Porter Creek Water Board Interventions:
Overview description: (Related to the Porter Creek studies) Porter Creek has undergone considerable stress for a small aquatic system. Periodic diversion of the lower system, infusion of nutrients and antibiotics from the fish farm, infusion of salts and pollutants from both the Alaska Highway and the dump area, solid wastes deposited in the creek, , and have all placed stresses on the aquatic system. The creek begins with a spring (Icy Waters Char farm is located adjacent to the spring) flows approximately 4 km past the city dump to the Alaska Highway where the dump road begins. The creek flows down Rabbits Foot Canyon, under the Alaska highway, past the Super A store and along Versluice Meadows. The route of the creek has been redirected so that it flows around the edge of the Meadow, Under Holly street and into Hidden lake which exfiltrates into the Yukon River.
ACES and the Experiential Science classes have been studying the water quality of Porter Creek since 1991. Over that time period we have seen an algal bloom on Hidden Lake and a far more extensive growth of algae on the creek bed. There has been an increase in turbidity and the creek water has gone from clear to brown. Our class continues to conduct standard tests on DO, Nitrates, Phosphates, pH, dissolved solids and turbidity. We also continue to conduct bethic sampling using a Schuber swift water sampling protocol. We have been observing qualitative changes in the system's water quality and we are now undertaking a variety of quantitative measures to establish base line information. Our long term goal is to obtain periodic water samples from the spring that feeds Porter Creek as a baseline for water quality. We have recognized that the sampling tools we have been using to measure DO, Nitrates, Phosphates, pH, and dissolved solids (Hacch kits) do not offer the resolution needed to make compelling arguments regarding water quality. The information we have been able to collect with confidence related to the extend to the algae bloom on Hidden Lake.
Duration of study and numbers involved. Studies on Porter Creek and Hidden Lake began in 1991 and are ongoing through 2013. The studies have involved to Porter Creek Community Association and people who live around Versluice Meadows.
Contact person and more detailed information Bob Sharp and the Porter Creek Community Assn have been the contacts for these two interventions. The reasons for decision were given for the first but not the second intervention.
Overview description: (Related to the Porter Creek studies) Porter Creek has undergone considerable stress for a small aquatic system. Periodic diversion of the lower system, infusion of nutrients and antibiotics from the fish farm, infusion of salts and pollutants from both the Alaska Highway and the dump area, solid wastes deposited in the creek, , and have all placed stresses on the aquatic system. The creek begins with a spring (Icy Waters Char farm is located adjacent to the spring) flows approximately 4 km past the city dump to the Alaska Highway where the dump road begins. The creek flows down Rabbits Foot Canyon, under the Alaska highway, past the Super A store and along Versluice Meadows. The route of the creek has been redirected so that it flows around the edge of the Meadow, Under Holly street and into Hidden lake which exfiltrates into the Yukon River.
ACES and the Experiential Science classes have been studying the water quality of Porter Creek since 1991. Over that time period we have seen an algal bloom on Hidden Lake and a far more extensive growth of algae on the creek bed. There has been an increase in turbidity and the creek water has gone from clear to brown. Our class continues to conduct standard tests on DO, Nitrates, Phosphates, pH, dissolved solids and turbidity. We also continue to conduct bethic sampling using a Schuber swift water sampling protocol. We have been observing qualitative changes in the system's water quality and we are now undertaking a variety of quantitative measures to establish base line information. Our long term goal is to obtain periodic water samples from the spring that feeds Porter Creek as a baseline for water quality. We have recognized that the sampling tools we have been using to measure DO, Nitrates, Phosphates, pH, and dissolved solids (Hacch kits) do not offer the resolution needed to make compelling arguments regarding water quality. The information we have been able to collect with confidence related to the extend to the algae bloom on Hidden Lake.
Duration of study and numbers involved. Studies on Porter Creek and Hidden Lake began in 1991 and are ongoing through 2013. The studies have involved to Porter Creek Community Association and people who live around Versluice Meadows.
Contact person and more detailed information Bob Sharp and the Porter Creek Community Assn have been the contacts for these two interventions. The reasons for decision were given for the first but not the second intervention.