Lab1_SpringCreek_sampling

S P R I N G C R E E K - L A B # 1 1 Sampling Spring Creek Objectives of the lab o Familiarize yourself with water sampling and sample preservation techniques. o Measure pH, conductivity, temperature, and nitrate concentration. o Learn how to record data in the field. o Collect samples of Spring Creek water for analysis in future labs. Materials o INSTRUCTORS PROVIDE : pH/temperature meter, conductivity meter, handheld spectrophotometer, handheld GPS, geological and topographic maps of the area, and sampling bottles. o STUDENTS PROVIDE : Field notebook, pen, pencil/sharpie (permanent marker), camera (optional), GPS device (optional). o Dress adequately, it might be hot, chilly, raining, dirty and/or full of bushes. Wear sturdy footwear appropriate to hiking. o Please arrive on time to your specified lab time in Hosler 313. We will need time to organize and load into the vans. Geosc 202 Lab 1

2 Background his laboratory exercise is the first of several that will allow you to assess the impact of land use practices and lithology on stream water chemistry. Many people and groups are interested in the chemistry of natural water, such as the Clearwater Conservancy ( http://www.clearwaterconservancy.org/index.htm ), which promotes conservation and restoration of watersheds throughout Pennsylvania. They are located here in Centre County and have a particular interest in Spring Creek and its maintenance. Spring Creek runs from Tussey Mountain east of Boalsburg to Milesburg, through state forest, farmland and urban areas. The recent rapid development of the area, the release of contaminants from University Park, inputs of wastewater including the waste of mines and production plants, the recent excavation of Skytop Mountain for Interstate I-99, and agricultural use of the land along the stream have the potential to adversely affect the amount and the quality of Spring Creek waters over time. Spring Creek has a large fish population and for this reason is rated “A” in Pennsylvania. The stream is particularly rich in trout mainly because the limestone bedrock contributes a large amount of groundwater keeping the stream cold. Much of Spring Creek is spring fed, hence the name. Despite the high ranking, anglers cannot fully enjoy the fish they take because of major pollution episodes that required a general prohibition of killing and possession of fish in posted sections of the stream. From its start Spring Creek runs through terrains of different lithologies. Composition of the underlying bedrock of the watershed effectively controls the water’s pH due to water/rock interactions. Water leaches bedrock and brings cations and anions into solution from the rock, modifying the original rain water’s chemical composition and thus its pH and conductivity. The extent to which this occurs depends on the time of residence of water/rock contact and on the lithology. A description of the lithology is attached. T

4 Sample Preservation The EPA recommends the following protocol for preserving samples. Keep this in mind as you work on samples and write up your lab report for weeks two and three. Measurement Vol. Required. (ml) Preservative Holding Time Acidity 100 Cool, 4˚C 14 days Alkalinity 100 Cool, 4˚C 14 days Nitrate 100 Cool, 4˚C 48 hours Sulfate 50 Cool, 4˚C 28 days Sulfide 500 Cool, 4˚C, add 2 ml zinc acetate plus NaOH so that pH > 9 7 days SO: http://www.uga.edu/sisbl/epatab1.html Deliverables Due Friday (of the week of the field trip) by 5 pm [35 pts] All field data from all groups due to TA in Excel spreadsheet form (via email) . Late data will result in a points penalty for the entire group. Due at the beginning of next week’s lab period [65 pts] Prepare a 3 to 5 page report (double-spaced and printed/typed) that covers the categories below. Imagine you are addressing an audience that has a general geology background but no knowledge of the area. The report will be based on ALL of the data collected by the class. Include the following in the lab report: o Objective : In a few sentences, state the purpose of the laboratory. Explain the significance of monitoring stream chemistry (i.e., why we do it, why it’s important, what it tells us, etc). o Field Setting : Discuss the characteristics of the study area (including Spring Creek itself), including land use, geology, local climate, etc. Include maps of the area and sampling locations. Use the maps and other handouts that are provided in the lab handout and on the course website, as well as your knowledge of the area from other Geosciences classes. o Field Methods : Below are some ideas for what you should cover in this section. Be detailed in your explanations: o Which measurements did you/the group make? o How did you make those measurements? Which instruments did you use and how did you calibrate them or otherwise make sure they were operating properly? o What types of samples did you collect? o How did you perform the sampling? What steps did you take? o Results : summarize all data obtained in the field using BOTH graphs and tables. You must include ALL pH, temperature, nitrate, and conductivity data. Include a brief description of what you observed as you moved downstream. Note where there are large changes or anomalies in the data.

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7 SO: http://www.statecollegepa.us/DocumentCenter/Home/View/2060

8 SO: http://www.statecollegepa.us/DocumentCenter/Home/View/2060