Chemical and physical parameters of Millard's Quarry Pond and the Tulpehocken Creek and the effects on the aquatic organisms of Millard's Quarry Pond

Millard's Quarry Pond is located in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, which is an agricultural area. The Tulpehocken Creek, which flows alongside Millard's Quarry Pond, meanders through farmland as well as towns. Along with agricultural runoff, there is also domestic and industrial dumping into the Tulpehocken Creek.;It is the intent of this study to quantitatively determine the physical and chemical make-up of the Tulpehocken Creek and Millard's Quarry Pond and to correlate these findings with possible effects which may or may not occur on the aquatic organisms found in Millard's Quarry Pond.;In order to correctly assess the chemical and physical make-up of the aquatic system, samples were taken, as follows, for thirteen consecutive months.;Monthly water samples from Millard's Quarry Pond for dissolved oxygen, carbon dioxide, pH and total alkalinity were taken within three days of the middle of the month. On each sampling date, one 500ml sample was obtained at each of the following depths: surface, 3, 6, 9 and 12 meters. Sampling at various depths in the pond was accomplished with SCUBA (self-contained underwater breathing apparatus) and collapsible containers.;This combination of agricultural runoff, domestic and industrial dumping in the surrounding area of Millard's Quarry Pond, presented the problem of water quality and its possible effects, if any, on the aquatic organisms.;Monthly samples for chemical analysis on Millard's Quarry Pond and the Tulpehocken Creek were obtained by the following methods. For Millard's Quarry Pond, a 500ml sample was taken at each of the five marked depths, as described previously. This set of samples was taken on the second and third Saturday of the month. The ten samples were then composited into one monthly sample. A two-liter water sample was taken from the Tulpehocken Creek, mid stream, on the second and third Saturday of each month. These two samples were then composited into one monthly sample.;Samples of the sediment from Millard's Quarry Pond were taken from the shelf, which is at five meters, and the bottom, which is at 12 meters. The sediment samples were taken on February 13 and May 13, 1976. At each of the above sampling points a ten meters line, marked off in one meter segments, was staked out. Then at each meter mark the sediment was cored with a jar, 10cm deep with a diameter of 10cm. The ten core samples were then composited. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).