Grantee Research Project Results

2001 Progress Report: Real-Time Internet Visualization and Environmental Reporting Network (RiverNet): the Upper Susquehanna/Lackawanna American Heritage River

EPA Grant Number: R828581
Title: Real-Time Internet Visualization and Environmental Reporting Network (RiverNet): the Upper Susquehanna/Lackawanna American Heritage River
Investigators: Tomaine, James , Bruns, Dale , Krehely, Robert
Institution: Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority, PA , Wilkes University
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period: December 1, 2000 through August 31, 2007
Project Period Covered by this Report: December 1, 2000 through August 31, 2001
Project Amount: $399,909
RFA: Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking (EMPACT) (2000) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration , Water , Air

Objective:

The objectives of this research project are to: (1) monitor key water quality parameters within the watershed and selected river and stream sites of the Upper Susquehanna/Lackawanna American Heritage River (AHR); (2) use real-time water quality instruments provided by Yellow Springs Instruments (YSI) to characterize environmental conditions in a river ecosystem with mine scarred lands, acid mine drainage, and mixed sewage from combined sewer overflows (CSOs); (3) make these data available to the public and other community stakeholders, including local and state agencies, via real-time data loggers linked to a community-based geographic information system (GIS) that provides Web-based Internet visualizations; and (4) conduct environmental education and public outreach activities.

Progress Summary:

We have monitored system tasks ranging from purchasing, assembling, and testing two water quality monitoring units, including quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC). In general, project funds were not available until spring 2001, and the first monitor was purchased in June following an advertised bid process. In early July, we started our first set of field tests that focused on using the monitor with a hand-held data logger. We also worked cooperatively in these efforts with YSI technical personnel for technology transfer with the instruments. Selected data were logged, graphed, evaluated, presented, and discussed in August at the annual conference of the Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking (EMPACT) program in Philadelphia, PA. In general, contract startup and bidding procedures resulted in starting technical work in mid-summer, rather than in January as originally proposed. However, all nine monitors and related equipment were purchased in 2001 once the procurement process was in place between Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority (WVSA) and YSI. Telemetry system testing also was postponed in this revised schedule, but we conducted some preliminary training and coordinating with YSI technical staff in this regard in October. To compensate for time delays, grab samples of water quality were taken and analyzed concurrent with selected field data logging in late summer and fall during the field season before the onset of winter ice flow conditions on the river. Another important factor in delaying the field schedule (for mounting the instruments) was the turnaround time for permission from the railroad authorities. These authorities own the identified bridges for prime monitoring site installations

We developed GIS Decision Support/site selection criteria and provided in PowerPoint-GIS graphics for environmental education outreach and for presentation (poster and panel technical presentation) at the annual EMPACT conference. In addition, we conducted extensive field reconnaissance at numerous field site locations to physically locate and obtain global positioning system (GPS) readings, and photo-document CSOs along the river relative to instrument location opportunities on or near bridges or other suitable structures. Field site information is documented on a project Web site currently maintained in a start up phase by the Wilkes University/GeoEnvironmental Department's Water Quality Center page (see below). As indicated above, telemetry system testing was postponed, but Web-based GIS was demonstrated successfully as part of another project (identified as technical software contribution Map Objects-Internet Map Server (MO-IMS) or ArcView Map Starter (ArcIMS) in the proposal).

Various watershed layers have been developed for outreach, environmental education, and technical symposia, but are not yet organized systematically on a project EMPACT site at the present time. General information on the watershed based on GIS analysis is available at the Pennsylvania GIS Web Site. Instead of MO-IMS, we have employed a more suitable software solution from Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) for Web-based GIS, and we are now using ArcIMS in demonstration mode for later incorporation with this project.

Initial educational materials have been developed and used for media events, a river festival, GIS training for educators, the first field-monitoring event, and for a local leadership/environmental education workshop. We communicated via e-mail for updates and invitations to these events with RiverNet partners. Dedicated Web pages remain in the developmental stage.

Future Activities:

Activities to be prioritized in the spring 2002 schedule will include the testing of telemetry system, web development of GIS data layers on watershed information, and final approval and start of field mounting and installation of monitors. Summer and fall 2002 activities include the installation of river monitors and several tributary streams and integration of data collection, processing, and Web distribution of data and watershed/water quality information. Additional educational and outreach activities are planned concurrently with establishing key benchmarks in field and data implementation.

Journal Articles:

No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 24 publications for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

real-time monitoring, water quality, geographic information system, GIS, watershed, river ecology, pollution, mining, acid mine drainage, combined sewer overflows, public information, education, Internet visualizations, Pennsylvania, PA, EPA Region 3., RFA, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Scientific Discipline, Geographic Area, Water, State, Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, Monitoring/Modeling, Hydrology, Wet Weather Flows, Environmental Monitoring, river ecosystem, water quality, acid mine drainage, sewage, ecological risk assessment, community-based approach, community outreach, public outreach, real-time monitoring, data management, data gathering, web site development, Wyoming, computing technology, GIS, public information, WY, hydrologic dynamics, bioterrorism

Relevant Websites:

http://wilkes1.wilkes.edu/~gisriver/index.html Exit
http://www.pagis.org Exit
http://www.pagis.org/CurrentWatershedEPAdemo.htm Exit

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.