ES students participated in the development of the Yukon Envirothon web site. The following describes the Spook Creek setting.
The Spook basin is the focus of a wide variety of studies that has been the focus of five different Yukon Envirothons. The following provides a collection of information related to Spook Creek, the studies associated with the Envirothon, and an example of a student presentation used in the Envirothon judging process.
Envirothon Student Challenges: This section outlines the challenges associated with studies focused on Spook Creek.
Spook Creek: A natural system that has highly impacted areas all within Spook Creek drainage.
Your Envirothon team will need to divide into groups to be able to complete the tasks set out for the day. The tasks outlined in this booklet make up the field studies that your group will need to complete, and include in your presentation.
Envirothon presentations are organized around the five major themes.
Your team will conduct studies on one day and you will have a number of days, including a weekend, to prepare your presentation. Your team's performance will be judged based on your presentations. Rural schools may be able to arrange a presentation through a video conference or Skype. Your presentation will need to address all the tasks outlined in the journal and will need to identify methods used, your results and your levels of confidence in your observations. You will be given 20 minutes for presentations. The judging panel will then have10 minutes for questions. Results will be given to your schools within a couple of days of the competition presentations. Your team may make use of a variety of media for your presentation. A computer with projector, a variety of software (if you are using an unconventional program for your presentation you should advise the judging team ahead of time), and internet will be available.
Soils Theme: Spook Creek gully: slope stability and problems associated with use of Baxter's Gulch
This set of activities will ask you to conduct a survey of the upper stretch of Spook Creek and assess the area for potential risks associated with activities in the area. Your group will have access to large scale images of the area (on the website), a GPS, a clinometer, and a data booklet. You are asked to provide your own camera in order to identify and locate potential recreational facilities, potential risks to the natural environment, and changes that have occurred to the natural environment.
Task 1 Map possible hazards associated with slides and slope instability through the length of Spook Creek gully. Record and map slope angle along the trail and uphill from the trail identifying possible slide or slump areas. Conduct soil profile analysis in areas where the slope has given way and try to determine the cause of any slide.
Task 2 Identify slips in the area, conduct a broad analysis of the soil types in the slide areas and identify possible causes for the slides. Estimate the dates of the slides. You may wish to use dendrochronology or historical aerial photographs to identify approximate dates of the slides.
Task 3 Map and photograph soil disturbances to the gully. Characterize the nature of these disturbances and identify possible remediation activities.
Water Theme: Water quality from the headwater springs to the confluence with the Yukon River
This set of activities will involve a variety of surveys and interpretation of lab results for the Spook Creek drainage basin beginning at the source springs and ending at the confluence with the Yukon River. You can find the Yukon regulations about water contaminates by first going to the web page for the Yukon Contaminated Sites Regulations: http://environmentyukon.gov.yk.ca/monitoringenvironment/regulations.php
Scroll down until you see “Contaminated Sites Regulation” in the right hand column. That will be a link to a downloadable PDF of the current regulations.
Task 1 Lab results for samples taken from the source spring in May 2008 and May 2009, and the Spook Creek Report are provided in the reports section of the web site. These samples were analyzed for hydrocarbons, (note the smell of hydrocarbons around the source spring and the orange mats of bacterial that have developed in the spring waters). Based on these lab results, you are asked to speculate about possible treatments. (Use your larger scale maps and orthophotos).
Task 2 Your group is to conduct sampling of the aquatic invertebrate populations 50 m below the springs and 5 m above the confluence with the Yukon River. You are asked to interpret the results of these surveys in terms of water quality. (gear: aquatic invertebrate kits)
Task 3 Your group is to conduct turbidity tests along the course of Spook Creek. Speculate about sources of error and variations in these measurements.
Task 4 Your group is to conduct a visual analysis of the entire creek to assess possible sources of water pollutants. If any possible sources are identified, explore ways of addressing such pollutants. Identify sources in both upper and lower reaches of the creek.
