North Tonawanda H. S.

Eighteenmile Creek (Erie County)

Kenmore East High School

Teachers: Bob O' Connor, Sam Alaimo, and Tony Marabella

Students: Molly Alaimo, Jeremy Byrnes, Beth Colby, Jimmy Corigliano, Courtney Delaney, Anthony Diocedo, Pat Finch, Michelle Gabriele, Stephanie Kapios, Tim Kielaszec, Jennifer Marabella , Nick Mendola, Mary Beth Owczarzak, Marie Picogna, Dan Rust, Dan Saltino, Scott Santorio, Shannon Senger, Jim Testa, Nick Wheeler, Judy Gaume, Courtney Zach, Sean Wagoner, Laura Grant , Stephanie Rosenhahn, and Karen Fennel .

On Tuesday April 28, 1998, 26 students embarked on an expedition on which the cold confines of 18 mile creek in Hamburg , New York threatened the health of 26 brave troopers. Although the water was a frigid 40 oF , the courageous students shrugged off the hypothermic conditions and risked their lives for the name of science.

The creek was angry that day my friends . Though the use of sophisticated scientific equipment such as kick seine nets , seives , and water quality testing kits, the students and their captain Mr. O' Connor took many different test of the water. The Creek was sampled , gathering data for parameters such as temperature, turbidity, pH, and total solids. Additionally, students collected and observed benthic macroinvertibrates,as well as completing a stream ecosystem survey of the area . The students of Kenmore East truley look back on this as an unforgetable learning experience, albeit a cold one.

Water Quality Index = 78.2

Dissolved Oxygen = 12 ppm

Dissolved Oxygen Saturation = 101.7%

Phosphate = 0.1 ppm

Nitrate = <0.1ppm

Secchi Depth = not determined

Temperature = 7.6oC

Dissolved Solids = 165 ppm

Suspended Solids = 16.8 ppm

Total Solids = 181.8 ppm

pH = 7

Benthic Organisms = Mayfly (21%), Midges (19%), Stonefly (14%), Riffle Bettle (14%), Caddisfly (11%), Scuds (7%), Cranefly (5%), Aquatic Beettle (4%) , Water Boatman (2%), Aquatic Worm (2%), Gilled Snail (1%)

E - Coli = > 3/mL (unsafe for swimming)

Return to database