Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts

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Perry County Conservation District Creates Field Test Kits

The Perry County Conservation District (PCCD) recently wrapped up their Nonpoint Source Pollution Educational Mini-grant project. The Scientific Citizens Observing Pollution (in the) Environment or SCOPE for short, allows volunteers to test stream sites. As part of the grant, field test kits were assembled.

This field test kit was created as part of the Perry County Conservation District’s “SCOPE” mini-grant project. It is used by volunteers to monitor local streams. Photo taken by Kristie Smith, PCCD Watershed Specialist.

Each test kit includes:

  • 1 bucket and lid
  • 1 garbage bag
  • 1 small first aid kit
  • 1 low-cost water monitoring water chemistry kit complete with test tubes, directions, result charts, and chemical tablet refills
  • 2 large pipettes
  • 1 Fahrenheit thermometer
  • 1 ‘Key to Macroinvertebrates’ identification sheet
  • 3 paintbrushes
  • 2 pencils
  • 1 compass
  • 12 (1 dram) glass vials and data tags – for preserving and labeling macro specimens
  • 1 field scope with a plastic concave slide and battery powered light
  • 1 small closing magnifying box
  • 1 ice cube tray
  • 2 tweezers
  • 1 ‘Rite in the Rain’ notebook for recording data

Through the project, five field days/workshops were held to train the volunteers. PCCD plans to continue the program in the coming year.

Financial and other support for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.