Burr s Pond and Runnins River: An Annual Watershed Survey, 2010

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1 Bridgewater State University Virtual Commons - Bridgewater State University Watershed Access Lab Projects Watershed Access Lab 2010 Burr s Pond and Runnins River: An Annual Watershed Survey, 2010 Recommended Citation Seekonk High School, Seekonk, Massachusetts (2010). Burr s Pond and Runnins River: An Annual Watershed Survey, In Watershed Access Lab Projects. Project 100. Available at: This item is available as part of Virtual Commons, the open-access institutional repository of Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, Massachusetts.

2 Burr s Pond & Runnins River: An Annual Survey

3 Burrs Pond Over the Years Over the past 8 years, SHS AP Biology students have been observing and analyzing Burrs Pond. Students relate their study of ecology to the pond before the school year even begins and have a real life understanding of Ecology

4 Burrs Pond Over the Years Has evolved into an in-depth analysis of the pond s dissolved oxygen levels and the ecological features and organisms around the pond. Over the the years students have observed & documented populations of Muscovy duck, purple loosestrife, mallard duck, snapping turtles and blue heron. Students have gone back to Burrs Pond after learning about it and made improvements to the area such as benches, trails, and walking guides.

5 At the start of each year, students measure the DO at 2 sites using minisonde probes

6 Burr s Pond, Seekonk, MA is: *Part of the Narragansett/Mount Hope Bay watershed *Pours into the Runnins' River, approximately 9 miles long, flows through Seekonk, MA; East Providence & Barrington, RI. *Man Made, high mercury levels & protected by the Commonwealth of MA

7 What is a watershed? Area drained by a stream and all of its tributaries. Any rain that falls within the watershed will pass through the main stream channel. They come in all shapes and sizes Everyone & everything impacts a watershed (houses, forests, towns) Activities that occur on the land or in the waterway of one town will affect the land and waterways of other towns within that watershed. Drinking water is supplied by or has passed through a watersheds

8 Location of Sites A & B Site B Site A

9 65-70% canopy over bridge 2-3.5ft deep with mud & rocks covering bottom and large logs Large plants/ trees around area, smaller plants/bushes/grasses on water s edge Not much plant life in water Slow current moving under bridge towards bulk of pond Site A Description

10 Many species of insects, occasional land animals such as chipmunks, birds, reptiles Brown tinted water Close to residential area and main roads Run-off from golf course and business establishments Open public trails leads to garbage disposal near/in pond Site A Description

11 Site B Description Located near single family housing, lawns, commercial institutions, paved roads, swimming, fishing, canoeing, hiking paths, and a trash dump. No aquatic plants or algae Waterfall is a barrier to fish movement. Trees, bushes, tall grasses & ferns, boulders & rocks, some bare soil at banks

12 50% of the gravel, cobbles, and boulders are embedded in silt, sand or mud. Occasional woody debris. Occasional presence of naturally occurring material. Dark brown water appearance with an oily sheen. Natural water odor. 75% canopy Site B Description

13 Temperature DO mgl DO Comparison Sites A & B 2009 Comparison of sites A & B Temp A Temp B DO A DO B :00:00 13:00:00 14:00:00 15:00:00 16:00:00 17:00:00 18:00:00 19:00:00 20:00:00 21:00:00 22:00:00 23:00:00 0:00:00 1:00:00 2:00:00 3:00:00 4:00:00 5:00:00 6:00:00 7:00:00 8:00:00 9:00:00 10:00:00 11:00:00 12:00:00 Time

14 Comparison of DO Saturation DO saturation at sites A&B Site A DO sat Site B DO sat :00:00 13:00:00 14:00:00 15:00:00 16:00:00 17:00:00 18:00:00 19:00:00 20:00:00 21:00:00 22:00:00 23:00:00 0:00:00 1:00:00 Time 2:00:00 3:00:00 4:00:00 5:00:00 6:00:00 7:00:00 8:00:00 9:00:00 10:00:00 11:00:00 12:00:00

15 Temperature C DO mg/l Site A Over the Years DO Comparison ; 5 pm Temp C DO mg/l Year 0

16 Site A: 24 hr-5 yr Analysis 2006 has the highest initial Oxygen concentration. Most sampled days demonstrate a diurnal curve. Sample days that do not were overcast days.

17 DO mg/l degrees C Site B Over the Years Comparison of Site B Over the Years Site B DO Site B Temp Year

18 DO Conclusions for Site B DO Range: 7.5 mg/l-7.87 mg/l at what time of day? DO Average: mg/l Temperature Range: C C DO does not appear to be dependent on temperature

19 Thank you to all who made this work possible Watershed Access Lab Seekonk Land Trust Principal McGovern