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Septic System Survey of Residents of Loughberry Lake
Elizabeth Amira Kennedy Streeter ’09
Unlike government run sewage treatment plants, septic system care and maintenance are the responsibility of individual homeowners. Proper maintenance is essential to maintaining proper functioning and preventing water pollution. To better understand behavior and septic maintenance practices, I conducted a survey of the residents who lived closest to the lake and also own septic systems. |
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Rethinking Wastewater Treatment: An Examination of the Saratoga Wastewater Treatment Facility
Kathleen McConkey ’09 and Molly Nowak ’09
Most people rarely think about where their water goes after they use it. We've taken a closer look at this important aspect of everyday life and environmental protection by examining the Saratoga wastewater treatment facility and putting it in context with other operations in New York State. |
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Concentration and Distribution of Copper in Crayfish in Loughberry Lake
Benjamin Alley ’10
Copper sulfate is added to Loughberry Lake to control algae. I examined the geographic distribution of crayfish copper concentrations in Loughberry Lake and looked for evidence of accumulation within the crayfish. Crayfish from three locations on the lake were analyzed for copper to examine geographic distribution, and five crayfish of various sizes were examined from one location to examine accumulation. |
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Changes to Saratoga Lake’s Hydrology after 20 Years of Development and Growth
Matthew Shrensel ’09
I used satellite imagery to examine shifts in land use in Saratoga Lake Watershed over the past 20 years. I modeled hydrology for the watershed based on the land use from the imagery. Despite large changes in population, land use change is low, and associated hydrological shifts are minimal. |
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Breaking it down: The Influence of Relative Nitrogen and Phosphorus Availability on Leaf Litter Decomposition and Macroinvertebrate Communities in Two Small Streams within the Saratoga Lake Watershed
Alicea Cock-Esteb ’09, Hannah Harris ’09
When leaves fall into streams, they are incorporated into the food web through consumption by microorganisms and macroinvertebrates. Our study examined how the relative availability of nitrogen and phosphorous influenced the rates of leaf litter decomposition via macroinvertebrate communities and microbial respiration in two small, wooded streams in the Saratoga Lake Watershed. We found that a higher relative availability of nitrogen and phosphorous corresponds to higher decomposition rates although the macroinvertebrate community seems to be more influenced by other factors. |
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Designing and Institutionalizing a Place-Based Watershed Curriculum in Ballston Spa
Hannah Phillips ’10 and Sarah Whateley ’09
We designed place-based lesson plans to complement the in-class ecosystem unit for a fifth grade classroom in Ballston Spa, New York and to increase students’ awareness of place. Our interviews with local teachers and administrators identified challenges to implementing such programs. We also assessed the students’ prior environmental knowledge. |
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Weather or Knot: The Impact of Natural and Anthropogenic Disturbances on Japanese Knotweed
Daniel von Allmen ‘09, Peter Leipzig-Scott ‘09, Erin Kenison ’09
Japanese knotweed is an aggressive invader of riparian habitats. Our study investigates how natural and anthropogenic disturbances, including flooding, human land use and natural stream channel migration, affect the distribution of knotweed. These disturbances had differing effects on knotweed presence. A large percentage of plants were damaged over winter months, which may contribute to plant fragmentation and subsequent dispersal. |
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Saratoga Lake Landowner Survey: Assessing Behaviors, Perceptions and Opinions
Andrew Clinard ’09, Jennifer Hubert ’09, and Bradford Nesbitt ’09
Our survey of Saratoga Lake residents revealed that most respondents think water quality is acceptable and affects property values, but is threatened by invasive species. While opinions varied on who should maintain the lake, most opposed land use regulations. Future studies and public outreach should focus on these subjects. |
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The Capacity for Smart Growth in the Saratoga Lake Watershed: A Study of the Local Planning Process
Rose Anderson-Gips ’09 and Amanda Peterson ’09
Are municipalities in rapidly growing Saratoga County managing development to minimize environmental impact? We reviewed comprehensive plans and surveyed and interviewed planning board members in twelve municipalities within the watershed and found a strong commitment to most smart growth goals, though a limited interest in regional planning. |
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The Uneven Implementation of the Saratoga Lake Watershed Management Plan: Priorities and Perceptions of Municipalities within the WatershedRyan Bailey ’09 and Lyndsay Strange ’09
In 2002, a group of stakeholders created a Saratoga Lake Watershed Management Plan to protect and improve the watershed's resources. Despite this, implementation of the plan's recommendations has been very uneven throughout the watershed's municipalities. Through interviews with local town officials, we identify and explain the factors that affect the implementation of these programs. |
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Current Stormwater Management in Saratoga Springs and the Challenges of Implementing Low Impact Alternatives
Allison Ruschp ’09, Caitlin Frame ’10, Dani Rueter ’09
We explored the feasibility of incorporating low impact design into Saratoga Springs stormwater management program. We interviewed developers, public works officials, planning board staff, city engineers, and state stormwater engineers to discover the challenges facing the implementation of low impact stormwater management. Saratoga Springs is close to meeting current federal standards but has no funding mechanisms for stormwater management; low impact design is being encouraged for new developments. |
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The Influence of Beavers on Sediment Storage and Stream Turbidity in the Saratoga Lake Watershed
Stephanie Abrams ’09, Lindsay Bourgoine ’09, Alexandra Furman ’09
This study examines the repopulation of beavers within the Saratoga Lake Watershed through pond density and how their ecosystem engineering has geomorphically impacted water bodies. The three beaver ponds investigated stored large quantities of sediment and the amount of suspended particles decreased downstream of the ponds. Therefore, increases in pond density result in changes in the way sediment is stored in the watershed. |
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Waterways: A Photographic Exploration of Human Presence in the Saratoga Lake Watershed
Andrew Plotsky ’09
Waterways is a photo essay of people in the Saratoga Lake Watershed. Using the style of environmental portraiture, Waterways features fourteen human subjects from various backgrounds to represent a cross section of the diversity of the watershed. The project illuminates the complex and nested relationships that exist within a watershed. |
