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Causes of deterioration
1.
2.
3.
4.
Humans
Effects agriculture – pesticides and fertilizers in soil and streams
Urbanization and construction – causes runoff. Salt on roadways remains.
Mining. Mostly in PA. coal – bituminous – soft, most abundant – smell sulfur – does not burn
cleanly, cheaper, used early 1800’s. peat – smoky – lots of water, will form lignite under
pressure; impurities – sulfur, smoke; lignite under pressure becomes bituminous in our area;
anthracite – middle PA – shaft mined, most dangerous to mine, WVa.; S + O2 = SO2 sulfur
dioxide (rotten egg smell) SO2 + H2O = H2SO4 (acid rain 5.5-5.0 rain; deterioration of cars,
lowers ph of soil) loss of trees in Canada – lowers ph of soil; smokeless coal is anthracite – deep
mined instead of strip mined. Burning of bituminous coal – no regulations in past (heat homes,
run locomotives, manufacturing soils)
5. Animal waste (1940’s – clean-up Pittsburgh – Mellon’s wife complained about dirty city
6. Industry – h arms wetlands
7. Waste disposal – landfills in wetlands
Watershed Quality
Gauged by index of watershed indicators (IDI)
1. Condition indicators – actual conditions studies – contaminated sediment reflect about 12
actual conditions – big one is sediment
*Marshall Elementary and Middle School – drainage pond contains DDT from Shenot’s Farm –
half life of hundreds of years
-DDT hurt the bald eagles and raptors caused brittle egg shells. Put on endangered species list.
-layer of sediment containing DDT
2. Vulnerability Index Indicators
- show whether human activity produces negative effects on watersheds
-dams and locks (1930’s Ohio and Monongahela Rivers); in past during July and August our Pgh
rivers dried up
- water behind dam-level increases
-water in front decreases, temp. increases
- temperature will get colder – deeper water 16-20 feet deep
- fluctuating water levels affect animals
1999 study of Wetlands – most of wetlands are generally in good health. 23% have serious water quality
problems- 9 mile run – Century III Mall built on slag heap (most polluted stream). 15% have better water
quality than past. One in three have problems still.
PA’s Re-LEAF Program – 1997 – set up to re-establish Riparian Zones of streams (banks). In past, farmers
permitted animals to go to streams for water where they urinated, defecated, and trampled down
plants.
5 major objects of program:
1. Money from conservation groups – county volunteers – planting twigs to build and restore
riparian zone (bank between stream and forest). Restore riparian zones on private and public
lands. Farmers enclose cattle.
2. Conserve existing riparian zone.
3. Public education – why need for riparian zones?
4. Public relations – raise awareness – could do “rails to trails”
5. Collecting data on streams – monitor Brush Creek in Warrendale. Check ph, phosphate.
Functions of Riparian Zone
1. Cools water (salt reduces temp to freeze)
2. Cycles nutrients
3. Benefits humans - ground water recharge
a. Recharges ground water, aquifers being depleted
b. Flood control
4. Removes sediment – to stop it from getting into stream
5. Provides shade – increase oxygen, cools animals