As we launch into Plastic Free July, we find it particularly challenging in the presence of COVID-19, when retailers seem to be employing more single use plastics than ever. Watch this video presentation by Lauren McGrath, Willistown Conservation Trust’s Director of Watershed Protection, in a conversation about how you can decrease your plastic consumption while staying safe, including a community discussion around different ways to reduce consumption through smarter shopping and extending the shelf life of what you purchase. This online presentation was originally presented on July 1, 2020.
Clean Water Science Pioneer – Ruth Patrick
Dr. Ruth Patrick was one of the most important scientists to study freshwater systems. She was a pioneer when it came to discussing pollution and emphasized the importance of connecting science to governmental policy and helped to pave the way for future female scientists.
Born in Topeka, Kansas, Patrick was interested in science from a very young age. Her father first gave a microscope when she was 7 years old, and her interest in the microscopic world grew from there. Patrick attended Coker University in South Carolina where she studied Botany, after which she went on to earn her PhD in Botany from the University of Virginia.
Ruth Patrick continued her career in our very own backyard. She began working at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia in 1933 as an assistant curator of microscopy – an unpaid position. It was not until eight years later that she finally was put on as a paid scientist. Patrick focused her studies on freshwater streams and used her role at the Academy to pursue research looking at diatoms. In 1947 she established the limnology department – now called the Patrick Center for Environmental Research. In 1973 her career at the Academy reached new heights as she became the first woman to chair the Board of Trustees at the Academy.
In one of her most famous studies, Patrick went to Conestoga Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania with a team of environmental scientists. They set out to identify all the pollutants present in the stream. From there they also identified the animals and plants in the system. This combination of data allowed Patrick to develop what later became known as the Patrick Principle. She analyzed the data to look for patterns in diatom presence/absence in relationship to types of pollution. She discovered clear trends in environmental preferences of diatom species. From this she was able to work in reverse. By looking at a microscope slide from a stream site, she could diagnose the type of pollution based on the diatom community present.
Outside of her work for the Academy, Ruth Patrick was a huge advocate against water pollution and made a lot of progress in communicating with stakeholders. She played a large role in the creation of the Clean Water Act, she advised President Johnson on issues concerning water pollution, and later advised President Reagan on acid rain.
In 1970 she was the 12th woman to be elected to the National Academy of Science. In 1975 she became the first woman (and first environmentalist) on the Board of Directors for DuPont where she helped to steer decisions towards reducing chemical pollution. Two of the most notable awards Patrick received were the John and Alice Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement in 1975 and the National Medal of Science which she was awarded by President Clinton in 1996.
Patrick made a huge impact on the field of environmentalism, but her accomplishments are even more impressive in the context of her time frame. Female scientists in the 1930s were unheard of, but Patrick helped to change the story. She showed the world that women can make monumental impacts in the scientific community, and her work continues to frame the environmental movement to this day.
Dr. Ruth Patrick continues to inspire the work of the Watershed Protection Program at Willistown Conservation Trust. Her work paved the way for current researchers to better understand the world beneath the water, how our actions on land make an impact on our aquatic community and how passionate individuals can make the world a better place.
Dicke, W. (2013). Ruth Patrick, a Pioneer in Science and Pollution Control Efforts, Is Dead at 105. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/24/us/ruth-patrick-a-pioneer-in-pollution-control-dies-at-105.html
Story 85: “Celebrating a Pioneer.” (2011). 200 years 200 stories. The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University. https://ansp.org/exhibits/online-exhibits/stories/celebrating-a-pioneer/
Morrison, J. (2013). Ruth Myrtle Patrick, 105, expert on water pollution. The Philadelphia Inquirer. https://www.inquirer.com/philly/obituaries/20130924_Ruth_Myrtle_Patrick__105__expert_on_water_pollution.html
Marvelous Macroinvertebrates
Watch this video webinar of Lauren McGrath, Director of Watershed Protection, to learn more about the secrets of stream insects and the stories they tell. Macroinvertebrates are the insects that live in our waterways, and can inform us about water conditions throughout the year. Learn more about these fascinating insects, their adaptations, and how they can influence restoration practices. Presented on April 16, 2020 hosted by Darby Creek Valley Association.
Meet Our Newest Watershed Team Members
The Watershed Protection Program is thrilled to introduce the newest members of our team: Evan Hunt, Jules Smith and Zack Smith. Evan is a Conservation Associate working through October 2020 and Jules and Zack are Co-op students from Drexel University through September 2020. “All three individuals are talented and passionate about conservation and water, and are excellent additions to the Trust family,” shared Lauren McGrath, Director of Watershed Protection.
Read on as these new watershed staff members introduce themselves.
He is our newest Conservation Associate in the Trust’s Watershed Program.
