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 12^th 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

As the sun rose over the meadow that was formerly Ashbridge Lake on October 4, the first of our three days of tree planting, I stood and surveyed the planting area that was soon to be home to 300 trees and shrubs and felt a sense of excitement (and some stress) for the event that was about to take place.  Months of effort and planning had gone into making sure the next three days were to go smoothly.  Now, as I stand at the edge of the meadow and gaze at all of the beautifully planted and caged trees I have only one feeling: gratitude.   I was recently taught my first Lenape word: Wanishi (“Wah-ni’-shee”), which is a profession of gratefulness. Used to start every meeting, it feels appropriate to start this post of appreciation for all of the effort that went into this project.

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Thank you to each and every volunteer who came out over the course of the summer to help prepare the planting site –from weedwacking and digging holes,  to planting, caging and watering the trees.  A major thank you to Mother Nature, who was thoughtful enough to break the drought with a gentle rain the day before the planting was due to take place, which made life much easier for the group of hunters who had volunteered to assist yours truly in digging holes for the trees. 

Each planting day was cool, clear, and perfect for all of the labor that took place.  Over 60 incredible volunteers came out over the course of three planting days – families, individual volunteers, friends, coworkers – each day was filled with laugher as friends, old and new, bonded over planting new life into the meadow.  Our fabulous Watershed team was reunited, as past interns and Drexel co-op students returned with friends; enthusiastic freshmen in the Drexel University Biodiversity, Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES) program came out with their fearless leader and professor Dr. Marie Kurz; a local scout family came to work hard; Tree Tenders from Goshen and elsewhere leant their expertise and guidance. Two teachers from Kennett Square school district came out – neither of which knew the other had signed up!  Rain began to fall as the final cages were being placed around the trees, saving us from hauling buckets of water to our new plants.

We could not have done this vital work without the hard work of every single volunteer. Your effort is helping to improve the habitat both on the stream banks and in the channel.  As the roots of each tree grow into the soil, they will stabilize the sediment and slow the rate of erosion.  Over the coming years, the canopy will spread and begin to shade the stream and keep the water cool.  The impact of each tree will improve the water quality in our watershed, and we are excited to monitor the changes that take place over the next several decades.  Already, I am starting to see an improvement to the ecological value of this meadow (before it was filled with invasive canary reed grass and mile-a-minute vine and inhabited by a stunning number of non-native Chinese praying mantis). In the areas that we have cleared since the spring, we are seeing native sedges begin to appear and an increase of butterflies using the area.  I have been observing the wildlife starting to use the space – birds now move in each morning, hopping from tree to tree and exploring the new habitat.  As the birds learn, so do the deer, but the cages that were placed around the trees by volunteers should help to keep them safe from the curious white tails.

The next time you’re talking a walk through Ashbridge Preserve, please take a moment to pause in the planting site.  I hope you feel the same way I do as you look at trees growing in the meadow. We’re already planning the next round of planting, so please watch for announcements if you want to join us!  Also, take a look at the time lapse video we shot over the tree days.

Of course, none of this would have been possible without the generous funding provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and TreeVitalize. A special thank-you goes to REI.  As if the joy of planting trees was not enough, they donated amazing door prizes to raffle off to a lucky volunteer each day!