Penn State Cooperative Extension

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1 Penn State Cooperative Extension Marcellus Shale Educational Webinar Series April September 2010

2 Penn State Cooperative Extension Marcellus Shale Educational Webinars April 2010 September 2010 Six-part series of one-hour on-line educational seminars Our goal is to help address the opportunities and challenges related to exploring for gas in the Marcellus shale in Pennsylvania Audiences Public officials at all levels Cooperative Extension and other educational organizations Planning and economic development agencies or groups Environmental organizations People who might influence public policy or individual decisions regarding exploration for gas Citizens For more information:

3 Marcellus Shale Webinar Series Planning Committee Members Mark Douglass, Jefferson County Neal Fogle, Montour County Joann Kowalski, Susquehanna County John Turack, Westmoreland County Charles Abdalla, Agricultural Economics & Rural Sociology Dept. University Park With help from: Kathy Brasier, Tim Kelsey & Rachel Perry, Agricultural Economics & Rural Sociology Dept. University Park Nancy Ellen Kiernan, Program Evaluator Peg Shuffstall, Jacki Weikert & Sherry Crum, Information Technology Specialists Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences

4 Today s Webinar Water Quality Monitoring Programs in Pennsylvania Susquehanna River Basin Commission's Remote Water Quality Monitoring Network - Andrew Gavin, Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) River Alert Information Network (RAIN) in Southwest Pennsylvania. - Jeanne VanBriesen, Carnegie Mellon University

5 Susquehanna River Basin Remote Water Quality Monitoring Network Program Overview Penn State Cooperative Extension Webinar Series June 17, 2010

6 Susquehanna River Basin The Basin 27,510-square-mile watershed Comprises 43% of the Chesapeake Bay watershed 4.2 million population 60% forested 32,000+ miles of waterways The Susquehanna River 444 miles, largest tributary to the Chesapeake Bay Supplies 18 million gallons a minute to the bay

7 Commission Monitoring Programs Monitoring throughout the Commission s history Performing water quality, biological and habitat monitoring since the early 1980s for core programs Assisting member jurisdictions with targeted needs (SWP, TMDLs, etc.) Assisting watershed groups Aquatic resource surveys The Susquehanna River Early Warning System (EWS) -- utilizing advanced technology

8 Susquehanna River Early Warning System (EWS) Initiated in PA in 2003, and expanded into NY in 2006 Helping minimize impact from spills through early detection at public water supply intakes in PA and NY General framework for the system Standard parameters include temperature, ph, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, conductance, organics detection (4 stations) Real-time data transmission Stand-alone datasonde stations

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10 Network Objectives To establish a real-time monitoring network at areas of concern in the Susquehanna River Basin; To establish baseline water quality conditions; To verify whether or not the natural gas well industry and/or other activities are causing adverse impacts on local water quality; To form collaborative partnerships to improve monitoring technology and provide educational opportunities; To enhance protection for water supplies; and To be responsive to public concerns.

11 Remote Water Quality Monitoring Network Project concept developed Fall 2009 Partners Workshop October 29, 2009 Implementation funding December 2009 SRBC allocated $250,000 East Resources Inc. contribution of $750,000 Start of network deployment January 2010

12 Station Locations Factors behind area of interest Activities associated with natural gas development (Drilling activity, water withdrawal/disposal, potential for spills, etc.) Sensitivity of headwater areas (Aquatic life, recreation, public water supply) Public concerns Network Design

13 Station Locations Network Design Site considerations Watershed size (~ 30 to 60 square miles) Channel morphology and flow ranges Land use Property access and power supply Seasonal conditions (i.e., ice, summer low flow)

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16 Data Collection Continuous monitoring Network Design Conductance Temperature, ph, dissolved oxygen, turbidity Depth Routine grab sample monitoring Conducted by SRBC staff Calibration visits and field checks

17 Depth ph Turbidity Temperature Dissolved Oxygen Conductance

18 Network Design Data Collection Routine grab sample monitoring - Approximately six times a year Possible parameters - Acidity/Alkalinity, Chloride, Barium, Bromide, Strontium, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Sulfate, Total Organic Carbon (TOC), and the typical field parameters (ph, conductance, etc.) - Approximately four times a year Ca, Mg, Na, K, Nitrate, Carbonate Alkalinity, Bicarbonate Alkalinity, Carbonate Gross alpha and beta

19 Network Design Real-time data transmission Intervals can vary by station Alarms to go to SRBC staff for further investigation (deviations from any baseline) Web site interface Data access considered provisional, with no filtering of data for the public Public education (with all the usual disclaimers) Annual Data Report Incorporates real-time data and grab sample data Summary of overall conditions and activities for the network

20 Website Interface (

21 Provisional Data Results** To date for all stations (16 installed) >500,000 WQ observations Sample records for 5 stations over the past month Average temperature 16.8 O C Average specific conductance 130 micros/cm Average ph 7.42 Average turbidity 5.8 NTU Average dissolved oxygen 9.5 mg/l Maximum specific conductance for all sites 240 micros/cm **Not corrected yet for calibration drift, out of range values, probe malfunctions, etc.

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23 Susquehanna River Basin Remote Water Quality Monitoring Network Andrew Gavin Section Chief, Restoration and Protection x 107 [email protected] June 17, 2010

24 Penn State Cooperative Extension Marcellus Shale Educational Webinar Series April September 2010

25 Today s Webinar Water Quality Monitoring Programs in Pennsylvania Susquehanna River Basin Commission's Remote Water Quality Monitoring Network - Andrew Gavin, Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) River Alert Information Network (RAIN) in Southwest Pennsylvania. - Jeanne VanBriesen, Carnegie Mellon University

26 Previously Recorded Educational Webinars Water Use & Water Quality Issues Above the Marcellus Shale - Minimizing Impacts to Forests & Wildlife Planning for Community Impacts Marcellus Shale Workforce Needs Assessment Community Response Options to Marcellus Shale & Energy Development Treatment/Disposal Options for Wastewaters from Shale Gas Drilling Leasing & Drilling on State-Owned Lands Marcellus Shale Legislation & Litigation: A Year (2009) in Review Post Leasing-Considerations of What Happens Next, Lessons Learned to Date Underground Injection Wells as an Option for Disposal of Shale Gas Wastewaters: Policies and Practicality Impact of Marcellus Shale: What Do the Economic Impact Studies Imply? Perspectives on Marcellus Shale Gas Development in Southwest PAA Decade of Lessons Learned from Urban Drilling in Fort Worth The above webinars can be viewed at: