Soar! Stream Assessment

The kids went to Back Creek at the Winchester Frederick County Conservation Club this morning, 5/21/15.  This was the first time the kids did a stream assessment.  Five students attended, which was fine for a first trip: Allen, Tristen, Akshita, Hunter, and Roshelle.  Two teachers chaperoned.  Back Creek is the closest stream to our watershed.  Basically, we established the field site. The air temperature was 55 degrees F and the water temperature was 5 degrees C.  It was misting the entire time at the stream, from 9:10- 11:10.  Back Creek appeared murky with a lush riparian area adjacent to the creek.  Tulip poplars dotted the stream side.  The students tested the stream speed, turbidity, and temperature.  They had some difficulty with the kick seine; next time, we are bringing a better seine and an expert.  After collecting and testing water samples, the students returned.  The Conservation Club is perfect for future stream assessments.

Conococheague-Opequon Watershed -- 02070004

Conococheague-Opequon

Watershed Profile

Watershed Name: Conococheague-Opequon
USGS Cataloging Unit: 02070004
WV 2nd Congressional District
MD 6th Congressional District
PA 9th Congressional District
VA 10th Congressional District
PA 19th Congressional District

Stream Photos and More photos

Back Creek. 5/21/15 
Winchester Frederick County Conservation Club 
Hellgrammite, snail, and crawfish 
Ecocheck. Test strips Nitrate 0-20 Nitrite 0 Total hardness 150-300 Alkalinity 180 Ph 6.5 
Roshelle 6.0, 6.5 
Temperature 5 degrees Celsius
Turbidity 22.5, 24, 24, 22 
Lamotte nitrate- phosphate low range. 0.2ppm Nitrate 0.2 ppm Phosphate 1.0 ppm Speed 27 ft  Time 23, 19, 20.23 
Odor: musty odor  
Creek slippery slope, bottom rocky with sandy spot Rocks with cobbles, large slate like sheets of rock Riparian not eroded, tulip poplar along creek