SRBC Releases Results of Morrison Cove Valley Stream Assessment, Blair, Bedford
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The Susquehanna River Basin Commission this week released its findings from a comprehensive stream assessment of The valley is a 186-square-mile area located in SRBC collected and analyzed data from This report represents the second of a two-phase study of the SRBC selected Morrison Cove for the Year-2 report in part because the valley's largest population center, Roaring Spring, is one of eight areas in the Susquehanna basin currently identified by SRBC as a groundwater potentially stressed area (PSA). A PSA is an area where existing or projected withdrawals or consumptive uses are anticipated to exceed long-term sustainability of the groundwater resource or cause conflicts among users. Swartz said, "These are not ideal water resource conditions for any community. Water shortages are not only a concern regarding supplies, but also the impact on water quality. Raising awareness of the area's water resources will hopefully help policy makers, water managers and the citizens of Roaring Spring make informed management decisions." With regard to the valley's overall water quality conditions, they ranged from "higher" to "poor" with the majority being in the "middle" quality range. Of the samples taken for the Year-2 report, the best water quality was found in middle reaches of Halter Creek and the unnamed tributary flowing into Plum Creek. The most impacted streams included Plum Creek and the headwaters of Halter Creek. Of those and other impacted streams in Morrison Cove Valley, the parameters that exceeded levels of concern most often were nitrate (80 percent), sodium (12 percent), conductivity (4 percent), alkalinity (3 percent) and chlorine (1 percent). Excess nitrates in ground and surface water adversely impact the environment by increasing algal growth, depleting oxygen levels and diminishing aquatic life. Agricultural and lawn fertilizers, animal manure and malfunctioning on-lot septic systems are all potential sources of nitrate in Morrison Cove. Elevated levels in drinking water supplies also can pose human health risks, especially to children and pregnant women. The Martinsburg area in SRBC has been conducting water quality and biological studies of the six major subbasins ( "The Year-2 phase allows the Commission to study particular smaller watersheds in much greater detail and draw attention to them. We select watersheds either because they are areas of concern and would benefit from restoration and management activities, like the The 16-page Year-2 report will be posted online. For more information or a hard copy of the report, contact Ava Stoops, SRBC at 717-238-0423, ext. 302 or by e-mail to srbc@srbc.net. |
10/7/2006 |
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