Grantee Research Project Results
2003 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, 2002 through August 31, 2003
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; (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 research project has 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
After a variety of delays in previous years (see earlier Annual Reports and documentation relative to railroad authority permission, bid cycle, floodwaters, design of mounting system, and field logistics), we moved ahead and installed monitoring and telemetry systems for two tributary sites: Nanticoke Creek (mine drainage watershed) and Toby Creek (reference site, but with some suburban development). We also met and coordinated with community partners for the Lackawanna River and Nescopeck Creek sites; their systems are expected to be in place this summer as soon as the spring-summer sampling season allows (i.e., after spring runoff subsides). The Lackawanna and Nescopeck sites were visited and evaluated in the field with both groups. The Wilkes-Barre site that was fully installed (and in operation) in late fall of 2002 by a private-sector contractor after a prolonged and repeated bid cycle encountered severe difficulties during the very wet and rainy fall-winter season of 2003, when high river flows bent the mounting and precluded retrieval over the icy, winter months. In addition, because the solar panel power cord to the monitor was vandalized (cut) and without power, we have been unable to log data since last fall. We plan to retrieve the unit as soon as spring runoff subsides and field staff can safely access the unit.
GIS Decision Support
We have continued to use our site selection criteria (shown earlier in PowerPoint-GIS graphics) by combining digital photos on CSOs, culm banks, mining outfalls, and total maximum daily load streams with GIS watershed analysis for each of these regional environmental problems. In addition, we have a documented overview of the various monitoring components such as solar panels, YSI probes, and control panels juxtaposed with Web-based GIS maps for our study area showing the location of CSOs relative to rivers and tributaries. Both sets of GIS decision support materials have been integrated into two PowerPoint posters that we continue to use for environmental education outreach to our RiverNet partners and the public at large during Earth Day, RiverFest, or selected GIS training workshops at Wilkes University. In addition, field site information and selected survey data based on the monitors are maintained as a project Web site by the Wilkes University/GeoEnvironmental Sciences and Engineering Department’s Water Quality Center staff (see relevant Web sites below). We also have developed and maintained several ArcIMS map services for this Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking (EMPACT) project. See relevant Web sites below for information on Web GIS.
GIS and Internet
Basic Internet information about the research project is available at the project Web site maintained by the Water Quality Center. Various watershed layers have been developed for outreach, environmental education, and public access on ArcIMS. General information on the watershed based on GIS analysis is available at the Pennsylvania GIS Web Site (http://www.pagis.org Exit ). We also have worked with Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI) consultants (via Dave Catlin at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Environmental Information) for support in database links to ArcIMS. Based on these interactions, we now have our own local technical person working on an EMPACT data portal site for our project. Watershed GIS data layers, including the location of water quality monitoring sites (with selected data), are available at http://gis.wilkes.edu/rivernet/ Exit .
Partnership Activities
Educational materials (posters noted above) have been developed and used for Earth Day, an annual, regional river festival, and for selected GIS training events for partners (training funded by other projects). During a recent GIS training course for a team of Russian environmental (conservation) scientists, we highlighted our EMPACT activities in the field and laboratory. (Training funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural GIS program.)
Future Activities:
We will overhaul field equipment in late spring or early summer after runoff flows diminish to allow safe access to sites, especially on the river. The Wilkes-Barre site will be reevaluated and redesigned in light of high flow damage to the monitor and mounting structures on the bridge. We also will install and collect data for the upper river sites and for Lackawanna River and Nescopeck Creek (the latter two with partners). We will continue monitoring at two tributary sites, adding new information to the Web as appropriate. We also will participate in Earth Day and RiverFest.
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, CSOs, public information and education, Internet visualizations, ecosystem protection, environmental exposure and risk, geographic area, water, chemistry, environmental chemistry, hydrology, monitoring, modeling, state, wet weather flows, Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking, EMPACT, Wyoming, WY, community outreach, community-based approach, computing technology, data gathering, data management, ecological risk assessment, hydrologic dynamics, public information, public outreach, real-time monitoring, river ecosystem sewage., 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_empact_rivernet/viewer.htm Exit
http://gis.wilkes.edu/rivernet/ Exit
http://66.197.254.10/website/heritage_communities/viewer.htm Exit
http://www.ruralgis.org/RGIScd/presentationIndex.htm Exit
http://www.ruralgis.org/RGIScd/dayOne/CommunityPlanning/Session1A/countyLevelBuildout_files/frame.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
- 2002 Progress Report
- 2001 Progress Report
- Original Abstract