Progress Report Week 12

This topic submitted by Alison, David, Mica, Chelsea (nagyrc@muohio.edu) on 3/31/03. Additions were last made on Monday, March 31, 2003. Section: Cummins/Kaufman

Since this draft of our proposal, we have met with Hays regarding scientific sampling aspects of our project. We have also begun our sediment sampling. In fact, we have already sampled both sites twice now. Based on Hays advice we reduced the number of sampling sites from three to two, focusing primarily on Harker's Run and Collins Run. Another change that we made was eliminating the center of the rivers middle depth from the sample collection. This decision was made because the river was so shallow that there wasn't much difference between the top and the bottom, thereby not neessitating a middle. The second time we collected samples we changed the river width measurements. instead of the bank width, we now measure the water width. The first measurements were changed to approximate the water width on that day to ensure continuity throughout the data. Measurements and observations showed that the depth and width have decreased since the first measurement. So far we haven't found anything significant between Harker's Run and Collins Run though we expect to after a precipitation event. The second sampling day numbers will be available in a few days, after baking is finished.

A trip was also taken to the Butler County Historical Society. There was a lack of information there, however we were redirected to the Smith Library in Oxford. We did however find information about mills on 4MC and the reasons why the land along 4MC was used for agriculture. This week we're planning to visit the Smith Library in hopes of finding literature and other historical information.

We also got two articles from the geography department on forests. It covers areas that deal with argicultural land in realtion to loss of sediment. This is specifically in Houston Woods and sourrounding areas so it is a good reference because it with upper 4MC. However we will not be getting as much out of this as we had planned because it deals primarily with nurients which we have choosen to demphasize. The other article deals with soil erosion due to deforestation in the 4MC area. This will be a great resource.

A geography professor directed us to another colleague, Dr. Renwick who should have the geographical and historical maps of 4MC that we were looking for. We have yet to contact him.

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