The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, Environmental Science Institute  Summer 1997.  Team Members   Teachers Outreach Correspondence

Provide a forum for Environmental Science Teachers to explore and experience the scientific method through the process of inquiry and investigation of environmental concerns presented at the The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, Environmental Science Institute,  Summer 1997.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Introduction, Problem & Hypothesis Statement
The History of Lake Carnegie
Site Assessment (Map Link)
Background Research Performed
Historical Data
Experiment Design
Data Interpretation and Observations
Conclusion
Environmental Simulation Module (Stella Module)
Extension to School District
Correlation to National Standards
Bibliography
Acknowledgments
 

INTRODUCTION

    Water that flows on the earth's surface is exposed to many microorganism that can cause diseases. Water flowing down streams and into lakes gather biological impurities which include plant particles and animal matter in various states of decay. Upstream releases and exposure to leaking septic tanks and cesspools can also add to the bacterial count of water.

    In 1994-1995, fecal coliform was the leading contaminant most commonly found in excess in water of federal health standards.  Fecal coliforms are bacteria found in the feces of  mammals.  Escherichia coli (E. coli) is the most abundant of a number of coliform bacteria associated with human and animal feces.   The detection of coliforms in water is a signal of potentially harmful contaminates which may cause disease.

    Waters that are polluted may contain several different disease-causing organisms, commonly
called pathogens. Enteric pathogens (i.e., those that live in the human intestine) can carry or cause a number of different infectious diseases. (See Table 3: Pathogens and Swimming-Associated Illnesses). Swimmers in sewage-polluted water could contract any illness that is spread by ingestion of fecal-contaminated water. [1] (AIDS and many other diseases are not carried by enteric pathogens.)

THE PROBLEM

 How does the concentration of fecal coliform in surface runoff water, after a rain event, impact Lake Carnegie?

HYPOTHESIS

The levels of coliforms in Lake Carnegie will increase after a substancial surface runoff event.

 Key Terms:

1.  coliform -  group of bacteria used as indicators of micro biological contamination.
2.  Escherichia coli - (E. coli) a common bacterium found in fecal matter; member of the coliform group.
3.  feces -  waste excreted from the bowels of humans or animals.
4.  non point source pollution - is pollution that comes from a specific source such as an industrial facility or a discharge from a sewage treatment plant.
5. point source pollution - is pollution that comes from from less defined sources and is most often carried to streams by storm water runoff.
6.  surface runoff -Precipitation that washes materials from land to body of water.
7.  watershed -  an area of land that drains into a specific body of water.

    The construction of Lake Carnegie began in the year  1902.  The lake is named after Andrew Carnegie. Howard  Russell Butler (Princeton Graduate of 1876) a dear friend of Andrew's approached him in regards to funding the project.  At this time much of the land was swamp and densely covered with swamp growth.  Cleaning and excavating the land consumed the entire year of 1905 and 1906. The dam was completed during the fall of 1906.  The dam is located at the north end of the Millstone River and Stony Brook.

    Lake Carnegie was officially presented to Princeton University President, Woodrow Wilson on December 5, 1906, by Andrew Carnegie.  Lake Carnegie was given to the University in an effort to promote clean, wholesome sports such as rowing.  In addition, the lake's intent was to provide  the entire community with recreational activities such as fishing, sailing and ice skating.  Lake Carnage was the first man-made lake built in the United States specifically for collegiate rowing.  The Lake is considered very suitable for major inter-collegiate rowing events and olympic trial races because of the lack of any strong current.  The only changes made to the lake itself took place in 1927 (first dredging), 1936 (weeds were cut), 1937-38 (dredged), and 1972 (dredged).

    Carnegie Lake is 3.5 miles long and drains an area of 47.8 square miles.  It is located on the Millstone River approximately one-half mile east of Princeton  Borough.  The east side of the lake is bordered by Delaware and Raritan Canal.  It is located within the Piedmont Plain, this area is described as steep topographic gradients and drainage, consisting of undulating ridges and nearly level to gentle slopes.  Although the lake is entirely within Piedmont the watershed for the lake stretches into the Coastal Plain.

    On June 28, 1991. Lake Carnage was added to the National Register of Historic places as a conservation measure.  There have been extensive studies done on Lake Carnegie water quality over the last 90 years by Princeton University.

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• Mapping information
• Phone and personal interviews & tour of Stony Brook Regional Sewage Authority
• Global Rivers Environmental Education Network (Green) Workshop
• Library Searches
• Internet Searches

     Surface Water Quality Criteria for FW2 Waters [3] were also evaluated to determine monitoring sites and data. The following represents the Tributaries to Lake Carnegie.
 
 
 Stony Brook At Princeton NJ
Additional information of Stony Brook can be viewed from these links

The US Geological Survey

Historical Stream flow Daily Values Data provided by USGS Mapping Information Server
 
Map of region surrounding station provided by USGS Mapping Information Server
 
Station Information provided by USGS Mapping Information Server
 

Station  Number	Latitude (deg,min,sec)	Longitude  (deg,min,sec)	County	Basin  Name	Drainage  Area (miles 2)	Datum  (ft above  NGVD)
01401000	401959	0744056	Mercer	Raritan	44.50	62.23

 

Information obtained from Stony Brook Regional Sewage Authority indicates that the levels of Coliform for 1996 & 1997 were as follow:
 

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    Our team has applied the Stella  software to monitor the levels of coliform in the lake under various conditions. This module allows students to interact simulating various surface runoff situation.

