Iron Furnace Trout Unlimited Water Quality Monitoring Projects
January 2013Bruce Dickson, PhD
IFTU Water Quality Monitoring Program Development
PATU Coldwater Conservation Corps (CCC):• National TU and the PA Council teamed up to
develop and implement a stream surveillance program in response to the shale gas boom in Pennsylvania;
• TU volunteers monitor water resources, conduct visual assessments, and report violations of state environmental laws to appropriate state agencies ensuring that special watersheds and coldwater resources are protected from the threats of environmental degradation.
Coldwater Conservation Corps Approach
Coldwater Conservation Corps Approach
• Volunteer based;• Participation and extent of coverage;• Limited data collection;
• Aging membership;• Distances to developed areas and
associated travel cost;
• How can IFTU respond?
Iron Furnace Water QualityMonitoring Program
• Technology based;• Broaden coverage area (north);• Expand data collection (parameters
and frequency);• Share information and partner
where possible.
Data Loggers; Real-Time Satellite Stations.
• On Allegheny Plateau• Established 1923• “Allegheny Brush-
patch”• ~ 517,000 acres• Encompasses parts of 4
counties
Satellite StationDeployed:• Salmon Creek• Tionesta Creek• Millstone Creek• Spring Creek• Cathers Run
Broadcast water quality data to internet (4 hours):• Temperature (C)• pH• Specific Conductance• Dissolved Oxygen• Turbidity• Level (discharge)
Satellite Station
Transceiver Sonde Tube
Satellite Station
Sonde TubeYSI Sonde
Viewing Monitoring Datawww.ironfurnacetu.net
Viewing Monitoring Datawww.ironfurnacetu.net
Viewing Monitoring Data
Solinst Data Logger
Conductivity Range: 0 – 80,000 µS/cmAccuracy: 2% accuracy @ 500 – 80,000 µS/cmAccuracy: highly variable < 500 µS/cm
Also records temperature and pressure (level)
Hobo Data Logger
Conductivity Range (low setting): 0 – 1,000 µS/cmAccuracy: 2% 0 – 1,000 µS/cm
Also records temperature & has full conductivity range @0 – 10,000 µS/cm
Assembled Logger Housing
Watercirculation holes
Painted Housing(neutral color)
Logger Ready for Deployment~ 3’ of 1/8” Cable
Single 1/8” ferrule
for cable stop
1/8” Double ferrule to form loop
Predrilled concrete form stake
Zip tie secures logger in housing
Logg
er S
take
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Pla
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Brid
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fter 6
0 D
ays
Logger StationsDeployed:• Salmon Creek
The Branch, 4 Mile Run, Little Salmon Creek, and Trib 55118• Spring Creek
Hunter Creek, Banks Run• Millstone Creek
Log Run• Allegheny River (Direct Tributaries)
Ward Run, Anderson Run, Hemlock Creek, East Hickory Creek,McCaferdy Run
• Tionesta CreekBlue Jay Creek, Irwin Run
• Clarion RiverMill Creek (loaner)
Collect:• Temperature (C)• Specific Conductance• Level (discharge)
Logger Data
IFTU Monitoring Experience
Data Loggers:• Inexpensive ($700 – Hobo/$1200 - Solinst);• Easy to deploy/redeploy, and durable;• Solinst conductivity range limitation
(> 500 – 80,000 µS/cm);• Programming and data download relatively
simple;• Large quantity of data (15 minute interval = 95
observations/day);• Infrequent calibration (in-house or lab*).
IFTU Monitoring Experience
Satellite Stations:• Expensive ($10K initial investment);• Siting and installation (permanent locations);• On-going expenses (site maintenance, sonde
calibration, sensor replacement, unit management, data transmission);
• Large quantity of data;• Steep learning curve;
IFTU Monitoring Network Map
IFTU/Three Rivers Quest Project
Three Rivers Quest Monitoring StationsCollected at 10 USGS Stations:• French Creek
Utica• Oil Creek
Rouseville• Brokenstraw Creek
Youngsville• Allegheny River
Port AlleganyEldred
• Tionesta CreekLynchTionesta
• Clarion RiverCooksburgRidgwayWilcox
Field• Temperature (C)• Specific Conductance• pH
Laboratory (Brockway)• Alkalinity• Acidity• Bromide• Chloride• Sulfate• Dissolved Aluminum• Dissolved Manganese• Dissolved Sodium• Dissolved Iron• Total Suspended Solids• Total Dissolved Solids
Three Rivers Quest Monitoring Stations
Three Rivers Quest Mini-Grant Program
2013• Grant program designed to
expand monitoring opportunities in the Northern Allegheny Basin;
• Data to be incorporated into 3RQ database (WVWRI);
• IFTU oversight;• RFP details available soon.
->>PARTNERS<<-• United States Forest Service;• PA Fish and Boat Commission;• Allegheny WINs;• Western Pennsylvania Conservancy;• PADCNR/DADEP;• US Army Corps of Engineers;• Elk County Conservation District;• McKean County Conservation District;• Warren County Conservation District;• PA Council Trout Unlimited;• Colcom Foundation;• West Virginia Water Resources Institute/Three Rivers Quest;• Forest County School District (West and East Forest Schools);• Hickory Grove Elementary School (Brookville, PA).
Marcellus Rigat Mayburg, PA
on RT 666 adjacent to Tionesta Creek
January 9, 2013.
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