Environmental Studies forum
Environmental Study of Lechtenberg Park |
emerson
12-09-2007 04:54
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45º 38' 50" N
122º 27' 37.35" W
I found this park a number of months ago using several map programs to explore my area, and I am bound & determined to look into it's ecological condition for myself.
I'm within a few miles and hope to work up my stamina so I can walk to it, but I finally drove by yesterday to scope things out. If you put the above coordinates into Google Earth you can follow along as I go. It may yet be weeks before I get there to spend a few hours exploring, so I will entertain your suggestions for topics of investigation or measurements, etcetera.
The park is 40 acres and looks from the road to be undisturbed for decades if not scores of years. Running through the park is Burnt Bridge Creek, which then runs on through metropolitan Vancouver. I suspect the park is a land donation and that it is no cooincidence that it's 40 acres, as this is a 1/4 Section of the oft-used Township/Range method of surveying. I have found no historical information yet on the park.
On my menu so far is a bird survey, plant survey, water level & streambed condition, animal poop survey, and trails.
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Re: Environmental Study of Lechtenberg Park |
tallan
12-09-2007 04:55
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Many fish stores will do a water test for the home aquarist for free. Some charge a few bucks for a more detailed analysis. You could call around and see what you can get done and what kind of detail they will give. Some places just tell you your levels are ok for pet fish, and some will give you the details without extra charge. Depends on the store.
Some things home fish kits can test for:
pH level (can vary by time of day)
NitrAte (final result after bacterias remove Ammonia and NitrIte. Some bacterias exist which remove nitrAte, but are only found in oxygen free enviroments and not typically in a home fish tank)
GH and KH (test once in a while)
copper levels (test once in a while)
The above I have used regularly, liquid forms where you gotta add drops. Fish forums around the net recommend these types for accuracy and believe the paper strips are just to prone to error.
Iron levels (I have heard varied reports on accuracy and I havent used it myself)
phosphates (I havent used this one so I dont know how good it is)
Things that could also be tested for include:
Ammonia
NitrItes
but I dont know that any would show up due to bio factors that SHOULD negate these things. I have used these tests and find them very accurate (again liquid drops form).
Pet smart and Petco will match online prices for kits. BigAlsOnline is a favorite and I have gotten some of these tests for as little as $4 via price matching locally.
I would recommend various tests on different days to get an average water quality. Things that can alter averages include rains, droughts, etc.
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