https://padlet.com/ccambardella/u8i5kgfkgvxf1x58 Research and briefly share about pollution impacting the Bay that will be relevant to your students. en-us 2021-06-14 12:37:06 UTC 2025-10-25 00:52:48 UTC hello@padlet.com ccambardella https://padlet.com/ccambardella/u8i5kgfkgvxf1x58/wish/1604951485 Contrary Creek, a small creek located in Lousia County, VA has been contaminated by old mining sites.  The creek is park of the York River Watershed.  While these mines halted operations in the early 1920s, the remnants of the mines are leaching heavy metals like zinc, copper, and lead into the stream.  The heavy metals are in high enough concentrations that the creek cannot sustain life.  The leaching also causes the water to be very acidic, or have a low pH, which also limits the type of life that can be supported there.  The area is being studied and vegetation is being used to improve the health of the creek.

Sources:
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6983&context=etd
https://www.umw.edu/greatminds/2016/03/31/digging-for-answers/]]> 2021-06-14 12:37:06 UTC https://padlet.com/ccambardella/u8i5kgfkgvxf1x58/wish/1604951485 leslietritt https://padlet.com/ccambardella/u8i5kgfkgvxf1x58/wish/1658286423 Letort Spring Run is famous for it's trout fishing. Letort Spring Run is a 9 mile long tributary of the Conodoguinet Creek. In 2019, a contractor was using a cured-in-place pipe rehabilitation process that led to chemicals, like styrene, being released into the stream. The same contractor was found responsible for pumping raw sewage into the stream. The combination of pollutants led to a large die off of fish. Over 200-250 brown trout and over 60 other small fish were killed. CIPP has been found to leach chemicals into 13 other sites and remain in the environment for at least 3 months.
Sources:
https://www.abc27.com/news/local/carlisle-west-shore/contractor-caused-fish-kill-in-letort-spring-run-dep-says/]]> 2021-07-22 13:07:16 UTC https://padlet.com/ccambardella/u8i5kgfkgvxf1x58/wish/1658286423 https://padlet.com/ccambardella/u8i5kgfkgvxf1x58/wish/1658527868 Amanda Schulte
In May 2014 a CSX train carrying crude oil from Chicago to Virginia derailed in Lynchburg.  The train derailment led to a tanker car falling into the James River, catching fire, and then leaking over 29,000 gallons of crude oil into the river.  CSX’s environmental contractor conducted the clean-up of the effected waterways. Follow-up testing by the EPA showed no traces of fuel oil contaminants in the downstream water.
Sources:
https://response.epa.gov/site/sitrep_profile.aspx?site_id=9234

https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/RAB1601.pdf]]> 2021-07-22 17:35:32 UTC https://padlet.com/ccambardella/u8i5kgfkgvxf1x58/wish/1658527868 emmagricha https://padlet.com/ccambardella/u8i5kgfkgvxf1x58/wish/1661291750 Lake Linganore is the primary drinking reservoir for Frederick County and is situated near the heart of New Market, MD where our school is located. Although there are many regulations on farming practices in New Market and Frederick, there are ongoing problems effecting the health of Lake Linganore. While the water is still considered safe to drink after treatment, many ecosystems are being destroyed because of Eutrophication in the lake. There are excess nutrients flooding into the lake from several nearby waterways and rivers. Recent findings have reported phosphorus levels that exceed the standard, known as total maximum daily loads. City officials are downplaying these findings, saying the water is fine to drink, but the concern is for the underwater ecosystem and impact on the Chesapeake Bay. The excessive phosphorous levels are primarily from improper farming practices, storm water management and heavy pollution in the Bush Creek area that runs into the Monocacy River. 
Sources:
https://www.fredericknewspost.com/archives/study-lake-linganore-area-creeks-polluted/article_c46944df-c509-58e5-81df-29d96c126246.html
https://www.lakelinganore.org/test-results/
https://www.lakelinganore.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Lake-Linganore-Stormwater-Workshop-June-2017-Final.pdf]]> 2021-07-26 17:47:07 UTC https://padlet.com/ccambardella/u8i5kgfkgvxf1x58/wish/1661291750 https://padlet.com/ccambardella/u8i5kgfkgvxf1x58/wish/1665181043 Jennifer Wyrick
The presence of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAVs)  decreased in 2020. Although the exact cause is unknown, it is thought to be related to higher levels of rainfall and runoff, including higher tributary river levels. This impacts water quality and salinity levels. These underwater grass beds are critical to the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. They are also a fast and obvious signal of the current health of the bay. Groups, such as the Severn River Association, are involved with reseeding grasses and promoting larger acreage of SAVs.

