Spring 2004 Project Final Reports

Woodland Montessori Middle School

We tested a watershed from the top of a mountain in Black Rock Forest all the way down through Cornwall, to the Hudson River. We tested the DO, phosphates, nitrates, and pH, but we are not recording the DO because the readings were unusually high, and we suspect that they were defective tests. At the top of the mountain, the water was more acidic, probably because of acid rain. At the bottom of the mountain the water was more basic. Our phosphate readings were either good or excellent. All of the nitrates were either good or excellent except for two sites; by the Middle School and the Hudson River. This was probably because of fertilizers used on the grass and agricultural run-off. We could not enter all of the data for the water that we collected and later tested, so we entered the Hudson River site information. SOURCE PHOSPHATES NITRATES pH Tamarack Pond 2.3 .3 5.4 Sphnagnum Pond .41 2.3 5.8 Two Gates .61 2.3 6.2 Boulevard 2.88 2.66 6.8 Cornwall Middle School .64 5.2 7.3 Mouth .42 2.8 7.8 Hudson .47 4.2 7.9 Based on these tests, we have concluded that the water is fairly healthy near us. We have also done other research looking at salamanders and insects found in the water. We have also determined, based on the findings, that the water is healthy.

High School Lucian Blaga Constantza / Romania

Shikellamy High School

Our class was surprised to find the water quality of the Susquehanna River to be considered "good". pH 7.5 DO 5.1 ppm Nitrates less than 0.2 ppm Phosphates 2 ppm Temp 17 degrees C We really enjoyed this project and intent to increase our participation in the future. Happy Testing