Hydrogeochemical Processes and Water Quality Assessment of Five Penns Creek Headwater Streams

Elaine Langone Center, Terrace Room

A detailed study of water analysis was performed on five headwaters streams of Penn’s Creek, a tributary of the Susquehanna River. The five streams are Henstep, Coral Run, Lick Run, Green Gap, and Little Weikert and are located in Bald Eagle State Forest of the Valley and Ridge Province. The focus of this study includes an assessment of water quality of each individual stream and their similarities and differences. Questions such as: 1) how do the geomorphology and the vegetation impact these streams? 2) How can similarities and differences be identified? 3) How can the geochemistry of the stream bed sediments be linked to the water quality? To answer these questions, physical and chemical as well sediment and hydrology were measured and analyzed. The collection of this data was done using a flow meter, YSI multi-parameter, a spectrophotometer, and an ion chromatography system (ICS). In addition, a sonde was deployed at each headwater simultaneously. Along with this data, soil samples were analyzed to further explain how the water chemistry and biology interact. The study is ongoing and monitoring is still taking place in all these streams.