Elk County Catholic High School

“Our mission at Elk County Catholic High School is to provide a faith-focused community where our students can develop their fullest potential intellectually, physically, morally, culturally, and spiritually.“

Administration Headmaster: Mr. John Kowach

Principal: Mrs. Sandra Florig

Vice Principal: Mr. John Schneider

Athletic Director: Mr. Aaron Straub  

About our School Approximately 300 students

Includes students 9th through 12th

Offers 31 athletic programs, 8 music programs and 25

other extracurricular activities

94% of graduates are attending a university, college, or

post-secondary school

Precipitation Climate St. Mary's, PA United

States Rainfall (in.) 45.2 36.6 Snowfall (in.) 78.8 25.2 Precipitation Days 174 101 Sunny Days 162 205 Avg. July High 80.9 86.5 Avg. Jan. Low 14.1 20.8 Comfort Index 57 44

UV Index 3.4 4.3 Elevation ft. 1,724 1,062

Population and Education Statistics

Elk County Pennsylvania Population 33,963 12,590,137 Pop Density per Sq Mi 40 281 Pop Change since 2000 0.70% 0.30% Median Age 42.3

40.4 Male / Female Ratio 48.6 / 51.4% 51.5 /

48.5% High School Graduate 50% 38% 2-Year Degree 7% 6% 4-Year Degree 8% 14% Masters Degree 2% 5% Doctorate Degree 0% 1%

Watersheds of Elk County

Presented By:Wetlands Club and Ecology Class of

Elk County Catholic High School, St. Marys, PA

WATERSHEDS OF ELK COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA

•Clarion River•Elk Creek •West Creek•Little Toby Creek •Sinnemahoning Creek

Water Pollution

Clean Water SourcesWater sources with good water quality

East BranchBig MillBearSpringEast and West Branch of MillstoneMillstoneMill Creek

Water QualityDrainage from abandoned coal mines is the

biggest cause of water pollution in Pennsylvania

In Elk County water quality is 92 on a scale of 100

pH levels and fish populations have been

declining

several fish kills have been recorded after spring

stocking due to spring rains and snow melts

Clarion River Basin IssuesWater Quality

Industrial Wastes Polluting River

Lack of Monitoring Programs

Development Along Elk Creek Highest Throughout Entire Watershed

Sewage TreatmentInadequate

TreatmentsTourism Increases

UsageMalfunctions Increase

Pollution

WHAT MAKES A GOOD STREAM

Temperature Temperature can help one establish the health

of a stream. Streams with strong flora communities, including trees, on the side of the stream usually have lower temperatures. Streams without protection of plants will have higher temperatures. Ground water fed streams usually have lower temperatures than those fed by surface runoff. Usually, the lower the stream temperature, the more likely it is to support a fish. Fish such as trout and bass prefer cold water streams.

Conductivity Conductivity is an measurement of the amount of

dissolved ions (such as Na+, Cl-, metals, and toxins) present in the water. One uses a conductivity meter, which determines how electricity moves through the water sample. Example: A conductivity of 800 micro Siemens (µS) or lower it is considered normal for stream water. Streams subject to development and paved surfaces such as roads, driveways, and roofs experience rainwater rinsing chemicals, such as agricultural waste into the creek. Buildings and land development can cause readings higher than 800 µS. These readings are excessive and usually are due to the presence of toxic substances. In addition, there are toxins that may be present that are not picked up by a conductivity test.

Hydrology The hydrology is a term used to describe the stream and

the surrounding area. It can be identified by soils, geology, and land use. It is a critical physical determinant of aquatic life. When groundwater is the primary source, continual flow patterns occur. Typically, one would see decreased seasonal as well as daily changes in the amount of run off. Steady flows help to develop suitable habitats for aquatic life. It provides cover for the animals as well as nutrients.. Unsuitable stream flow can disturb bottom sedimentation. This will then cause disturbances to the aquatic life in the stream.

