Phase1: The Acquisition of Knowledge For The Cuyahoga River

The first phase of our project was designed to familiarize us with the Cuyahoga River from a chemical and ecological standpoint. By reading articles and viewing videos we saw the plight and the efforts of environmental groups along with communities to restore and preserve the river.

Some river vocabulary

Watershed

Area of land that water flows over and under to reach a river stream or lake.

Water Quality

The overall quality of water as it refers to it's ability to sustain organic life.

Pollution

Impurities in the water quality that pose a harmful threat to the healthy survival of organisms.

Water Quality Index

Overall final grade for the water.

Weighting Factor

Measures the importance of each water quality test.

Q Value

Percentage unit common to all water quality test to measure final quality of the water.

CSO

Combined sewer overflow, the discharge of overflowed sewers into lakes and streams due to rain and inadequate treatment facilities.

Point Source Pollution

Pollution that stems from a single identifiable source such as a factory.

Nonpoint Source Pollution

Pollution without a single source, rather it flows from many parts of a watershed such as fertilizer from lawns.

Then Mrs.lewis invited three speakers from various organizations to speak to us about the river. Jan Ripka from R.A.P.(Remedial Action Plan), Steve Tuckerman from the Ohio E.P.A., and Elaine Marsh president of Friends of the Crooked River. They spoke on the matters concerning the quality and history of the river, the improvements made and those that still need to be made. The three speakers were very interesting and informative, they helped us see the river in the perspective of a lobbyist and from a government agency. When Mrs.Schmiederer spoke on her experience at the corporate level with B.F.Goodrich we learned the problems faced by the industrialist.

Then we did independent research with multiple field manuals and articles involving the water quality tests and the procedure taken to insure their success. We then wrote reports detailing the procedure and the importance or purpose of each individual test. Then we moved onto Phase2...