FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE03-32
June
11, 2003
Contact:
Ian Michaels
(718) 595-6600
Students
To Study Manor Kill Water Quality
Commissioner Christopher O. Ward of the New York City Department of Environmental
Protection announced today that 38 seventh grade students from Gilboa-Conesville
Central School will visit the Manor Kill on Thursday June 12, to examine
water quality in this Catskill stream. The Manor Kill flows into the Schoharie
Reservoir, part of the City’s Catskill reservoir system.
Under the guidance of the Arkville-based Catskill Center for Conservation
and Development (CCCD), the DEP Stream Management Program, and AmeriCorps
members, students will collect Leaf Packs to identify macroinvertebrates,
the aquatic biota that feed on leaves and organic matter in streams and
ponds, and provide food for trout and other local fish.
“An understanding of the importance of water quality is vital for
long-term stewardship of our water resources,” said Commissioner
Ward. “The knowledge gained from fieldwork allows students to make
connections between the classroom and the real world. Student participation
shows the capability of anyone to monitor stream health. It’s rewarding
to see the students get excited about finding stoneflies and mayflies,
which indicate the good water quality found in our Catskill streams."
Leaf Pack is a hands-on water quality study program developed by the
Stroud Water Research Center in Avondale Pennsylvania. A number of science
classes and environmental clubs in the Catskills are using Leaf Packs
to explore biota and water quality in local streams. Once the macroinvertebrates
are sorted, the data will be available at www.stroudcenter.org/lpn. The
students will also perform physical and chemical water testing and record
their results.
After a brief welcome by the DEP and CCCD, the students will collect
the Leaf Packs, physical, and chemical data along the Manor Kill from
8:30 to 2:00PM, including a streamside brown bag lunch.
Directions to the Manor Kill Stream site: NYS Thruway Exit 21 - Catskill.
West on Rt 23 into Prattsville. Right on County Rt. 7/Maple Lane. Take
Maple Lane to 990V. Stream is next to Little League field near West Conesville,
990V. In case of heavy rain, there will be water quality programming in
the classroom.