Monitoring Ecological Recovery of the

Torch Lake Superfund Sites for the U.S. EPA

8:30 AM-4:00 PM, Wed.-Thurs., August 20-21, 2003

For High School Science & Math Teachers

Workshop Presenters:

• Brenda Jones, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

· Rich Henry, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

• Bruce Petersen, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

· Joan Schumaker Chadde, Western UP Center for Science, Mathematics and Environmental Education

WORKSHOP AGENDA

Wednesday, August 20

8:00 AM Coffee & Introductions (875 Dow Atrium, MTU)

8:30 AM Program Overview & Goals (875 Dow, MTU)

· Torch Lake Mining & Milling History (Bruce Petersen, NRCS)

· Torch Lake Superfund Remediation Objectives (Brenda Jones, EPA)

· Fall 2002 Remediation Monitoring and Results (Brenda Jones, EPA)

· Intro to sampling methods & protocols (Rich Henry)

1. Plant Sampling

2. Soil sampling

3. Bird Survey

· Teacher Participant Requirements, Data Sharing, Logistics (Brenda Jones)

· Questions

1.Torch Lake Mining History

Noon LUNCH (on campus – provided)

1:00-4:00 PM Conduct Sampling at Mason site

· Collect soil samples for fertility testing (pH, P,K, N, texture)

· Measure plant species distribution; collect voucher specimens, plant identification; plant biomass production; plant root penetration; soil coverage by vegetation.

· Conduct qualitative bird community surveys.

Thursday, August 21

8:30-Noon Data Collection at Torch Lake Superfund Project Sites (Meeting Location TBA)

· Dollar Bay/Point Mills - soils

· Hubbell/Tamarack City - birding

· Lake Linden Village Park - plants

· Gay Sands (baseline data for unremediated site for comparison)

Noon-1:00 PM Lunch (at Loading Zone in Lake Linden)

1:00-3:00 PM Continue Data Collection

3:00-4:00 PM Implementation in the Classroom, Follow-Up Meeting & Workshop Evaluations