Harmless coloring will provide important data on flow rates and dilution

ALBANY - New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner John P. Cahill announced that a harmless fluorescent red dye is being used in selected streams within the New York City Watershed as part of a monitoring program to measure flow rates and dilution in the streams. Use of the dye will likely result in a temporary and harmless coloring of water in the subject streams.

The activity is being conducted under an enhanced monitoring program being implemented by DEC in the Watershed with support from the United States Environmental Protection Agency through Safe Drinking Water Act grants. DEC continues to encourage Watershed residents to report any conditions of concern in Watershed streams to either DEC or the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

Fluorescent red dyes are being released in 10 streams as part of a monitoring project by the non-profit Stroud Water Research Center, under contract with the DEC to monitor Watershed streams. The dyes will be released twice in each of the study streams over the next several weeks. Specific dates of application will vary depending on weather conditions and other factors.

The dye, Rhodamine WT, is commonly used to measure water flow rates and dilutions in streams, rivers and oceans. Rhodamine WT is certified by the National Sanitation Foundation International (NSFI) for use in hydrologic studies of drinking water supplies. Its use by Stroud conforms to NSFI's guidelines.

According to scientists at Stroud, dye will be dripped into the selected streams in low concentrations, approximately 10 parts per billion, for about 90 minutes. As the dye flows downstream, these concentrations diminish rapidly as a result of dilution and dispersion. The dye will be undetectable in the watershed's reservoirs and drinking water supplies. Scientists and technicians involved in the program will monitor the dye at five posts along the stream over distances varying between one and six miles.

The streams selected for the dye releases are: the West Branch Delaware River between South Kortright and Delhi, the Bushkill Creek between Covesville and Arkville, the Schoharie River near Lexington, the Esopus Creek near Allaben, the Neversink River near Claryville, the Roundout Creek near Sundown, the Middle Branch Croton River near Lake Carmel, the Muscoot River near Baldwin Place, the Cross River in Ward Pound Ridge Reservation and the Kisco River near Mount Kisco.

For information call Bernard Sweeney at the Stroud Water Research Center at 610/268-2153.

BRANCHVILLE, NJ - On September 2 the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will conduct a Wild Horse and Burro Adoption at the Sussex County Farm and Horse Show in Branchville, New Jersey. Up to 50 animals will be available for this event. Since the Adopt-A-Wild Horse & Burro Program began in 1973, over 173,000 animals have been adopted.

The BLM is responsible for the wild horse and burro herds on Western public lands. To maintain an ecological balance, excess animals are removed from the fragile rangelands, examined by a veterinarian, vaccinated, wormed, blood-tested and offered for adoption to good homes.

Prospective adopters must have sturdy corrals at least six feet high for horses and five feet for burros, shelter, transportation and the means of caring for the animals. The adoption fee will be determined by competitive bid, with a minimum bid of $125 per animal. The fees help defray the Federal Government's cost of roundup, veterinary care, transportation and administrative expenses.

The animals will arrive on Friday September 1 with viewing hours from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Adoption will be from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday.

For applications and more information about this event contact the Bureau of Land Management, P.O. Box 631, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53201-0631, or call 1-800-293-1781, 414/297-4443 or FAX 414/297-4442.

LAKE ARIEL - Environmentalism will be the topic of a special presentation in the Lacawac Sanctuary Carriage House on Wednesday August 23 at 7:30 p.m. Dr. John Mizzoni, a Commonwealth Speaker of the Pennsylvania Humanities Council (PHC), will speak on the "Origins of American Environ-Mentalism." This presentation is free and open to the public.

Mizzoni examines the conflict between Gifford Pinchot and John Muir in the first decade of the 20th century and how it played out in environmentalism today, exploring how it might continue into the next century.

The event is a program of the PHC, supported in-part by a grant from the PA Historical and Museum Commission. For information call 570/689-9494.

LIBERTY - The District is now holding their annual Trout Stocking Program. If you are interested in stocking your pond with trout this fall, the District will be accepting orders until Friday September 29. Rainbow, brook and brown trout are being offered for sale. Trout should be stocked in cold-water ponds. Anyone stocking a pond with fish must apply for a fishpond license through the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation in New Paltz, NY. A permit for the license will be sent to you along with an order form.

The District will distribute pre-ordered trout on Saturday October 7 from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. at the District office in Liberty. For information or an order form call 845/292-6552, Ext. 101.

LOOKOUT - The historic Hill Sawmill in Lookout, Pennsylvania will hold an open house with guided tours and live sawing demonstrations on Saturday August 19 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. To reach The Hill Sawmill take Route 191 north from Honesdale. Continue through the 4-way stop at Rileyville Corners. Go another two miles. Just past Neer's produce, take Creek Road (to your left). At the "T" in the road, turn right. At the "Y" in the road turn left. You can see the sawmill from here.