Grantee Research Project Results
2004 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, 2003 through August 31, 2004
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:
- monitor key water quality parameters within the watershed and selected river and stream sites of the Upper Susquehanna/Lackawanna American Heritage River;
- 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 (AMD), and mixed sewage from combined sewer overflows (CSOs);
- 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 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.
Monitoring System
After overcoming various 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 installed monitoring and telemetry systems at two tributary sites: Nanticoke Creek (mine drainage watershed) and Toby Creek (reference site but with some suburban development). Monitoring and telemetry systems also were installed at the following main river sites: Susquehanna River (above the Lackawanna impacted by AMD, at mid-valley in Wilkes-Barre) and near the Wilkes University campus. 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. Sudden stormwater and associated highwaters in the mainstem river in the fall of 2003, which carried over into the winter of 2004, prevented us from pulling out the monitors at the Wilkes-Barre site and upper Susquehanna River site. The mounting bracket at the Wilkes-Barre site was twisted and the unit could not be removed; the upper Susquehanna River site lost its anchor to the bank and the whole unit was swept away. The unit that was swept away was found, however, and both units were repaired, allowing collection of data in the summer field sampling regime for the two sites. Both tributary sites provided good runs of data acquisition through most of the summer season, and these data were analyzed on a statistical basis and presented and published as part of a national conference on GIS and mining impacts.
GIS Decision Support
We have concluded our applications for site selection criteria by combining digital photos on CSOs, culm banks, mining outfalls, and Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) 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 the solar panel, YSI probe, and control panel juxtaposed with Web-based GIS maps for our study area showing location of CSOs relative to rivers and tributaries. Both sets of GIS decision support materials have been integrated into two presentations that we continue to use for environmental education outreach to our RiverNet partners and to the public at large during Earth Day, RiverFest, or selected GIS training workshops at Wilkes University. Aspects of our GIS decision support system have been highlighted in an invited book chapter and two conference presentations and publications.
GIS and Internet
Basic Internet information about the 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 about 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 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 have continued with our own technical work on an Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking (EMPACT) data portal site. Watershed GIS data layers, including the location of water quality monitoring sites (with select data), are available at URLs identified in the relevant Web sites section.
Partnership Activities
Educational materials have been developed and used for Earth Day, an annual regional river festival, and selected GIS training events for partners (training funded by other projects). During a summer 2004 GIS training course for a team of Russian environmental conservation scientists, we highlighted our EMPACT activities in the field and laboratory. (Training funded by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and training support by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural GIS program).
Future Activities:
We will overhaul equipment in late spring or early summer after runoff diminishes to allow safe access to sites, especially on the river. The Wilkes-Barre site will be re-evaluated and re-designed in light of high flow damage to the monitor and mounting structures on the bridge. We plan to install and collect data for the upper river sites and for Lackawanna and Nescopeck (the latter two with partners). In addition, water quality monitoring will continue at the two tributary sites and the Web sites will be updated as appropriate. We plan to participate again in Earth Day and Riverfest activities.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 24 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
real-time monitoring, water quality, GIS, watershed, pollution, mining, acid mine drainage, combined sewer overflows, public information and 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://66.197.254.10/website/epa_empact_rivernet/viewer.htm Exit
http://66.197.254.10/website/heritage_communities/viewer.htm Exit
http://www.pagis.org Exit
http://www.tips.osmre.gov/GeoSpatial/post-conference/Papers/Bruns_Sweet1_PA.pdf Exit
http://www.tips.osmre.gov/GeoSpatial/post-conference/ PP%20Presentations/Bruns_Sweet.pdf 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
- 2003 Progress Report
- 2002 Progress Report
- 2001 Progress Report
- Original Abstract