Sources:
https://severnriver.org/programs/the-sav-navy/
https://www.chesapeakeprogress.com/abundant-life/sav
https://www.chesapeakebay.net/news/blog/underwater_bay_grass_acreage_decreases_21_percent_in_2011
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9NyfPLINtk]]> 2021-07-30 18:59:28 UTC https://padlet.com/ccambardella/u8i5kgfkgvxf1x58/wish/1665181043 https://padlet.com/ccambardella/u8i5kgfkgvxf1x58/wish/1669326804 Plastic pollution is a big problem worldwide.  We are learning a lot about single use plastics and how those plastics are not easily recycled and how those plastics can entrap wildlife.  
There is another problem with plastics- and this one is hard to see- microplastics!  
Microplastics are a big problem that is just beginning to be understood.  Basically, plastic does not biodegrade, it just breaks into smaller and smaller bits.  These bits are "sticky" and can carry harmful stuff.  These bits are small enough to pass across a cell membrane!
Tiny bits of plastics come from fabrics and microplastics that are part of abrasive scrubs.  Large plastics break down into microplastics that become part of the cell, part of our food webs.  That means that plastics enter our bodies and we are not entirely sure of what will happen.  We do know that as plastics degrade, they can leach (leak out) some chemicals that are not good for us.
Plastics are a big problem and getting some control over the amount of plastic used has to be solved.  It is not an easy problem to solve.  Plastic is hard to actually recycle.  Plastic packaging drives the sale of many products.  For example, we need to learn to take bottles to the store and to add our shampoo, cooking oil, ketchup- anything- to the bottle we bring.  It will take a huge culture change for this to happen.  The company that makes it easy for the consumer to make a purchase will make the most money.  It will be hard for companies to try to sell from a bulk type container- they will be reducing plastic pollution, but will they be able to stay in business?
resource for this info can be found at- https://www.chesapeakebay.net/news/blog/small_plastics_are_a_big_problemhttps://www.chesapeakebay.net/news/blog/small_plastics_are_a_big_problem]]> 2021-08-04 22:27:37 UTC https://padlet.com/ccambardella/u8i5kgfkgvxf1x58/wish/1669326804 https://padlet.com/ccambardella/u8i5kgfkgvxf1x58/wish/1672009372 Sediment pollution is a continual problem throughout Montgomery County, MD.  It can be caused by a variety of factors but one that is recurring in Montgomery county is construction.  Construction sites that are grater than 5,000 square feet require a permit.  One of the important reasons for these permits is to ensure that there are efficient sediment control plans in place.  Unfortunately there a many permit violations around that county that result in sediment problems especially during rainstorms.  When this happens, many issues can arise such as:  loss of important topsoil, stream bank instability, smothering the spaces where fish lay their eggs, cloudy water that affects fish, abrasion of fish and other stream dwelling organisms and a decrease in water quality.  The county recommends that residents calll 311 to report any sediment/erosion problems. 

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/DEP/contact/sediment-erosion.html]]> 2021-08-08 11:36:05 UTC https://padlet.com/ccambardella/u8i5kgfkgvxf1x58/wish/1672009372 marowitzs https://padlet.com/ccambardella/u8i5kgfkgvxf1x58/wish/1672131804 https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dr-gridlock/wp/2014/04/30/train-derails-in-downtown-lynchburg-shutting-down-streets-bridges/

In 2014, a train carrying crude oil derailed into a section of the James River, literally lighting the river itself on fire. I actually was living in Lynchburg when this happened and recalled seeing smoke miles away and city warnings against accessing public water for days afterward. There are a variety of health risks, obviously not only limited to the wildlife in the river, but also for public utility due to the contaminated water. According to this article, the oil components may have vaporized, causing harm to first responders. It might have also affected the water quality downstream. Legislators warned about the environmental hazards of carrying crude by train and called for stricter regulations to prevent this kind of disaster. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. More safety measures absolutely need to be put into place to protect our water sources.]]> 2021-08-08 18:21:36 UTC https://padlet.com/ccambardella/u8i5kgfkgvxf1x58/wish/1672131804 https://padlet.com/ccambardella/u8i5kgfkgvxf1x58/wish/1672141329 I did not realize someone else chose this same location and topic, until I came here to share my findings. (I should have looked first:)

I grew up in the Lake Linganore community, and my parents still live in the group of neighborhoods today. I am just a few miles away! I can always remember thinking that the Lake looked so green. Now, I realize that is a result of excess algae. Algae is a normal, and healthy, part of any lake. Algae often sinks to the bottom of the lake, and I can feel the squishy bottom floor of the lake from my childhood memories.
I am aware of the Water Treatment facility, and their frequent visits to the lake, but I never gave much thought to the process of turning that water into safe water for the community to use and consume. The lake water is quite polluted with goose poop, and pretty yucky to the naked eye. I am pleased to see how much testing and prevention goes into saving this large body of water.

https://www.lakelinganore.org/lake-water-quality/]]> 2021-08-08 19:02:00 UTC https://padlet.com/ccambardella/u8i5kgfkgvxf1x58/wish/1672141329