WATER CHEMISTRY OF A PORTION OF BEAR CREEK WATERSHED, INCLUDING CRYSTAL LAKE, CATFISH BOG, AND WILD RICE LAKE, NEAR HUGHESVILLE (LYCOMING AND SULLIVAN COUNTIES), PA

In 2010, the Aqueous Geochemistry class at Bloomsburg University was invited by Crystal Lake Camps to assess the water chemistry of Crystal Lake, Catfish Bog, Wild Rice Lake and Bear Creek at Crystal Lake Camps near Hughesville, PA. The main purpose of that study was to obtain a baseline chemical analysis of the area, as permits had been issued for hydraulic fracturing for natural gas in the surrounding area. On September 22-23, 2012, we returned to reassess the water chemistry. Samples were collected in the same locations as in 2010, with a total of 20 samples collected over a span of 2 days. In situ measurements of pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), temperature, and conductivity were taken prior to sampling, and a 4L sample collected at each site. Turbidity was determined on unfiltered samples immediately after collection; alkalinity and acidity analyses were completed on site on filtered samples. Although all samples contained very low concentrations in all dissolved species, there was some variability in the watershed. Alkalinity, acidity and pH all gently trended toward higher values from Catfish Bog downstream to Wild Rice Lake. Turbidity remained fairly constant in the two lakes but higher in Catfish Bog proper. Higher levels of dissolved barium, aluminum and zinc were detected in Catfish Bog with respect to the two lakes. Dissolved manganese was higher in Catfish Bog (20-27 ppb) and iron was highest in Wild Rice Lake (148-162 ppb). During the sampling expedition, we discovered that a drill pad has been established to the southeast of our study area. Watershed analysis using GIS indicates that the drill pad is outside the water collection area for Crystal Lake. It remains to be seen if there will be potential danger from associated produced water ponds and later pipeline development.