Task 5 Observe and record the nature of the creek bed above and below Two Mile Hill road and account for differences.
Task 6 Examine the images to the right showing E coli sampling results. The samples were taken at the outlet of the Walmart storm sewer (on the left) and at the Two Mile Hill road culvert. One indicates significant E coli concentrations. Speculate why and propose a remedy.
Forestry Theme: Forestry, dendrochronology, ground cover and ecosystems
Task 1: Record all invasive species within 1 meter of either side of the two 50 meter transects. (one set by the Alaska Highway and the other set by the Millennium Trail). Use the key to identify the species and count the number of plants for each of the species. Your group is asked to speculate on the source of the identified exotic plants and recommend ways of managing each of the exotics identified.
Task 2 A cutline was made for the power line the ran through Baxter's Gultch. Use tree cut evidence to estimate when the line was created. You may require a number of samples to show data confidence.
Task 3 The gully provides dramatically different ecosystems. Identify and map each ecosystem, and characterize each by the difference in tree growth rates and the tree species present.
Task 4 Study the vegetation within the gully and determine how aspect affects vegetation.
Wildlife theme: Spook Creek as a wildlife area in an urban environment
The Spook Creek gully has been the site of a cow moose calving in the spring over a number of years. The proximity to the airport, with close overhead flights, does not appear to bother the moose.
Task 1. Identify through, scats, tracks, and browse evidence the different animals that use the gully.
Task 2 Outline a process that you could use to more accurately determine wildlife use of the area. Look at the images to the right. They were captured by the motion sensor camera installed in the gully next to a squirrel midden, over three days this past week. 512 images were taken and only a few are shown here. Check the bird use of the midden. Consider the placements of other cameras and comment on how these could be used to assess wildlife use of the area and how humans may impact the area.
Task 3 Identify possible areas of conflict between wildlife and human use of the gully. Please note: a camera will be in place during the Envirothon. Please do not disturb.
Human Impacts Theme: Impacts of urban developments throughout the Spook Creek water course.
This set of activities will involve mapping the current course of Spook Creek from the upper gully to the confluence with the Yukon River, identifying changes to the water course and recording and photographing possible environmental and drainage problems associated with these changes.
Task 1 Identify and photograph features that may be of historical significance within the gully. (gear: Map, clinometer). Indicate on the map where these occur and make notes on each. Discuss possible clean-up possibilities.
Task 2 Identify and photograph features that may be of historical significance within the gully and through the lower reaches of Spook Creek. Indicate locations on the map and make notes and photograph the item. (gear: Map, digital camera)
Task 3 Study the historical geo-referenced images and record the changes to the lower reaches of Spook Creek. (gear: historical maps on Ozi Explorer, 76,88,03) Make notes on observed changes:
Task 4 Map litter along the two transects and record the source of the litter. (where it came from)
Task 5 Conduct a survey of businesses adjacent to the trail and river bank to determine how commercial enterprises use and are stewards of this area. Use this survey to determine plans for the area. Identify the business talked with, and characterize their comments. This photo shows the oil storage at the Dodge dealership. Note the new oil storage and how it has improved the environmental risks associated with oil storage.
Task 6 Review the signage throughout the area including the gully and along the Millennium trail, identify the topics of the panels and identify topics that your group feel should be addressed.
Task 7 Summary: Information your team has collected during the day of study is to be the foundation for a series of recommendations and proposals about the Spook Creek drainage basin. This part of your work should identify areas needing remediation and propose possible courses of action.
The list of files below is a complete student package covering all data collection for the challenge. Check the maps section for a large scale map of the area.
envirothon_journal__2013.docDownload File
total_aquatic_invertebrate_count_with_score.xlsDownload File
forestry.pdfDownload File
spook_creek_judging_form_2013.xlsxDownload File
envirothon through community problem analysis
Spook Creek Information: The information about Spook Creek is organized around three themes: Maps, Reports and land use. Click on the topic you wish to follow.
