WILLISTOWN CONSERVATION TRUST

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Road Salt and Its Impact on Fresh Water

January 12, 2021 By Evan Hunt

As winter quickly approaches so does the threat of salt pollution. Since the 1940s, salt has been the number one choice for fighting road ice in the United States. Over the last five years, PennDOT used an average of 844,000 tons of salt per year to keep Pennsylvania’s roads free of ice during the winter months. As effective as salt is at melting ice, it can cause major environmental problems after it washes off roads and into nearby waterways. Scientists have known for a long time that salt can be a serious pollutant in freshwater ecosystems, affecting multiple species of fish, insects, amphibians, and plants. More recent studies have shown that road salt is the main culprit of salt pollution in the northern United States.

According to a USGS survey, 84% of streams in urbanized areas of the northern United States have seen increases in chloride levels attributed to road salt. While 40% of streams have experienced levels that are considered dangerous to aquatic species. Furthermore, 29% of those streams have seen spikes in chloride levels during the winter that would make the water unsafe for drinking. 

Armed with this knowledge, PennDOT and local municipalities have made efforts to limit the amount of salt laid on roadways. PennDOT limits salt treatments to high-traffic areas and dangerous intersections or curves. At the same time, municipalities have started mixing sand in with salt to improve traction and reduce the overall amount of salt used. Unfortunately, these changes might not be enough as private businesses and homeowners still contribute significantly to the amount of salt introduced into the environment. Over-salting of sidewalks and parking lots is far too common since private snow shovelers are understandably more concerned with the safety of pedestrians than the environmental costs associated with using salt. 

However, there are ways to achieve a balance that prioritizes safety while also taking into account the risk of salt pollution. The most straightforward solution could be sweeping up salt from sidewalks after the ice has melted but before a snowmelt or rain event can wash the salt away. Not only does this prevent salt from reaching our freshwater ecosystems but the salt can be reused during the next snowstorm to save some money. Adding salt before snowfall rather than after is another technique that could reduce the amount of salt needed to keep sidewalks free from ice. Another option is to reduce the amount of salt used by cutting it with sand or even beet juice like some Canadian cities have successfully experimented with. All of these methods can be implemented by anyone who finds themselves shoveling snow during the winter.  

Even those of us who do not have any snow shoveling responsibilities can play a big part in addressing this issue. The Izaak Walton League is a national organization that trains citizen scientists to measure the amount of salt in their local streams, especially after snowstorms. This kind of data can help determine the local impact or source of salt pollution. Maybe more valuable, measurements collected by citizen scientists will increase the national dataset used to help scientists and policymakers make decisions about mitigating the effects of our increased reliance on road salt.

For more information about becoming a volunteer citizen scientist, you can visit iwla.org.

Filed Under: Conservation, Lunch & Learn, Science, Watershed

From Tops of Trees to the Base of the Food Chain

October 13, 2020 By Lauren McGrath

There is a chill in the air and the leaves are starting to turn, signaling that fall is here! Have you ever wondered what happens to the leaves that fall every autumn?  When the trees shed their leaves, the leaves continue to play an important role in the environment. They fall onto the land and return the nutrients back into the soil or blow into streams, where they are vital in sustaining our freshwater ecosystems through winter months.  As the leaves gather in our waterways, they get caught on rocks and on sticks and form masses called leaf packs.

Leaf packs are so much more than just bundles of leaves and sticks. They are nutrient rich pockets in the stream that provide cover and food for a wide diversity of stream insects. Raw leaves that enter the stream are hard to for insect larvae to eat, and need to be broken down before they can be consumed.  When leaves enter the waterway, they quickly become coated in a slimy biofilm, a name for a collection of algae, fungi and bacteria, which work quickly to condition leaves and turn them into a more palatable meal for macroinvertebrates. Some insects, like stoneflies, prefer to scrape the biofilm off of the leaves while others, like mayflies enjoy eating the leaf itself! As the leaf is broken down by the biofilm or shredded by insects, nutrients get carried downstream by flowing water and provide sustenance for other parts of the stream. Insects like caddisflies, live just downstream of the leaf packs and collect the floating leaf particles to eat.

Aquatic insects are a discerning group of organisms, and have preferences in what leaves they consume. Just as you and I may not order type of food at a restaurant, not all insects will prefer the same leaves! It has been documented that stream insects prefer native plants to non-native plants, and most insects studied have preferred types of native plants. It is important to have a diverse community of trees and shrubs along our waterways to provide a variety of leaves every fall to feed the aquatic community.

Leaf packs sustain a variety of insects throughout the winter months, and the annual addition of leaves into our headwater streams is critical for the health and survival of the aquatic ecosystem. These leaves feed the insects at the base of the food chain, which in turn feeds the many fishes, birds and mammals that rely on streams to survive.  We can be good stream stewards by planting a diverse community of native trees and shrubs along waterways and leave leaves where they fall to allow the nutrients to be reincorporated into the ecosystem to sustain another generation of life!

