April 24-25, 2010-VTSSS Collection Days
The VA Trout Stream Sensitivity Study (VTSSS), lead by UVA scientists, is one of the most useful and fun things we do in TU. The purpose of the study is to track the level of pH in our streams. Low pH is caused by acid deposition from rain & snow into our mountain trout streams and their watersheds. TU volunteers will take to the mountains, locate their assigned stream, and the exact spot where the water sample was taken 10 years ago. The location will have a tree with a numbered metal disk, so you know you’re correct. UVA also now has GPS readings and a full set of directions for each of the 445 sites. It’s like a treasure hunt for science. We are sampling pH to keep track of the increase or decrease in acid deposition commonly known as “acid rain.”
We will be collecting these water samples, putting them on ice, taking them to a regional collector who will drive them to Charlottesville and deposit them at the UVA Science lab where senior scientist, Rick Webb, and his team will do the rest. This is the third statewide VTSSS; the first one being over 30 years ago, and the last one in 2000.
It is pretty exciting to be part of the longest running acid rain study in the nation, maybe in the world. If you wish to volunteer, contact your TU chapter coordinator whose name appears below. Streams to be sampled will be distributed through these TU chapter coordinators later this spring. Each chapter coordinator will be given a block of streams and members will be assigned streams by them. Thanks again for your interest in VTSSS and in the preservation of our native brook trout streams.
Chapter coordinator: Kevin Daniels who can be reached at 2educ8rs@gmail.com
Statewide Coordinator, Marcia Woolman mwoolman@crosslink.net
Chapter Projects, Upcoming Activities | jwalls January 12, 2010
