Proctor's Kidney (The Pond)

Eric Bonewald

Group 2: Will and James

General Purpose:

It it our job to hold its beauty

The Campus Pond Assessment is one that if performed yearly by the AP Environmental Science classes to determine the water quality and the health of the our campus pond. We all know the pond is there, but do we really know why and how important it is? The pond is the center of the campus watershed, and our main ecosystem. The pond is the holding site for drainage that comes all throughout campuses storm drains and off of the beloved turf fields, before it is funneled out onto the journey to a larger watershed, the Blackwater river. It is our job to sample and test this water before it can potentially become a future problem on campus 

or downstream.

Materials:

• Net (2)
• Sampling bucket
• Small container for Macro-invertebrates
• Magnifying glass
• Spork (2)
• Eye dropper
• Macroinvertebrates ID sheet
• Pond life book
• Camera phone for pictures and notes
• Beaufort scale (Wind speeds)
• Thermometer
• Mechanical Abiotic tests (dissolved oxygen)
• Chemical Abiotic tests (pH, phosphate, turbidity)

Sampling for macro-invertebrates

Methods:

One of the major methods we used for sampling of Biotic and Abiotic life in the pond was splitting up into six groups. The first 5 groups were spread out around the pond and group six was located near the maintenance shed as shown. To keep a consistent measurement on all of the components of the assessment we stayed in the same groups and located ourselves in the same spot every day to eliminate as many human errors as possible. We started a day of sampling with observations such as wind, time of day and weather. Next we sampled the Abiotics (dissolved oxygen, pH, phosphate, turbidity and temperature) so that we could get accurate readings on our tests before the water became stirred up from the biotic and macroinvertebrate sampling. The final sampling method was the technique used to sample the pond life with the nets. By taking multiple strokes with the net just slightly grazing the bottom, we had accurate measurements of the life in that part of the pond after sorting through and looking for creatures in the white sampling bucket. (This step was to be repeated as many times as possible.)

This picture relates each site to the methods we used and the general narrative

General Narrative:

Site 2 nestled in the trees

Will, James and I constructed site 2. Every day we would meet at our site that was hidden in the trees of the northwest corner of the pond where the turfs drainage flows into the pond. This spot was where the testing happened, both biotic and abiotic. We started a day of sampling with observations such as wind, time of day and weather. Next we sampled the abiotic (dissolved oxygen, pH, phosphate, turbidity and temperature) so that we could get accurate readings on our tests before the water became stirred up from the biotic and macroinvertebrate sampling. With every day we were able to learn more about sampling and how the weather patterns affect the abiotic variables. I can honestly say I have a greater understanding of the changes our pond goes through in the matter of hours sometimes. These weather patterns were taken down with the abiotic data from site 2.

Data tables:

The abiotic data is listed below. 

10/22/15

10/23/15

10/26/15

The biotic life data is listed below.

Class data

Analysis:

Throughout the last week the data that had 
been collected has been reliable and true.

The abiotic data has had little change throughout the testing periods while the biotic data and macro-invertebrate numbers had fluctuated by the variables we could not necessarily control, such as weather, wind and time of day. Even these small weather patterns make a huge difference in what types of critters come out to play for the day. We had been seeing a slowly decreasing diversity index but if I am not mistaken this year it has started to rise again. The lowest year for the diversity index that I have a good consensus on was 2012 with an index of around 4. This was because of the construction taking place not far from the pond, the new synthetic turf fields. (picture on the right taken by Proctor Academy athletics) The diversity index had been slowly decreasing year to year but this year it has taken a turn. The pond still isn't in a place where it has in the past but it is in good shape. I know as scientists we never want to say it, but human error can always be a factor wether it be adding the numbers or sampling. The diversityindex could bee slightly off for this year because maybewe did not get an an accurate read on the pond life, or maybe the multiple hard frosts that we had in the middle of October started to shut things down in the ponds ecosystem and greeting ready for the hard, long and cold New England winters.

As we do not need to necessarily worry about the ponds health we should keep and eye out and maintain sampling and testing to see when things change so that we as the Proctor community can change and help out.

And of course, the pond is healthy enough to freeze and skate on this winter.

Conclusion:

By spending the time in the field and crunching the numbers we have concluded that the Proctor pond is healthy. We know this from the days of both biotic and abiotic sampling. Even though the diversity of the pond is decreasing it doesn't mean that the pond is necessarily unhealthy, is just means that over time it has been becoming less healthy. By analyzing the numbers and data from previous years we can see how different surrounding environment (like the construction of the turf in 2012 and the diversity index plummeted) and weather show a major factor in the ponds day to day health or its health in the long run.

I do believe this was a beneficial week of class because we can all relate to the pond being a center point of our campus. Even if you don't pay attention to it and can't see the real beauty while you walk to class, it doesn't mean we don't affect it by what we do or what the weather does but we should care about its health. We should care because of whatever happens to the pond, it shows us on a small scale what can happen over time and who knows, maybe a small community pond could be foreshadowing for a larger scale (global) problem to come.

For this year the pond stays healthy!

All pictures by Eric Bonewald
Turf picture by Proctor Academy Athletics

Day 2 of Playing in the Pond

Ahhh, the Proctor pond, the center of our campus, a gathering place, a landmark to give directions. This beautiful oasis is most importantly the center of our campuses ecosystem. Everything we do around campus leads to the pond, the turf field, storm drains in the roads and sidewalks and roof runoffs. The oil from cars, the gum we spit into the storm drain, the turf pellets that find there way off of the synthetic turf may all end up in the pond and playing a part in the ponds story.

