005. Web. 29 Apr. 2010