The Spook basin is the focus of a wide variety of studies that has been the focus of five different Yukon Envirothons. The following provides a collection of information related to Spook Creek, the studies associated with the Envirothon, and an example of a student presentation used in the Envirothon judging process.
Envirothon Student Challenges: This section outlines the challenges associated with studies focused on Spook Creek.
Spook Creek: A natural system that has highly impacted areas all within Spook Creek drainage.
Your Envirothon team will need to divide into groups to be able to complete the tasks set out for the day. The tasks outlined in this booklet make up the field studies that your group will need to complete, and include in your presentation.
Envirothon presentations are organized around the five major themes.
Your team will conduct studies on one day and you will have a number of days, including a weekend, to prepare your presentation. Your team's performance will be judged based on your presentations. Rural schools may be able to arrange a presentation through a video conference or Skype. Your presentation will need to address all the tasks outlined in the journal and will need to identify methods used, your results and your levels of confidence in your observations. You will be given 20 minutes for presentations. The judging panel will then have10 minutes for questions. Results will be given to your schools within a couple of days of the competition presentations. Your team may make use of a variety of media for your presentation. A computer with projector, a variety of software (if you are using an unconventional program for your presentation you should advise the judging team ahead of time), and internet will be available.
Soils Theme: Spook Creek gully: slope stability and problems associated with use of Baxter's Gulch
This set of activities will ask you to conduct a survey of the upper stretch of Spook Creek and assess the area for potential risks associated with activities in the area. Your group will have access to large scale images of the area (on the website), a GPS, a clinometer, and a data booklet. You are asked to provide your own camera in order to identify and locate potential recreational facilities, potential risks to the natural environment, and changes that have occurred to the natural environment.
Task 1 Map possible hazards associated with slides and slope instability through the length of Spook Creek gully. Record and map slope angle along the trail and uphill from the trail identifying possible slide or slump areas. Conduct soil profile analysis in areas where the slope has given way and try to determine the cause of any slide.
Task 2 Identify slips in the area, conduct a broad analysis of the soil types in the slide areas and identify possible causes for the slides. Estimate the dates of the slides. You may wish to use dendrochronology or historical aerial photographs to identify approximate dates of the slides.
Task 3 Map and photograph soil disturbances to the gully. Characterize the nature of these disturbances and identify possible remediation activities.
Water Theme: Water quality from the headwater springs to the confluence with the Yukon River
This set of activities will involve a variety of surveys and interpretation of lab results for the Spook Creek drainage basin beginning at the source springs and ending at the confluence with the Yukon River. You can find the Yukon regulations about water contaminates by first going to the web page for the Yukon Contaminated Sites Regulations: http://environmentyukon.gov.yk.ca/monitoringenvironment/regulations.php
Scroll down until you see “Contaminated Sites Regulation” in the right hand column. That will be a link to a downloadable PDF of the current regulations.
Task 1 Lab results for samples taken from the source spring in May 2008 and May 2009, and the Spook Creek Report are provided in the reports section of the web site. These samples were analyzed for hydrocarbons, (note the smell of hydrocarbons around the source spring and the orange mats of bacterial that have developed in the spring waters). Based on these lab results, you are asked to speculate about possible treatments. (Use your larger scale maps and orthophotos).
Task 2 Your group is to conduct sampling of the aquatic invertebrate populations 50 m below the springs and 5 m above the confluence with the Yukon River. You are asked to interpret the results of these surveys in terms of water quality. (gear: aquatic invertebrate kits)
Task 3 Your group is to conduct turbidity tests along the course of Spook Creek. Speculate about sources of error and variations in these measurements.
Task 4 Your group is to conduct a visual analysis of the entire creek to assess possible sources of water pollutants. If any possible sources are identified, explore ways of addressing such pollutants. Identify sources in both upper and lower reaches of the creek.