Runoffs into the Proctor pond

Drainage pipes such as these run into the pond throwing who knows what into our ecosystem, we need to get to the bottom of this and how they may affect our beloved pond.




For the last two days we have been investigating the life and health of our pond by field testing and sampling for pond life (biotic) and sampling things such as water temp, ph, phosphate and turbidity (abiotic).

Today (10/22/15) was the first day of sampling the pond for abiotics. It was very cloudy at the time of 11:30 and a previous rain shower earlier in the morning. Wind was non existent and a temperature of about 60 degrees fahrenheit. We tested for Turbidity: approximately 5, Phosphate: 1.5, and PH: 6.5. All of the readings today were at a healthy stage but what was surprising was the biotic life in the
pond.

This was taken on 10/20/15

Because of the weather I believe the "creatures" didn't want to come out and play. The previous sample day we were catching tadpoles, salamanders, frogs, and many nymph species. Today on the overcast cloudy day we caught one frog, one water boatman and a couple small snow fleas. I have concluded that the weather does play a major role in the diversity of what we see in our pond on campus.














I hope to see one more warm sunny day that we can sample on so that we can get one more set measurements on all of the biotic life before the pond freezes over for the winter and it turns into a hockey rink.

Yes we have found evidence of direct human interactions with the pond.

All photography taken by Eric Bonewald

Swimming The Local Water Shed

On the morning of Friday September, 25th after a long assembly our D block class piled into the crowded Proctor mini bus and headed off for our first field trip of the year. Alan was taking our class to "swim the watershed." We had not been on the mini bus for long before we had come to our first of three stops belonging to the Merimack Valley watershed. (Or as we know it to a smaller scale, the Blackwater River.) We pulled into a dirt road and pulled of onto a parking area along side the northern rail trail. Besid the bus was a narrow dirt trail belonging to Proctor that we entered to find an open area along side the Blackwater river where our class gathered and joined to talk about where we were and why we were here. Alan began to slowly walk into the cool water and invited the class to join. It was a cooler day but the sun was still shining through the trees canopy but the section of river was still somewhat shaded. The slow moving, dark water was not very inviting on a cool fall day but I decided to interact and go in for myself.

Once time was spent learning the use of the equipment we had brought along with us we were able to start gathering samples of water to test the Air Temperature, water temperature, PH, dissolved oxygen  and the Turbidity.

Air Temperature: 13.8*C
Water Temperature: 13.9*C
PH: 7, Neutral
Dissolved Oxygen: 7mg/L
Turbidity: 0


We then had a conversation about the contaminants in the river, what can live there (Such as the Stonefly Nymph we caught) and also what variables can change the rivers depth, Temperature, PH and Turbidity.

While making our way back to the mini bus Alan let us in on a little secret as to why its called Blackwater. "It's because of all of the black algae that thrives in the river." Shhhhh.

We next headed North East to the corner of Andover towards Eagle Pond. While following Route 11 we concluded the river follows the road. Well actually it the other way around saying that the glacier carved this landscape before we could even imagine roads. We were instructed by Alan while traveling up stream on Route 11 to think about the ABC DEE's of our first stop on the water shed. A, which stands for abiotic, or non-living things. B, for biotic, or living organisms. C, for cycles. D, for diversity. E, for energy. The last E, for evolution. 








After another short drive we had found ourselves parked along another river, a tributary to Blackwater from Eagle Pond. As a class we were eager to see what awaited us along the banks while some of us continued straight into the water with our bathing suits on. Because of the time spent at our first stop we were not able to stay long, but long enough to encounter some life in this part of the river that we had not seen previously and to take some more measurements.

Here is the life we encountered along with some grass growing in the water.

Mr. Frog

The Mussel

The readings we got from the measurements were similar to that as the first stop. But in addition to the similar readings we had noticed that we were up steam from a bridge that crosses over the river and we began to think. "Our readings could have been different on the down stream side of that bridge because of all of the car oils, antifreeze etc.

Here are our results.

Air Temperature: 15.1*C

Water Temperature: 16.8*C

PH: 7, Neutral

Turbidity: 0

Due to time constraints on lunch we packed up quickly and loaded the mini bus for our journey to the final destination up stream, Pleasant Lake (The resource of the Blackwater river)

And we made it, Pleasant Lake

Here at pleasant lake we were greater with lots of clouds but noticeably the warmest water of all of our stops. Alan simply said, "Look around, we are surrounded and we are in the bottom of this bowl here. Wont things end up collecting in this one body of water then make its way down stream?" I thought to myself yes, the fertilizers for lawns, boat exhaust and oil, people and pets will all find there way into this body of water and cause problems down stream at some point. 

Again because we needed to make it back to lunch in time we took quick measurements and then were back on our way to campus for E block. 

Our results turned out like this. 

Air Temperature: 15*C

Water Temperature: 20.5*C

PH: 7-8, A little above Neutral (More than down stream)

Turbidity: 0

Conclusion: 

This is what Proctor Academy is all about. Experiential learning. I enjoyed the field trip and traveling to the different areas of our local watershed to understand more about our surroundings and resources. Also how everything is so closely connected in nature and that one small thing could lead to a big problem further on down stream and in the future. Growing up as a day student in the area I never understood the process of our local river but now I am able to say that I have learned some valuable points about the living environments around our everyday lives. 

Snapper out of the Pleasant Lake dam!