IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 18, 1999
Contact:
Heather Schultz
215/299-1066
THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES RECEIVES $2.1 MILLION TO ASSESS HEALTH OF NATION'S LARGEST WATERSHEDS
PHILADELPHIA - Scientists from The Academy of Natural Sciences' Patrick Center for Environmental Research today announced a cooperative agreement to work with NAWQA (National Water-Quality Assessment Program) to assess the health of rivers in half of the nation's largest watersheds. NAWQA is a long-term project of the U.S. Geological Survey designed to provide new insights into the status and trends of national water quality. The project is the largest river-monitoring program in the country; the watersheds being studied supply drinking water to 70% of the United States. The Academy received a grant of $2.1 million over four years to identify and analyze algae, primarily diatoms (microscopic algae that are important sources of food for aquatic life), collected from more than 50 of the nation's freshwater river systems. The Academy of Natural Sciences is the lead institution working with NAWQA to analyze algae. Results will influence policy at a national level, particularly with regard to setting nutrient standards. It is the intention of NAWQA and the Academy to identify problems that exist with America's watersheds to determine sound management solutions. "We're excited about becoming such an integral part of the NAWQA program," said Dr. Donald Charles who will be heading the Patrick Center's efforts. "We want to help in setting the standard in assessing water quality so that we can repair and prevent problems with this valuable resource." (more)
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The Patrick Center scientists will analyze algae samples to help determine the concentrations of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorous) in the water systems that can lead to algae-related water quality problems. Excessive concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorous can cause eutrophication, essentially an over-fertilization of water resources leading to excess algal production. The algal "blooms" can smother larger plants, block sunlight, consume dissolved oxygen when they decay, and produce toxins that are harmful to other aquatic life. With the help of Patrick Center scientists, and the data they generate, the U.S. government is hoping to establish criteria for levels of nutrients for rivers and streams in different parts of the country. In addition to its other roles, The Academy of Natural Sciences will act as a repository and processing location for approximately 500 algae samples sent from NAWQA scientists throughout the U.S. each year. Charles plans to add the NAWQA specimens to the Academy's Diatom Herbarium. The herbarium is the largest in the United States and second largest in the world and houses uncounted trillions of individual specimens. "By adding the diatom specimens to the Academy's herbarium, scientists will always be able to come here and conduct research on samples collected from throughout the country. The implications for study of biodiversity are great," noted Charles. # # #
(Color slides available upon request)
The mission of The Academy of Natural Sciences is to expand knowledge of nature through discovery
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