Poster ()- #OSU8 - KEYWORDS: trash environment watershed citizen volunteer GIS

Trash Site Frequency in Stillwater Creek Watershed

James M. Pendred
Oklahoma State University, Main Campus, Stillwater

ABSTRACT:
Watersheds encompass potentially fragile ecosystems. Their stability is dependent upon natural vegetation and steady water flow. When conditions are optimal, this will establish an ecosystem viable to both terrestrial and aquatic species. Anthropogenic influences can disrupt these areas. This investigation was supported from volunteer citizen science data. Oklahoma's Blue Thumb program recruits volunteers to monitor transects of streams. The volunteers take measurements that test for water quality. Other metrics are observed, such as the presence of trash in the riverine environment. Trash is noted as being present or not. The volunteer data was loaded into a Geographic Information Science program by site location. The data was qualified for comparative analysis by converting the frequency into a percentage and layered on top of a National Land Cover Database map depicting land use development. The purpose was to convey that there is a high sight frequency value that correlates to highly developed areas. Based on available data, this correlation was found to be valid. The desired result of this investigation is to improve how trash is measured during volunteer observations and enhance decision making for the remediation of trash when visible at sites.