You can learn more about leaf packs from our friends at Stroud Water Research Center here!

Stonefly larvae are scrapers or grazers and eat the biofilm off of leave.
Predators exist wherever there is prey!  This dragonfly larva hunts the shredders and grazers in and around the leaf pack, and nutrients from the leaves are transformed up the food chain.

Mayfly larvae are shredders, and prefer to eat leaves which have been conditioned by biofilm.
Leaf packs gathering in Okehocking Run at Rushton Preserve.

Filed Under: Nature, Science, Watershed

Watershed Department Bids Farewell to Drexel Co-ops

August 28, 2020 By Lauren McGrath

Co-ops participating in fish electroshocking research with the Academy of Natural Sciences and Willistown Conservation Trust this summer.

Willistown Conservation Trust (WCT) is proud to participate in Drexel University’s Co-op program. Each year, from April to September, students join our Watershed Department to gain hands on field experience and learn from each of the different departments at the Trust. When Zack and Jules Smith joined the watershed team this spring, the Trust was already in lockdown. The whole team (Lauren, Evan, Zack and Jules) was not able to get together in person, so we met digitally, hoping that each week that we met via Zoom would be the last. Despite the many adjustments that set this co-op cycle apart from previous co-op  experiences, Zack and Jules showed that they had the adaptability of any great field researchers and were able to quickly join in the conversation and meaningfully contribute to the progress of the Watershed Protection Program.

Jules Smith

Jules:

When my co-op at Willistown Conservation Trust began at the beginning of April, I had no idea what to expect but the past few months have been nothing short of spectacular. One of my favorite parts of my co-op was participating in journal club discussions with the watershed team. Each time one of us presented a new topic connected to the work that is done at the Trust. I was continually learning new things, both from the papers we read and from Lauren, Zack, and Evan. Everyone’s willingness and eagerness to discuss such a wide range of science gave me new perspectives that I will carry with me long after my time at the Trust has ended.

The field work I was able to participate in allowed me to develop a deeper appreciation for land conservation and understand the importance of proper preserve maintenance. Tree planting and stewardship days were especially impactful as I gained hands-on experience in caring for native plants. I loved being able to lend a hand in keeping the preserves beautiful for everyone who comes to enjoy them.

Zack Smith

Zack:

Coming into my co-op at WCT I was expecting an experience that was mainly field work based and required working in close proximity to other people, but as the Coronavirus pandemic settled in it was apparent that was no longer going to be the case. This change was confusing at first but ultimately provided a unique co-op experience. The past 6 months have emphasized the importance of flexibility. Though I was eager to start working in person I had to remind myself that times have changed, and I need to be able to adapt to the situation.

This theme carried throughout my time at WCT. The remote work that we did was pretty refreshing and educational. I really enjoyed searching for a report of the week and reading all about a genus or species only to change my mind a few hours later and do it all over again. Our long and meaningful discussions about diversity, equity, inclusion and justice have provided a much different experience than I was expecting. I feel like I have learned a lot about myself, society, and others through these conversations and I am grateful for the safe space we had.

Lastly, the weekly field days in the latter half of the co-op were such a treat and an even better break. Going in and getting that person-to-person interaction while doing physical work on the preserves was rewarding in many ways. Though the co-op didn’t look like I expected, at the end of the day it was an invaluable opportunity that provided many different experiences necessary to growing as a person and a scientist.

Although this summer did not go as anyone on the Watershed Team planned, it was a rich and wonderful experience to be joined by such dedicated and passionate researchers.  The contributions of Zack and Jules have made a strong impact on the department, and all of us at the Trust are excited to see what amazing things are in store for the co-op class of 2020!

Filed Under: Academic Partners, Interns, Co-Ops, Watershed Tagged With: co-op, Drexel University, watershed protection

How to Safely Pick Up Plastic Litter

July 21, 2020 By Lauren McGrath

It is that time of year again – Plastic Free July!  In case you missed our previous blog posts on this topic, you can see them here!

We recognize that trying to reduce our plastic consumption during this period in history is tough – Americans are producing 30% more trash this year than the same period last year, and it seems like everything at the grocery store is wrapped in additional layers of plastic.  There is growing concern that the increase in plastic consumption is translating to a rise in plastic litter, particularly in single use masks and gloves being discarded in parking lots.  This leads to the question:

What can be done about the litter?

If you are interested in picking up litter along a stream bank, road, or around your neighborhood, there are some precautions you need to take to be sure that litter is the only thing you are picking up.

1)            Practice social distancing. If you are participating in a clean-up effort with people outside of your immediate family bubble, than be sure to remain at least six feet apart. If you are going to be in an area that has potential hazards, like along a waterway, be sure that you do go with a partner and stay safe six feet apart!

