STRESS!!!!!!!!

The beginning of the day was great! Our lesson plan for the hike went well and I think that people took away with them the objectives we wanted; beginning to understanding the headwater system and having respect for other points of view.

However...
You won't believe it!! Our powerpoint didn't save and so it was 430 and we wanted to cry. We stayed til about 700 to finish as much as we could, ate a pizza, and went home to finish the work between the two of us. We worked until midnight. I hope this comes out right!

We both agree that the month flew by and we wish everyone a wonderful year...

Our detailed research report, hardcopy and electronic version, are available at Morrill hall, Education dept, UNH Durham.

Due to having to start the powerpoint over last evening, I was unable to complete and print the GPS map of our testing sites until this afternoon (after we presented). So the map is included in our binder at UNH.

Research Report, Lesson Plan, GPS Maps, Data Tables etc.

Today flew by as we worked on computers to finish up our lesson plan for tomorrow and our report for Thursday. Rena nd I took turns working on everything. We are looking forward to learning about the two other groups and to giving our 'Beaver Pond'hike tommorrow. Everyone in the class is really feeling tired tonight. Busy, good day today.

Computer Day

Once again we were hacking away at the computer. Elizabeth spent about 2 hours looking for rainfall totals for the immediate area during July 2005 & 2007, and no luck. Archived data is available for NH for various seasons of the year, but finding data for a particular month apparently is tricky. I wrote up the analysis of our data and included the comparison to the 2005 group. Everything pretty much stayed within the same range as that group.

Above is a wonderful sketch by Elizabeth leading to my favorite site. At this point in the walk we were trying our best to inform the next group of the GPS point that is between two others on our map.

As for the results there were a couple odd numbers from the group of sites. The conductivity level at site one was very high, 148 uS, as opposed to other sites that were between 18 and 51 uS. I started to think why this was so and thought that maybe there was human pollution involved. There were homes nearby! And to me that would be exciting but not so good for the environment. But then I began to think about the construction at the entrance to the Tamposi Reserve on Tibbetts Road. And my research said that urbanization was a possible cause to high conductivity. It can also be the temperature of the water. This site was the lowest of all at 16'C. This result was read about in the VRAP Turbidity page that said as temperature does one thing, conductivity does the opposite. Our teachers discussed this with us and we came to the possiblity of there being an underground spring. We are happy to leave that to another group for research!

It was fun to find researched reasons and take educated guesses for various results, but it was also hard work in understanding some relationships. My mind just doesn't relate some information without having it all on one page. But I got through it.

We talked briefly about the powerpoint presentation for Thursday and came up with an idea to include an activity. Talking for an hour just isn't the way to teach anymore. Our methodologies overlap with the idea of place based learning so we are planning an activity for our presentation. I can't give it away, of course, but it will be better than sitting and listening only.

Only two more days! :(

HEAT WAVE! Great day for computer work!

Hi all,

Thursday brought hot, humid air our way! With all our data collected, we spent the day in the classroom on the computers. We made a to-do list and a priority list which we worked on and got a lot accomplished.

It is amazing that we have all done and learned as much as we have in such a short time. Next week will be fast paced but I am looking forward to hearing about the other projects and to completing our report.

I am including a few of my favorite photos because even though I am not at the Tamposi, the Tamposi is on my mind....

Does anyone enjoy a mystery? Well, the photo of the marsh has something to do with our forthcoming lesson plan....

I have spent sooooo much time on my pedagogy and I finally finshed it this afternoon! As Eleanor has told us....it will never be done-it is a work-in-progress. Mine is as good as I can get it for now. Time to turn to the lesson plan and the research report!

This is a green dragonfly that we watched flitter and dance with dozens of other dragonflies near beaver pond. The color is almost neon -it appears shiny in the sun and the winges are different too. We saw another that was blue along the outflow of beaver pond into the creek.

More photos hinting to our lesson plan....

enjoy the weekend :)

Finally!!

Our groups catch phrase is "Elizabeth goes right thru the marsh, Rena goes around it!"

