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

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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.