Task 5 Observe and record the nature of the creek bed above and below Two Mile Hill road and account for differences.
Task 6 Examine the images to the right showing E coli sampling results. The samples were taken at the outlet of the Walmart storm sewer (on the left) and at the Two Mile Hill road culvert. One indicates significant E coli concentrations. Speculate why and propose a remedy.
Forestry Theme: Forestry, dendrochronology, ground cover and ecosystems
Task 1: Record all invasive species within 1 meter of either side of the two 50 meter transects. (one set by the Alaska Highway and the other set by the Millennium Trail). Use the key to identify the species and count the number of plants for each of the species. Your group is asked to speculate on the source of the identified exotic plants and recommend ways of managing each of the exotics identified.
Task 2 A cutline was made for the power line the ran through Baxter's Gultch. Use tree cut evidence to estimate when the line was created. You may require a number of samples to show data confidence.
Task 3 The gully provides dramatically different ecosystems. Identify and map each ecosystem, and characterize each by the difference in tree growth rates and the tree species present.
Task 4 Study the vegetation within the gully and determine how aspect affects vegetation.
Wildlife theme: Spook Creek as a wildlife area in an urban environment
The Spook Creek gully has been the site of a cow moose calving in the spring over a number of years. The proximity to the airport, with close overhead flights, does not appear to bother the moose.
Task 1. Identify through, scats, tracks, and browse evidence the different animals that use the gully.
Task 2 Outline a process that you could use to more accurately determine wildlife use of the area. Look at the images to the right. They were captured by the motion sensor camera installed in the gully next to a squirrel midden, over three days this past week. 512 images were taken and only a few are shown here. Check the bird use of the midden. Consider the placements of other cameras and comment on how these could be used to assess wildlife use of the area and how humans may impact the area.
Task 3 Identify possible areas of conflict between wildlife and human use of the gully. Please note: a camera will be in place during the Envirothon. Please do not disturb.
Human Impacts Theme: Impacts of urban developments throughout the Spook Creek water course.
This set of activities will involve mapping the current course of Spook Creek from the upper gully to the confluence with the Yukon River, identifying changes to the water course and recording and photographing possible environmental and drainage problems associated with these changes.
Task 1 Identify and photograph features that may be of historical significance within the gully. (gear: Map, clinometer). Indicate on the map where these occur and make notes on each. Discuss possible clean-up possibilities.
Task 2 Identify and photograph features that may be of historical significance within the gully and through the lower reaches of Spook Creek. Indicate locations on the map and make notes and photograph the item. (gear: Map, digital camera)
Task 3 Study the historical geo-referenced images and record the changes to the lower reaches of Spook Creek. (gear: historical maps on Ozi Explorer, 76,88,03) Make notes on observed changes:
Task 4 Map litter along the two transects and record the source of the litter. (where it came from)
Task 5 Conduct a survey of businesses adjacent to the trail and river bank to determine how commercial enterprises use and are stewards of this area. Use this survey to determine plans for the area. Identify the business talked with, and characterize their comments. This photo shows the oil storage at the Dodge dealership. Note the new oil storage and how it has improved the environmental risks associated with oil storage.
Task 6 Review the signage throughout the area including the gully and along the Millennium trail, identify the topics of the panels and identify topics that your group feel should be addressed.
Task 7 Summary: Information your team has collected during the day of study is to be the foundation for a series of recommendations and proposals about the Spook Creek drainage basin. This part of your work should identify areas needing remediation and propose possible courses of action.
The list of files below is a complete student package covering all data collection for the challenge. Check the maps section for a large scale map of the area.
envirothon_journal__2013.docDownload File
total_aquatic_invertebrate_count_with_score.xlsDownload File
forestry.pdfDownload File
spook_creek_judging_form_2013.xlsxDownload File
envirothon through community problem analysis
Spook Creek Information: The information about Spook Creek is organized around three themes: Maps, Reports and land use. Click on the topic you wish to follow.