On our third attempt to find the inflow to Creek Pond from Beaver Pond, we found it! It was hidding behind some overgrowth and a couple fallen trees but the waterfall was serene. It was the perfect spot for sitting on some large boulders to throw in our orange peel to take flow rate measurements. On the way out, Elizabeth had the bright idea to use the compass and go through the woods towards a logging trail. (I had reservations about this idea but became convinced under the stressful heat.) We both knew that there were at least four logging trails that were perpendicular to the Tibbetts trail so we thought maybe it would save some time. And it did!! Atleast it felt like 20 minutes was saved. It was neat to navigate with the compass too.

Next, we drove over to Frances Ext. Road to find site 1 (from the 2005 project). Eleanor informed us that the orange gate into the reserve was a short walk up the Jeep Trail and to then continue a little further to find a logging trail that would take us to Creek Pond. Well, it took 3 minutes to find the broken orange gate and fire pit with broken glass, then another 3 more minutes to the logging trail and fire pit, and finally 10 minutes to the tall grassy marsh along Creek Pond. I hate those tall grasses... they indicate water!!!!!!!!! Since our goal was to find site 1 ( inflow to Creek Pond) we followed the stream up and away from the Creek. It dried up several times until we found a decent spot that had some flow to it. This will definately be the slowest flow rate of the four sites. Some of the measurements were very different from our other three sites and we believe that to be attributed to the different landscape. This area was full of light, pine needles, rocks, and exposed mud. Our other areas were more mossy, had ferns, tall grasses, hummocks, and small trees/bushes. The trees that were most abundant looked to be red cedar. Other types included beech, birch, and hemlock.

While waiting for the very, very slow orange peel to move 2 meters, Elizabeth said "Is this our last site?" And after thinking about it, looking on the map, and rethinking again... it was. Our first reaction was happiness!!!!!!!! We were actually planning on going to another site on the map but then I realized, we already did that site! We have been so focused and organized that we just kept looking for the next site. Our emotions then changed to saddness because we enjoyed being on the move and taking measurements.

In the end, we realized our hard work and were glad we didn't have to come back out tomorrow, especially since it was going to be 90'F plus! In the end we went for ice cream to celebrate and thought about heading for the pool tomorrow instead of class! Anyone want to join?

Surprise at Creek Pond

Last Thursday, 7/19, we followed the first logging trail off of the Tibbetts Rd to the west. When we found the Creek we discovered two beaver lodges and a dam that Eleanor confirmed was not there last fall 2006. Due to the dam, the marsh area was extended and we tried but could not hike around it. We saw animal scat-moose and deer. It was beautiful out in that area. It rained heavy and we were soaked through but enjoyed the day.

Data Collection at the Outflow of Creek Pond

Today was a busy day. we reviewed our pedagogys in class, then went out to the Headwaters to collect data, and then back to class to work on the research report!

We followed Eleanor to the entrance off of route 125, just north of the Lee traffic circle. After following a narrow dirt road belonging to the tree nursery, we stepped onto conservation land. Soon we were in the clearing of the power lines. We turned left/south and followed a trail until we passed a small stream. We then entered the woods/east and followed the water upstream to the creek!

It was a beautiful hike with the sound of the rushing, running water and the sun filtering through the canopy. The stream is filled with small, medium and large rocks.

We followed the stream from the creek back to a point after all the inlets had rejoined the stream. That is where we took our measurements for turbidity, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, and temperature. We need to go back and measure pH due to not having a meter.

After 2 days bush-whacking in heavy rain through tall, wet, thick brush, our walk today was relaxing!
The afternoon was very productive, I worked on our report while Rena searched the web for New Hampshire State standards for water quality and other pertinent information for our report. All-in-all a GREAT day!
Thanks Eleanor for showing us the way to the route 125 entrance!
The trees are submerged during heavy rains possibly in the spring. The soil is washed out from under the roots and the thick roots are exposed. My favorite one is the tree sitting on the rock.