Insects The most common aquatic insects such as

mayflies, caddisflies, and stoneflies depend on constant flows, superb water quality, and habitats for invertebrate survival. Typically found in fresh water streams are insects from the orders Ephemeroptera (mayflies), Plecoptera (stoneflies), as well as Trichoptera (caddisflies). These are usually called the EPT orders. These insects are unusually sensitive to indicators that reduce oxygen, stream flow, or cause temperatures to be elevated disrupt metabolic rates in a stream.

WATER SAMPLING

WINSLOW HILL

WINSLOW HILL Most Popular Elk

Viewing Area in Pennsylvania

Trails Open for Exploration

Extensive WildlifeWhite Tailed-DeerBlack BearFoxTurkeySongbirdsElk

TREATMENT FACILITY

POLLUTED VS. HEALTHY STREAM

TAKING NOTES

COLLECTING SAMPLES

STUDYING SAMPLES

A HARD DAYS WORK

STREAM INVESTIGATION Stream Name: Bear Creek County: Elk Township: Highland

Weather Conditions: Clear Wind: Calm Air Temp: 4.4°C Water Temp: 5.23˚C

POLLUTION SOURCES Acid rain Land use Road near creek Logging

All contribute to non-point pollution

VELOCITY OF WATER FLOWMeasurements

Area #1 Area #2 Area #3

Distance (m) 10m 10m 10mTime (sec) 112 sec 135 sec 159 secFinal Velocity (m/sec)

0.089 m/sec 0.74 m/sec 0.063 m/sec

V1= 10/112 V2=10/135 V3=10/159

Final Velocity=0.757

VOLUME OF FLOWMeasurements

Area #1 Area #2 Area #3

Length (m) L 10m 10m 10mWidth (m) W 2.5908m 1.905m 1.9812mAverage Depth (m) D

13.3 cm 8.3 cm 18.4 cm

Time (sec) T 112 sec 135 sec 159 secFlow Constant A

0.8 0.8 0.8

Final Volume (m3/sec)

275.7 126.5 291.6

QUANTITATIVE

Temperature (°C)1) 5.5°C2) 5.2°C3) 5.0°CAverage Temperature= 5.233°C

QUALITATIVE Water Appearance

Foam under bridgeClear

Stream Bed CoatingOrange/red tint

Water Odornone

WATER CHEMISTRYParameter or Pollutant measured

Reading

1. pH 5.832. Iron 03. Alkalinity 04. Conductivity 32.665. Dissolved Oxygen 12.8

WATER QUALITY OF POOLAnimal Number Found

Caddisflies 5Dobsonflies 0

Mayflies 7Stoneflies 1Crane Flies 0

Beetles 0Flatworms 0

Snails 0Aquatic Worms 0

Midges 0Clams 0

Black Flies 0Crawfish 7

WATER QUALITY OF RIFFLE

Animals Number FoundCaddisflies 24Dobsonflies 0

Mayflies 2Stoneflies 11Crane flies 0

Beetles 1Flatworms 0

Snails 0Aquatic Worms 0

Midges 0Clams 0

Black Flies 0Crawfish 1

Works Cited

Arnowitt, Myron. “Clean Water Action Reaches Settlement with Horsehead Corp. over Clean Water Act Violations.” Clean Water Action. 29 Dec. 2009. Web. 29 Apr. 2010.http://www.cleanwateraction.org/pa

“Best Places to Live in St. Marys, Pennsylvania.” Sperling’s BestPlaces. Fast Forward, Inc., 2010. Web. 29 Apr. 2010.

http://www.bestplaces.net.city/St._Marys-Pennsylvania.aspx#

Elkcountyfreshwater.org Elk County Fresh Water Association. Web. 29 Apr. 2010

http://www.elkcountyfreshwater.org/index/php.

Ostergen, David M. “Tribal Watershed Management: Culture, Science, Capacity, and Collaboration.” Britannica. 2007. Web.

29 Apr. 2010. http://wwww.britannica.com/bps/additionalcontent/18/23975216/Tribal-Watershed-Management-Culture-Science-Capacity-and-Collaboration.

“What Are Some Indicators of a Healthy Stream or River?” The Watershed Center. 6 Jan. 2005. Web. 29 Apr. 2010