Digital Commons Network^™

The 16th Annual Wal Project – Spring Seminar 2013, Kim Mccoy

Watershed Access Lab Projects

Brief overview of the RiverNet Watershed Access program - its history and the achievements of the many participating teachers and students from throughout Southeastern Massachusetts.

Burr’S Pond And The Runnins River Annual Watershed Survey

Watershed Access Lab Projects

For the past twelve years, AP Biology students at Seekonk High School have been required to complete an independent research project to fulfill the Ecology unit of the course during the summer prior to the course. Students must apply what they learned in their readings to a local ecosystem, Burr’s Pond, which is attached to the Runnins River in Seekonk. Students spend time at the pond area during the summer documenting organisms, evidence of population dynamics, animal behavior, trophic levels, nutrient cycling, etc. Students put together a Burr’s Pond Summer Field Research Project Portfolio to be submitted on the first …

The Runnins River Biosurvey Year 5 (2012-2013)

Watershed Access Lab Projects

On October 3rd & 4th Mr. Bonneau and Mr. Wills from Seekonk High School took their Biology II classes out to the Runnins River in Seekonk, MA for the 5th Annual Runnins River Biosurvey.

The Runnins River is approximately ten miles long and over 70% of the length of the river meanders through the town of Seekonk, making Seekonk the town with the greatest impact on the river. What we wanted to see is if the commercial and residential properties in the town had any impact on the river between two given points.

The classes went to both an upstream …

Agawam River Project - 10 Years Later

Watershed Access Lab Projects

The Agawam River Project is a river study project for 8th grade students at St. Margaret Regional School which is located in Buzzards Bay, in Southeastern Massachusetts. The mouth of the Agawam River where the river converges with the Wankinco River and the Wareham River in Wareham, is located approximately 5 km from the school. The headwaters of the river where the water overflows from Halfway Pond in Plymouth, is approximately 15 to 20 km away from the school. The river, ultimately as an estuary system, flows into the Buzzards Bay Watershed. Here, the fresh water of the three converging …

Exstream Ecology: A Survey Of The Rumford River

Watershed Access Lab Projects

The students of Mansfield High School performed a water quality study on the Rumford River on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 in Mansfield, Massachusetts. The study location consisted of one site on the Town of Mansfield Conservation Commission property on Fischer Lane.

The purpose of this study was to introduce benthic macroinvertebrates and their role as indicators for evaluating stream water quality. Students utilized state of the art methods and techniques during all aspects of this study.

The Rumford River is listed on the Environmental Protection Agencies (EPA) National Priority List (NPL). The river was polluted with dioxins, furans and phenols …

Delineation And Characterization Of The Furnace Brook Watershed In Marshfield, Massachusetts: Potential Impact Of Water Supply Extraction, Erik Croll

Undergraduate Review

The Furnace Brook watershed in Marshfield, Massachusetts supplies a coastal community of 25,132 residents with nearly 45% of its town water supply (Marshfield 2012a). As in many other coastal communities, development pressure in Marshfield has increased in recent years, creating a growing demand for freshwater extraction. It has been observed, however, that portions of the stream and Furnace Pond disappear entirely at certain times of year, generally between June and August, depending on the rate of groundwater extraction. This has created a conflict between protecting the designated wetland areas and meeting public pressure for water resources, even within what is …

The Effect Of Hydrochloric Acid Strength On The Nanometer-Scale Dissolution Topography Of Calcite Crystal Surfaces, Jennifer Fruzzetti

Undergraduate Review

The physico-chemical mechanisms by which rock-forming minerals dissolve in natural fluids are controlled by a number of environmental factors. In this study, we investigate dissolution mechanisms by observing how the nanometer-scale surface topography of calcite is affected by the acidity of etching solutions. Here we report atomic force microscope (AFM) observations of calcite crystal surfaces both before and after chemical etching for 10 seconds in 0.01%, 0.1%, and 1.0% HCl solutions. AFM observations show that unetched, freshly-cleaved calcite {10ī4} crystal surfaces are characterized by flat layers separated by steps oriented parallel to calcite cleavage planes. Calcite {10ī4} crystal surfaces etched …

A Greener Disney, Cidalia Pina

Undergraduate Review

Disney brings nature and environmental issues to the forefront with its non-confrontational approach to programming meant for children. This opportunity raises awareness and is relevant to growing environmental concerns. However this awareness is just a cursory start, there is an imbalance in their message and effort with that of their carbon footprint. The important eco-messages that Disney presents are buried in fantasy and unrealistic plots. As an entertainment giant with the world held magically captive, Disney can do more, both in filmmaking and as a corporation, to facilitate a greener planet.