Grantee Research Project Results
2002 Progress Report: Real-Time Internet Visualization and Environmental Reporting Network (RiverNet): the Upper Susquehanna/Lackawanna American Heritage River
EPA Grant Number: R828581Title: 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, 2001 through August 31, 2002
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:
This project had four primary categories of tasks associated with the objectives identified above. These tasks and accomplishments are outlined below in summary fashion, with additional details provided in the Annual Progress Report.
Monitoring System. The telemetry system was extensively tested over the past year based on a revised schedule documented earlier. We continued our training and coordination with YSI technical staff in this regard and maintained our practice of collecting concurrent grab samples of water quality to be analyzed with selected field data logging at times in the spring, 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 that own the bridges identified for prime monitoring site installations. This was obtained for one of the key locations in Wilkes-Barre, and this site was fully installed (and in operation) in late fall by a private-sector contractor after a prolonged and repeated bid cycle. A second monitor was placed in Toby Creek in the winter and has been collecting measurements in the field via the data logger.
GIS Decision Support. Site selection criteria developed earlier was provided in PowerPoint-GIS graphics for environmental education outreach to our RiverNet partners during a spring workshop at Wilkes University. The workshop also showcased a laboratory demonstration of the real-time telemetry system, and a river field site visit highlighted the monitoring unit itself and associated solar panel and data logger system. Some additional field reconnaissance was conducted at several field sites to locate and document CSOs along the river relative to instrument location opportunities on or near bridges or other suitable structures. Field site information and selected survey data based on the monitors is maintained and updated as a project Web site by the Wilkes University/GeoEnvironmental Department's Water Quality Center staff. We also have developed several prototype ArcIMS mapservices for this EMPACT project.
GIS and Internet. Basic Internet information about the project is available on the Internet and maintained by the Water Quality Center. Various watershed layers have been developed for outreach, environmental education, and public access on ArcIMS; additional items are being planned and organized. General information on the watershed based on GIS analysis is available at the PA GIS Web Site (http://www.pagis.org Exit ). We also have worked with Environmental Systems Research Institute consultants (via Dave Catlin at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Environmental Information) for support in database links to ArcIMS; we now have our own local technical person working on the specialized coding in this regard. Watershed GIS data layers, including location of water quality monitoring sites, are available at: http://66.197.254.10/website/epa_empact1/viewer.htm Exit .
Partnership Activities. Educational materials have been developed and used for an annual, regional river festival, GIS training for partners (training funded by other projects), the first partnership workshop and demonstration event, and for several local leadership and watershed environmental education workshops. During a recent GIS training course, two of our partners, the Lackawanna River Corridor Association, and the Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation were, briefed on ArcIMS mapservices for EMPACT and how to access GIS data and information at: http://66.197.254.10/website/heritage_communities/viewer.htm Exit .
Future Activities:
The RiverNet technical team met recently to make the final identifications of monitoring sites. These have been listed and prioritized for installation as soon as the spring-summer field conditions, especially on the river, allow for safe work practices. Two other bridge sites on the river have been decided upon, and approval will be expedited now that we have an operational prototype for reference from last year's activities. We will develop more ArcIMS map services on a watershed basis, and we will close the software loop on our telemetry data download to ArcIMS. We plan to participate in various environmental outreach activities again, including Earth Day and Riverfest, along with responses to invites from RiverNet partners.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 24 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
real-time monitoring, water quality, geographic information system, GIS, watershed, pollution, mining, acid mine drainage, combined sewer overflows, CSO, public information, education, internet visualizations., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Water, Geographic Area, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Hydrology, Environmental Chemistry, State, Chemistry, Monitoring/Modeling, Wet Weather Flows, Environmental Monitoring, ecological risk assessment, hydrologic dynamics, EMPACT, community-based approach, WY, bioterrorism, acid mine drainage, data gathering, public information, computing technology, data management, web site development, sewage, community outreach, GIS, water quality, river ecosystem, Wyoming, public outreachRelevant Websites:
http://wilkes1.wilkes.edu/~gisriver/index.html Exit
http://www.pagis.org Exit
http://66.197.254.10/website/epa_empact1/viewer.htm Exit
http://66.197.254.10/website/heritage_communities/viewer.htm Exit
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe 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.
Project Research Results
- Final Report
- 2006 Progress Report
- 2005 Progress Report
- 2004 Progress Report
- 2003 Progress Report
- 2001 Progress Report
- Original Abstract