Evan Hunt
In 2018 I received a Bachelor’s degree from Ursinus College where I majored in Environmental Studies and conducted research on peoples’ connection to urban forests. Through this work I began to greatly value the social and humanistic aspect of land management. Soon after graduating, I started working for an ecological restoration company on large large-scale projects throughout Pennsylvania and New York. Later I served as the nursery assistant at a native plant nursery where I became well versed in the growth habits of trees and herbaceous plants native to the Mid-Atlantic region. I also advised clients on projects ranging from riparian buffer restorations to home garden installations.
I first got involved at the Trust as a volunteer, assisting the watershed program with various land stewardship projects. Now as the conservation associate I have taken on a larger role in implementing riparian restoration projects and monitoring water quality throughout the watershed.
In my current position I hopes to draw from these experiences to further enhance not only the ecological value, but also the social appeal of the waterways and preserves throughout Willistown. Outside of the Trust, I am an active volunteer with my local Tree Tenders group and spends my free time in the garden.
Jules Smith
My name is Jules Smith and I am a rising senior at Drexel University. At Drexel I study environmental science and biology. My personal interests include conservation biology and aquatic systems which made Willistown Conservation Trust my ideal co-op.
On campus I am in charge of a conservation genetics project under the guidance of Dr. Dane Ward. The project is studying potential inbreeding dynamics in the Northern Pine Snake (Pituophis melanoleucus) through microsatellite DNA analysis.
My previous two co-ops were both in the world of water. The first being at the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) and the second at Aqua America. At PWD I worked as an aquatic biology laboratory analyst. I was involved in the testing of drinking and wastewater for a variety of coliforms and other bacteria. At Aqua I was able to expand my knowledge and skill set beyond the lab space. I was a part of the “Treatment Team” and was heavily involved in research regarding the removal of PFAS from drinking water. I was additionally tasked with organizing and analyzing chemical data for dozens of sites across Southeast Pennsylvania. These two experiences gave me a strong background in state regulations and water chemistry.
I am very excited to get started working with the Trust as I think this is the perfect opportunity to take my prior experiences with water and pair them with my passion for conservation.
Zack Smith
Originally from Clarks Summit Pennsylvania, I am a pre-junior environmental science major at Drexel University. At school, I am involved in Dr. Dane Ward’s research lab where our goal is to assess potential differences in biofouling communities across Barnegat Bay, as well as across different temperature regimes in the lab. Aside from research, I am also a board member of our Sierra Club and Coffee Club, which are both aligned with two of my biggest hobbies – sustainable living and coffee.
I’ve worked in a few different areas of environmental science in the past. Before starting college, I was an intern at Lacawac Sanctuary and Field Station in Northeast Pennsylvania. During my time there I worked alongside limnologists where we collected and processed lake water samples from across the region. I even spent a few weeks building a brand-new hiking trail that brought visitors to parts of the property they couldn’t access before. Once at Drexel, I was a member of the STAR program (Students Tackling Advanced Research) in Cienfuegos Cuba, where I was part of a collaborative team that studied the ecology, morphology, and biology of Melipona beecheii honeybees at 3 different bee farms in the province. Most recently, I was a co-op at the Philadelphia Water Department’s Compliance Assurance team where I spent most of my time constructing reports the Green Cities, Clean Waters program’s progress.
I picked Willistown Conservation Trust’s Watershed Protection Program for my second co-op because of the fantastic opportunity to study the headwater streams in the Trust’s focal area and the self-guided research aspect that allows the co-ops to dive deeper into an area of interest. Growing up, I spent a lot of time on my local nature conservancy’s land both biking and hiking. Seeing that the Trust has the same goals of land and water preservation, I was immediately drawn in. From the welcoming environment to the ample opportunity to get in the field, I knew Willistown Conservation Trust was somewhere I wanted to be.
You Have Options
Single-use cutlery, food containers, and straws are used for a few minutes and discarded to remain in the environment forever. Even compostable options have limitations. By choosing to refuse these single-use plastics, you can help set a precedent for sustainable alternatives and show others how easy it can be.
When dining out, try bringing your own straw for beverages and reusable containers for your leftovers. If you like getting takeout, try bringing a set of reusable cutlery with you. You can let the restaurant know that you don’t need plastic cutlery or straws.
At the grocery store, avoid plastic packaging when you can by bringing your own container to buy in bulk and refusing to buy products that are unnecessarily wrapped in plastic, like fruit. You can also avoid pre-packaged meat and deli products that are sold in plastic or on polystyrene trays by going to the counter or finding a local butcher that sells unpackaged items. Just remember to bring your own reusable container when you go shopping.
Even though Plastic Free July is coming to an end, saying no to single-use plastic is something we should consider doing every day. If we all pick a few plastic items to eliminate from our daily lives, together we can create a Plastic Free Watershed!
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