On March 13, students in Mrs. Melissa Busler’s 7th grade science class at St. Luke Lutheran School in Cabot, Butler County  were treated to a presentation by guest speaker Shaun Busler, biologist and GIS Professional from Stream Restoration Incorporated and Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition volunteer.

Shaun spoke to the class about mining, reclamation, and abandoned mine drainage. Mrs. Busler’s students had been in a unit of study on freshwater and ways it can become polluted. It was the perfect opportunity for Shaun to visit the class and share his firsthand experiences with combating AMD.

Shaun shared a lot of great information with the 7th graders on why we need mining, the differences in how mining is currently performed compared with mining in the past, how AMD forms and how it can be treated by using either active or passive treatment systems (and what those differences are).

He also talked about acid mine drainage problems across the globe, water quality tests and data to determine if a system is working to clean the water, the work of the Coalition in the Slippery Rock Creek Watershed area, and how reclaimed minerals can be repurposed for things like dyes and pigments in ceramic.

Shaun enjoyed his time spent in the classroom and was impressed by the ability of the students to answer many of his questions.

The 7th graders are looking forward to a spring field trip visit to Lutherlyn, where they will use water testing kits at a stream site near a closed coal mine on Lutherlyn's property.

As in much of PA, the mine was not sealed properly and the result is constant pollution that threatens life in the nearby stream.

A passive treatment system has been installed to remove the pollution. Students will use water testing kits to investigate the chemistry of the mine water as it passes through the system.

For more information on programs, initiatives, upcoming events and how you can get involved, visit the Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition website.

(Reprinted from the March Catalyst newsletter from the Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition. -- Click Here to sign up for your own copy.)

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[Posted: March 19, 2020]

3/23/2020