An Environmental Assessment of Mill Run in Meadville, Pennsylvania
Project Author
Issue Date
2025-05-01
Authors
Vine, Colleen
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Embargo
First Reader
Pearce, Kelly
Additional Readers
Kedzierski, Wendy
Keywords
Urban stream syndrome , Mill Run , Stream quality , Macroinvertebrates
Distribution
Abstract
This project’s goal is to compare water chemistry and macroinvertebrate data of Mill Run from 2011 to data collected in this project (2025). Allegheny College’s Center for Economic and Environmental Development performed a 2011 Environmental Assessment of Mill Run that reported data on water quality, macroinvertebrates, fish, land-cover, and habitat assessments from a variety of sites along Mill Run. Through the data collection and analysis of water quality and macroinvertebrates in this current project, more data is added to the current bank of knowledge on Mill Run and provides quantitative results that can be used to see if any changes in the stream’s health have occurred. Five testing sites along Mill Run have been chosen for this project. Water chemistry tests and macroinvertebrate sampling were performed at each of the sites. Comparison between water chemistry data and the macroinvertebrate index of biotic integrity (IBI) from 2011 and this project (2025) was used to determine if there have been any changes in the water quality of Mill Run. This project's data indicates that Mill Run has experienced some positive changes in water chemistry, but the IBI scores still indicate that the stream is not suitable for aquatic life. Future water quality monitoring should be conducted on Mill Run using the same protocols and methods used in this project to ensure consistent results and allow researchers and community members to understand the condition of Mill Run over time.
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Chair
Major
Environmental Science and Sustainability
Department
Environmental Science and Sustainability
Recorder
License
Citation
Version
Honors
Environmental Science and Sustainability, 2025