2)            Wear bright colors. Florescent colors and reflectors will help people to see you doing the important work of cleaning up litter, especially near high risk areas like roads. If you have extra gloves, you can invite them to join you in your efforts!

3)            Wear a mask. If you are in an area where other people might be around, please wear a mask.

Wear bright colors, a mask and gloves.

4)            Wear gloves.  You should always wear gloves when picking up litter!  A pair of disposable nitrile gloves ensures that anything that is transferred from the litter does not collect on your skin. Be sure to practice good glove etiquette and DO NOT TOUCH your face, clothes, exposed skin or water bottle with gloves that have been in contact with unknown litter (here is guide for teaching good glove technique!). It is very important that your gloves are non-permeable and disposable – unfortunately it means generating some waste in order to help reduce waste in our environment.  Your personal safety is the most important thing!

5)            Use trash pickers. If you have access to an extended grabber/reaching tool (like this one), you can use this to pick up garbage and reduce the contact with the potentially contaminated trash. We purchased the grabbers that we are using at the Trust from the Dollar store.  Be sure to sanitize your grabber after using it with hot soapy water or Clorox wipes.

6)            Keep an eye on your surroundings. While you are out cleaning up litter, stay alert and pay attention to your surroundings. This will keep you safe and you may notice beautiful details in your environment, like chicory or other native flowering plants.

Chicory at Ashbridge Preserve.

7)            Wash your hands. As soon as your gloves come off and are properly disposed of in your garbage bag, use hand sanitizer or wash your hands in hot, soapy water.

Evan Hunt and Lauren McGrath social distanced and ready to clean up the stream!

8)            Properly dispose of your collected litter. Check with your local municipality’s recycling and hazardous waste ordinances.

9)            Celebrate your efforts! Every clean-up effort should be celebrated with pictures, a hearty snack and a delicious cold drink to rehydrate after working hard in the July weather!

As always, when you are in the outdoors, remember to check the weather for any rain or excessive heat warning and plan accordingly (you might want to plan on going out in the cooler mornings or evenings), be mindful of boundaries and do not trespass, and drink plenty of water!

Have you picked up garbage during the pandemic? Send your pictures and tips to land@wctrust.org.

Filed Under: Conservation, Watershed

Plastic Free July Tips

July 14, 2020 By Lauren McGrath

Welcome to another year of Plastic Free July! To say that this year is a little unusual would be an understatement, but even with all of the world events taking place, single use plastic remains a major threat to the health of our world.  Even though things are a little different than last year, there are still a number of ways that we can work to reduce our single use plastic consumption!

A good first step is to pick something small to focus on – trying to solve the world’s plastic crisis all at once will feel overwhelming so try to identify single use items that you can replace with reusable options. 

For example, switching single use surgical masks for fabric masks that can be washed and reused is a great way to not only reduce our waste, but to make sure that the front line workers have the equipment they need.  If you are crafty, you can make your own masks, and personalize them to showcase your personality.

If your grocery store does not allow any reusable bags to be used in the store, you can ask that items be placed back into your basket or cart rather than in bags, and you can place your purchased items in bags back at your car. This way, you can ensure the safety of the staff while still reducing the number of plastic bags that are used during your shopping trip.

Cutting back on eating out is a good way to reduce the amount of plastic that is being consumed.  Did you know that food delivery companies like GrubHub saw huge jumps in revenue this year? While I personally loved being able to get my favorite food delivered to my door, I did notice the big increase in non-recyclable plastics in my garbage can. Currently, eating at restaurants is not much better, with the the Center for Disease Control (CDC ) recommending all restaurants to use disposable plates, cups, utensils and even single use condiment packets. This produces far more waste than pre-pandemic dining out, but is considered necessary to reduce the chance of restaurant staff coming into contact with contaminated surfaces.  Set a goal to cook from home more often – maybe even try making your favorite restaurant’s signature dish!

Use reusable water bottles. Switching to a reusable water bottle can save thousands of single use plastic bottles from entering our waterways each year, and it reduces the amount of plastic that you are consuming.  Reusable containers like water bottles or coffee mugs are easy to sterilize and safe to use, with a recent study showing that the coronavirus survives for longer periods of time on plastics than on glass. Hot water and soap are enough to sterilize reusable bottles, so be sure to practice good hygiene and to wash your containers (and your hands) frequently!

Most importantly, remember that every action makes a difference. How are you focusing on reducing your single use plastic? Send us an email and let us know!

Learn more about the Plastic Free July Movement here: Plasticfreejuly.org

WATCH Benefits of Composting and Living a Low Waste Lifestyle

As Plastic Free July wraps up we invite you to reflect on the lessons, experiences, and efforts to go “low waste” during Plastic Free July. Lauren McGrath, Watershed Program Director, will be joined by guest expert Gwenn Nolan of Mother Compost (www.mothercompost.com) to share information about how composting provides environmental benefits, tips for composting at home and waste solutions.

Filed Under: Conservation, Watershed

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