Hydrologic and Water Quality Assessment of Miller Run: A Study of Bucknell University’s Impact

Human development causes degradation of stream ecosystems due to impacts on channel morphology, hydrology, and water quality. Urbanization, the second leading cause of stream impairment, increases the amount of impervious surface cover, thus reducing infiltration and increasing surface runoff of precipitation, which ultimately affects stream hydrologic process and aquatic biodiversity. The main objective of this study was to assess the overall health of Miller Run, a small tributary of the Bull Run and Susquehanna River watersheds, through an integrative hydrologic and water quality approach in order to determine the degree of Bucknell University’s impact on the stream. Hydrologic conditions, including stage and discharge, and water quality conditions, including total suspended solids, ion, nutrient, and dissolved metal concentrations, specific conductivity, pH, and temperature, were measured and evaluated at two sampling sites (upstream and downstream of Bucknell’s main campus) during various rain events from September 2007 to March 2008. The primary focus of the stream analysis was based on one main rain event on 26 February 2008. The results provided evidence that Miller Run is impacted by Bucknell’s campus. From a hydrologic perspective, the stream’s hydrograph showed the exact opposite pattern of what would be expected from a ‘normal’ stream. Miller run had a flashier downstream hydrograph and a broader upstream hydrograph, which was more than likely due to the increased amount of impervious surface cover throughout the downstream half of the watershed. From a water quality perspective, sediment loads increased at a faster rate and were significantly higher downstream compared to upstream. These elevated sediment concentrations were probably the combined result of sediment runoff from upstream and downstream construction sites that were being developed over the course of the study. Sodium, chloride, and potassium concentrations, in addition to specific conductivity, also significantly increased downstream of Bucknell’s campus due to the runoff of road salts. Calcium and magnesium concentrations did not appear to be impacted by urbanization, although they did demonstrate a significant dilution effect downstream. The downstream site was not directly affected by elevated nitrate concentrations; however, soluble reactive phosphorus concentrations tended to increase downstream and ammonium concentrations significantly peaked partway through the rain event downstream. These patterns suggest that Miller Run may be impacted by nutrient runoff from the golf course, athletic fields, and/or fertilizers applications on the main campus. Dissolved manganese and iron concentrations also appeared to slightly increase downstream, demonstrating the affect of urban runoff from roads and parking lots. pH and temperature both decreased farther downstream, but neither showed a significant impact of urbanization. More studies are necessary to determine how Miller Run responds to changes in season, climate, precipitation intensity, and land-use. This study represents the base-line analysis of Miller Run’s current hydrologic and water quality conditions; based on these initial findings, Bucknell should strongly consider modifications to improve storm water management practices and to reduce the campus’s overall impact on the stream in order to enhance and preserve the integrity of its natural water resources.

Battlefield of Antietam, Sharpsburg, Maryland and vicinity, ca. 1862 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map: Map of the battlefield of Antietam, prepared by Wm. H. Willcox, Top. Off. & A.A.D.C. on Brig. Genl. Doubleday's staff from actual surveys ; J.G. Shoemaker, engr. 4th ed. It was published ca. 1862 by Lith. of P.S. Duval & Son. Scale [ca. 1:13,300]. Covers area in Washington County, Maryland including the Sharpsburg region and the Antietam National Battlefield. The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Maryland State Plane Coordinate System (in Meters) (Fipszone 1900). All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as roads and streets, houses, fences, vegetation, drainage, and artillery and Union and Confederate troop positions, and more. Relief shown by hachures. Includes inset: [Map of the environs of Sharpsburg]. This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps of the Civil War from the Harvard Map Collection. Many items from this selection are from a collection of maps deposited by the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States Commandery of the State of Massachusetts (MOLLUS) in the Harvard Map Collection in 1938. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features, in particular showing places of military importance. The selection represents a range of regions, originators, ground condition dates, scales, and purposes.

Shiloh, or, the Tennessee campaign of 1862 : written especially for the Army of the Tennessee in 1862 /

"By T. Worthington"--Cover.

Annals of the Army of the Cumberland : comprising biographies, descriptions of departments, accounts of expeditions, skirmishes, and battles ; also its police record of spies, smugglers, and prominent rebel emissaries ... and official reports of the battle of Stone river and of the Chickamauga campaign /

Added t.-p., engraved.

Two reunions of the 142d Regiment, Pa. Vols. Including a history of the regiment, dedication of the monument, a description of the battle of Gettysburg, also a complete roster of the regiment.

Issued later, with additions, under title: The Declaration of Independence and war history.

The campaign of 1346, ending with the battle of Crecy : an historical drama in five acts : with notes, and memoirs of some of the most eminent characters of the drama /

"Errata"--p. [xx]

The battle of Tippecanoe; historical sketches of the famous field upon which General William Henry Harrison won renown that aided him in reaching the presidency; lives of the Prophet and Tecumseh, with many interesting incidents of their rise and overthrow. The campaign of 1888 and election of General Benjamin Harrison.

Mode of access: Internet.

Hannibal; a history of the art of war among the Carthaginians and Romans down to the battle of Pydna,

Mode of access: Internet.

The battle of Chancellorsville;

Mode of access: Internet.

Robbery under law; or, The battle of the millionaires; a play in three acts and three scenes, time, 1887; treating of the adventures of the author of "Who's looney now?" by John Armstrong Chaloner.

Robbery under law.--The hazard of the die.--The temple of Apollo and the muses.--Ali Baba and the forty thieves.--The prison house.--Aladdin and his wonderful lamp.--Scorpio.--"The play's the thing."--"The shaving of Shagpat."--In re the Paris prize.--"Brer Fox and Brer Rabbit."--Isis unveiled.--Newspaper reviews [etc.]--David-up-to-date.

Free Sherlock: The copyright battle of Baker Street

Sherlock Holmes faces his greatest challenge – since his fight to the death with Professor James Moriarty at Reichenbach Falls. Who owns Sherlock Holmes, the world’s greatest detective? Is it the estate of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle? Or the mysterious socialite Andrea Plunket? Or does Sherlock Holmes belong to the public? This is the question currently being debated in copyright litigation in the United States courts, raising larger questions about copyright law and the public domain, the ownership of literary characters, and the role of sequels, adaptations, and mash-ups.