PowerPoint Presentation

3/30/2015K O'Day1Aquatic TrashIn Situ MeasurementExtensive visual evidence of trash along our creek & river banks

Little no measurement of waterborne trash concentrations

Need systematic, long term measurement to assesssources, trends

Creek/river bank trash measurements small fraction of aquatic trash flowing in our waterways

Need in situ measurements to determine mass of aquatic trash flowing past specific location

Lets look at some aquatic trash measurement options:

Full capture & countSample & count

K ODayMediaBank trash surveys3/30/2015K O'Day2a1. Full Flow Capture & Count: Nash Run (Md) Trash Trap

Aquatic TrashIn Situ Measurement Techniques

Nash Run Trash Trap(2014 Version)View from above trapView from below trapNash Run watershed 460 acres3/30/2015K O'Day33/30/2015K O'Day4

Aquatic TrashIn Situ Measurement Techniquesa2. Full Flow Capture & Count: Floating Bandalong Trash Trap 3/30/2015K O'Day5Aquatic TrashIn Situ Measurement Techniquesa3. Full Flow Capture & Count: Boom (Backriver, Md)

3/30/2015K O'Day6Aquatic TrashIn Situ Measurement Techniquesb1. Sample & Count: Manta Trawl Towed by Boat

b2. Sample & Count: Manta Trawl Suspended in Los Angeles River (Algalita Marine Research)Aquatic TrashIn Situ Measurement Techniques3/30/2015K O'Day73/30/2015K O'Day8

Aquatic TrashIn Situ Measurement Techniquesb3. Sample & Count: Natural Trash Trap Examples Tacony CreekBranches make excellent flowingplastic film sampling devices.

Lets borrow this approach for aquatic plastic bag sampling techniqueFlotation RingRiverbed BlockConnection to BridgeCoarse mesh on 4 sides to trap floating plasticUpstream & top faces openWide mesh to minimize trapping vegetation and small non-bottle debrisPlastic Bottle TrapPlastic Bag/ Film Trap3/30/2015K O'Day9

Design CompetitionMeasuring Schuylkill River Plastic LoadFalls Bridge Trash Trap Goal:

Design an in-river floating plastic trash trap to provide source data collection to allow estimation of long term plastic loads in the Schuylkill Basin upstream of the Falls Bridge.

Approach

Attach temporary trash traps to Falls Bridge to collect both floating plastic bags and plastic bottles.

The trap designs must have minimal impact on river use and navigation, must be easily and quickly removable and be rugged enough to withstand Schuylkill River flow conditions.

The traps would only operate in warm weather conditions and would be removed prior to predicted major flood level flows and during winter period.

The designs must provide information on both installation/ removal of device and how trapped plastic debris will be safely collected for laboratory analysis.

Initial testing of selected prototype design will be required to demonstrate that the trap design can meet all design requirements. 3/30/2015K O'Day10

T-03 Drainage Area108 acres3/30/2015K O'Day11

T-03 Floatable Trash Trap Quantification StudyChronic trash in rocky channelbelow outfallPotential site for floatable trash quantification study (108 acre DA)Nash Run trash trap could serve as design prototype (460 acre DA)Nash Run trash trap cost $60,000 for installation & 2 years maintenanceCould investigate both CSO & overlandflow floatables3/30/2015K O'Day12

T-03 OutfallNear Adams Ave & Cresentville Rd

Chronic trash in rocky channelbelow outfall

Potential site for floatable trash quantification study

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3/30/2015K O'Day163/30/2015K O'Day17Lower Debris BatchBack RiverUpper Debris BatchBoat RampIsland MarshLower BoomInterstate 695Herring Run

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