Stream Monitoring for Gas Impact

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Becky Bowen, Outreach Coordinator
Community Science Institute
607-257-6606
becky@communityscience.org

No one can say with certainty how or if hydrofracking will impact our streams, lakes and rivers. The Community Science Institute (CSI), based in Ithaca NY, will be recruiting and training several groups of volunteers in the Upper Susquehanna River Watershed to find out.

The Community Science Institute is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower citizens to monitor and protect their community’s natural resources, especially water. In addition to partnering with volunteer groups, CSI also operates a state certified water quality testing lab (NYSDOH-ELAP #11790). CSI’s currently partners with eight volunteer groups in the Cayuga Lake watershed and Upper Susquehanna River Basin, covering over 800 square miles of drainage area.

Water monitoring by volunteer groups in partnership with the certified laboratory is a low-cost and effective strategy for tracking water quality. With support from the CSI lab, volunteers will perform regular “red flag” field tests on stream samples to assess whether or not contamination occurs from shale gas operations. If a “red flag” is found, the CSI lab will perform further testing. CSI will be holding the following Information Sessions about “Red Flag” Monitoring:

CSI will be holding the following Information Sessions for interested volunteers in Chemung and Steuben Counties:

• Tuesday, June 19th, 6:15 PM at the Southeast Steuben County Public Library Auditorium, located at 300 Nasser Civic Center Plaza, Suite 101 in Corning.

• Wednesday, July 11th, 6:15 PM at the Dormann Public Library Empire Room, located at 101 West Morris Street in Bath.

Come and find out how CSI’s stream monitoring program works and how to get involved!

If you would like to get involved but cannot come to the Info Session, please email Becky Bowen, CSI’s Outreach Coordinator, at becky@communityscience.org or call 607-257-6606.
###
–
Becky Bowen

Outreach Coordinator
Community Science Institute
Water Quality Testing Lab
NYSDOH-ELAP #11790
http://communityscience.org
607-257-6606