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Materials-

Bottles of Coliscan Easygel, petri dishes, permanent marker, goggles, plastic gloves, ice cooler

Procedure-

• Assess site geographically by visiting site and analyzing maps.
• Obtain and analyze historical data from government and local authorities.
• Obtain test kits suitable for analysis.
• Collect samples prior to and after rain events.
• Place 3 ml water from the lake into the bottles of Coliscan Easygel.
• Pour the medium/inoculum mixtures into correctly labeled petri dishes.
• Incubated samples at room temperature for 48 hours.
• Analyze and interpret data

 This method was chosen because is was the easiest method to use that would provide reliable data. The method allows for incubation in 48 hours with or without the need for incubators and  autoclaves.
 

1.  PURPLE SURFACE COLONY (HAZY HALO)                       6.  BLUE-GREEN SUBMERGED COLONY
2.  PURPLE SUBMERGED COLONY                                             7.  WHITE SURFACE COLONY
3.  PINK SURFACE COLONY                                                         8.  WHITE SUBMERGED COLONY
4.  PINK SUBMERGED                                                                    9.  WHITE SPREADER ON PLATE BOTTOM
5.  BLUE-GREEN SURFACE COLONY (WHITE HALO)          10. PINK SPREADER ON SURFACE

Note that submerged colonies are smaller than the same type growing n the exposed surface and color and appearance are different when viewed over different backgrounds.

# 1 & 2 are typical E.coli (fecal coliform) colonies which produce both galactosidase and glucuronidase and
are purple due to the combination of the pink and blue-green chromagens that indicate the presence of the respective enzyme.

# 3 & 4 are typical general coliforms (Genera Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Klebsiella) which produce glactosidase and are therefore a pink colony color.

# 5 & 6 are characteristics of less common bacteria that produce glucuronidase only  and are therefore a blue-green colony color.

# 7 & 8 are characteristic of bacteria that produce neither galactosidase nor glucuronidase and therefore are a white or colorless colony.
 
# 9 &10 are spreaders and can each be counted as only one colony.

Bacteria that appear like # 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 are likely members of the family Enterobacteriaceae, but are not technically coliform because they do not produce the characteristic enzyme pattern.  However, these types include such important genera as Proteus, Salmonella and Shigella and should not be ignored as insignificant.

Coliform bacteria are members of the family Enterobacteriaceae and are defined as gram negative, non-spore forming rods which ferment the sugar lactose with the evolution of gas and acids.  Many coliforms are normally found in the soil and water and do not necessarily indicate the presence of fecal contamination, but Escherichia coli is the primary bacterium in the mammalian (including humans) intestinal tract and its presence in food or water indicates fecal contamination.  Therefore, E. coli is the coliform that is used as an indicator for fecal contamination.  Other coliform genera include Citrobacter, Enterobacter and Klebsiella.

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    The coliform data obtained before and after it rained seem to indicate that their is an increase of total coliforms in Lake Carnegie as a result of the surface runoff.   The data seems to indicate that for this particular rain event that coliform doubled after the thunder storm.  Although the field test kits used proved to be reliability and consistent they should be considered qualitatively since this is not an EPA approved protocol.

Previous historical data and information gathered seems to indicate that the lakes acts like a buffer to the surface runoff.  Mainly because of the large volume of water the tributaries run into.  We noticed from the NJ Department of Environmental Protection and Power data that on an average Stony Brook contained high concentrations of Coliforms before entering Lake Carnegie, meanwhile the effluent concentrations were lower. The coliform contributions from the Millstone River and Stony Brook relative to the difference stream flow volume after the rain event data from the Historical Stream flow Daily Values Data needs to be evaluated.  We were not able to do so because the USGS data base was in the process of being up graded. However,  the volume of the lake is large enough to dilute average stream flow.

Discussion  Our experiment to a small degree validates the hypothesis in that the levels of fecal
coliform were different after the rainfall.  However, we know that several factors could have contributed to this.  If time were permitted, we could have perform the following to give more
precise measurements.
1).  Water analysis and the dynamics of the lake (i.e. plants, animals and other life form).
2).  Site analysis ( surroundings of the lake, i.e. housing, businesses, and trees).
3).  Physical and chemical water analysis ( pH, turgidity, nutrients, and temperature over a period
      of  time.)
4).  Environmental watch ( to determine the activity conducted around the lake.)
 
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Each participant conducting this research will develope a project in there respective locations. Modifications will be made as needed.  Information gained through the Institute, the Internet, GREEN, GLOBE and Stella workshops will be implemented throughout the research.
 
 
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1. 1. Cabelli, V. Health Effects Criteria for Marine Recreational Waters. EPA-600/1-84-004, 1983. p. 7.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Emerging Infectious Diseases.  Vol. 1 No. 2 April-June 1995
3.  Department of Environmental Protection and Power, Princeton, New Jersey.
4. Global Rivers Environmental Education Network Workshop (GREEN)
5. Stella Workshop (Stella Module)
6. Stony Brook Regional Sewage Authority, Princeton, New Jersey.  Phone Interview, Site interview and tour.
7.  Stony Brook-Milstone Watershed Association Presentation  Princeton, New Jersey.
8.  U. S. Geological Survey Princeton, New Jersey.

Denise (Stella)
Larry & Lisa  from GREEN  &  Supplies (Coliscan Easygel)
Mark Johnsson (WWNF)
Paul Burchard-computer
Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation Environmental Science Institute

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