Fish Survey Results:

Fish can be used as an indicator of water quality, as some species can only be found in pollution-free streams.

2020 Allegheny Land Trust Fish Survey Results

Click on the link above for the results of Allegheny Land Trust's 2020 fish survey. Of note are sightings of the Southern Redbelly Dace, a threatened species in Pennsylvania and Allegheny County' s only record of this fish since 1980. The diversity found in Big Sewickley Creek watershed shows that our water quality is good.

2024 eDNA and Metabarcoding Fish Survey Results

Click on the link above for the results of an eDNA and Metabarcoding survey conducted by Julia Lipscomb, a student in Seneca Velley’s BioTech lab. A special thanks to science teach Tom Lavelle for facilitating this project. Julia took small water samples from Big Sewickley Creek, and through some incredible science, was able to determine all species of fish within a 3-10 mile radius. One species of note is the River Chub, an incredible fish with an intolerance for pollution, turbidity and siltation. Known as a keystone species because its presence in the ecosystem supports a variety of other fish.

Macroinvertebrate Survey Results

Macroinvertebrates are organisms without backbones that live at the base of our creeks, including things like crayfish, dragonfly larva, snails, caddisfly larva, stonefly larva, diving beetles, and more. These organisms are extremely important for aquatic ecosystems, as they help break down organic matter like leaves and detritus in the creek and provide food to many species of fish, mammals and birds. Macroinvertebrates can be used as an indicator of water quality, as some species can only be found in pollution-free streams. The diversity found in Big Sewickley Creek watershed shows that our water quality is good.

2020 Allegeheny Land Trust Macroinvertebrate Survey Results

Click on the link above for the results of Allegheny Land Trust's 2020 Macroinvertebrate survey.

2024 BSCWA Macroinvertebrate Survey

Click on the link above for the results of Big Sewickley Creek Watershed Association’s April 2024 survey.

Water Chemistry Test Results:

Click on the links below for the results of water quality testing. Water quality reports can be a good indicator of pollution sources in a watershed and can serve as a baseline for future reference.

Parameters tested and why:

1. Dissolved Oxygen - Aquatic life needs oxygen to survive. Low oxygen levels can result in fish kills, and may indicate algal blooms.

2. pH - pH is vital for survival of fish and aquatic plants.

3. Conductance - Conductivity is a measure of the ability of water to pass an electrical current. Conductivity in water is affected by the presence of inorganic dissolved solids and ions, and large changes can indicate issues like salt pollution.

4. Nitrates and Phosphates - In excess amounts, these nutrients can cause eutrophication - excessive richness of nutrients causing dense growth of plant life and death of animal life from lack of oxygen. Often indicates fertilizer and manure runoff from yards and farms, wastewater treatment plant pollution, and industrial discharges that contain corrosion inhibitors.

5. Sulfates - Can indicate natural gas seepage and acid mine runoff.

6. Iron - In excess amounts, iron can precipitate and cover stream bottoms. Aquatic life cannot process high amount s of iron, and iron excess can spur algal growth. High iron levels could indicate mine runoff.

7. Alkalinity - Measures a body of water's ability to neutralize acid and maintain pH.

8. Turbidity - Measures the amount of suspended solids in a body of water. A high turbidity can indicate sediment runoff from development, clearing, etc. Sediment is the number one polluter of PA waterways.