TY - GEN
T1 - Post-restoration changes within Codorus Creek, south-central Pennsylvania
AU - Siu, Christina Y.S.
AU - Clark, Shirley Elizabeth
AU - Baker, Katherine H.
PY - 2010/8/2
Y1 - 2010/8/2
N2 - Penn State University (York and Harrisburg campuses) has been evaluating the effectiveness of state-funded stream restoration activities. Research has been performed on two branches of Codorus Creek, located in south-central Pennsylvania. This current research presents only the data obtained at Penn State Harrisburg. We examine the current pollutant loadings of two branches of this stream in conjunction with land use practices. Macroinvertebrates and periphyton are sampled routinely. Streamwater sampling for water chemistry analyses occurs during both baseflow and storm event conditions. Restored sites are compared to both impaired and control sites to determine whether restoration has any significant reduction in a pollutant's load. All sources contributing to the total nitrogen load to Codorus Creek have not been identified. Although restoration activities may decrease pollutant loads, such as suspended solids, restoration is not believed to be effective in decreasing nitrogen loads. Nitrogen is found more readily in the aqueous phase (streamwater) rather than adsorbed to sediment particles. Therefore, more effective ways to remove nitrogen in water is to decrease or eliminate the source or to treat the streamwater directly. Further monitoring and comparison of restored sites to control and impaired sites are needed. In addition, future work on the toxicity of the legacy sediments has been proposed.
AB - Penn State University (York and Harrisburg campuses) has been evaluating the effectiveness of state-funded stream restoration activities. Research has been performed on two branches of Codorus Creek, located in south-central Pennsylvania. This current research presents only the data obtained at Penn State Harrisburg. We examine the current pollutant loadings of two branches of this stream in conjunction with land use practices. Macroinvertebrates and periphyton are sampled routinely. Streamwater sampling for water chemistry analyses occurs during both baseflow and storm event conditions. Restored sites are compared to both impaired and control sites to determine whether restoration has any significant reduction in a pollutant's load. All sources contributing to the total nitrogen load to Codorus Creek have not been identified. Although restoration activities may decrease pollutant loads, such as suspended solids, restoration is not believed to be effective in decreasing nitrogen loads. Nitrogen is found more readily in the aqueous phase (streamwater) rather than adsorbed to sediment particles. Therefore, more effective ways to remove nitrogen in water is to decrease or eliminate the source or to treat the streamwater directly. Further monitoring and comparison of restored sites to control and impaired sites are needed. In addition, future work on the toxicity of the legacy sediments has been proposed.
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U2 - 10.1061/41114(371)193
DO - 10.1061/41114(371)193
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:77954986953
SN - 9780784411148
T3 - World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2010: Challenges of Change - Proceedings of the World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2010
SP - 1850
EP - 1853
BT - World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2010
T2 - World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2010: Challenges of Change
Y2 - 16 May 2010 through 20 May 2010
ER -