Earth System Science on the Anacostia River 
Investigating Seasons in our Biome
Model Secondary School for the Deaf     2007/2008 
GLOBE Seasons and Biomes Project

River Pilot Trip with the Earth Conservation Corps
Photo Story         October 18, 2007
Tour leader:  Mr. Glen O'Gilvie, CEO

9:00 Bus departs from MSSD.  We're right on time!
9:20 Arriving at Earth Conservation Corps' buidling, the Matthew Henson Environmental Education Center.

Everyone gets a life jacket.

Mr. Glen O'Gilvie pilots the boat and explains about the river environment and it's history.


 The photo above shows the boat passing under the Douglas Bridge (South Capital St.)  Beyond the bridge notice the pier.  

<= The photo at the right shows the end of the pier where the OspreyCam is mounted.   MSSD students will use the OspreyCam (webcam #2), which shows a view of the river, to monitor ice during the winter months.
 

Station #1  Mouth of the Anacostia River
 




Our first measurements were at Station #1 at the mouth of the Anacostia, where it meets the Potomac River.


The students work in teams (3) to do measurements.

Megan and Tristain will try out the Secchi Disk.
Merime is recording the data

Team #1 does Atmosphere measurements.  Here Ram and Corey record air temperature & humidity.
Mike and Dom use the GLOBE cloud chart to identify the clouds.

Team #3 is getting water data.

Observing plankton we caught in the plankton net.

Jo and Amelia use the Secchi disk to determine how far down you can see into the water.

When we are done with data Mr. O'Gilvie moved the boat up the river.

Mr. O'Gilvie describes the history of the river and explained what we saw along the shore.


Station #2  Old Historic Pumphouse building & D.C. sewage outfall

The old D.C. pump house is now owned by the ECC and is used as a classroom.  Beyond is the Douglas Bridge, and the pier where the OspreyCam (#2) is.
RiverCam #1 is shown in this picture in the red circle.

This is approximately the view from the webcam. We stopped the boat here to do measurements for Station #2.

Jake gets a water sample in a plastic bottle.  We took the sample back to school to measure the salinity.

Mary showed the location on the map.
Laura used a GPS to find out latitute and longitude.

Ryan and Ameena are using the Secchi disk to measure water transparency.
Ryan records the data.

We almost lost the plankton net!  Breanna rescued it. The net got stuck on the floating yellow boom.
Maria and Ashley try to see plankton in our sample. Most of the plankton is so small we will need a microscope to see it.


Moving along the river, to the northeast

We pass the Navy Yard and the ship permanently moored at the dock.
Benji what do you want?

LOW bridge ahead! This is the CSX railroad bridge.
Mr. O'Gilvie takes us safely under the low bridge.



We made it!
Then what?


Station #3 Kingman Island area, above CSX railroad bridge

We are now near Kingman Island, which was made from mud dredged from the bottom of the river.
Team 1 is doing the Atmosphere measurements.  John records the air temperature.

Wegahta and Merime use the Secchi disk.

10....20...30....40....50.....60......70 cm!   That is how far down they can see into the water.

John identifies the clouds.
Mike and Ryan get a sample bottle of water.

Corey reads our latitude and longitude.
Drew measures the water temperature.

Danielle used a plankton net to trawl for plankton in the surface water at each measurement station.
Ameena really wants to see that plankton!

Chris uses a compass to find north, and then find our location on the map.
In the stern we are done collecting data - just looking at plankton now.


Measurements are finished!  Time to enjoy the ride back to ECC
Uh oh.... time to get back on shore! 
Mike is in a hurry!!
Mr. O'Gilvie tells us more about how badly the river has suffered from human activities.  Our wonderful interpreter is Jennifer Boyd.

We see people on the south bank of the river.
Friendly people wave back!


Looking at pictures from the morning.


Yes Ben?







We're Back!


Back at the ECC - The Matthew Henson Environmental Education Center

Students have a chance to ask questions about the Ancostia River.

We learned about Matthew Henson - he was the first man to get to the North Pole, along with Robert Peary, April 6, 1909. They named this building to honor him. He went to the Arctic! that fits well with our Ice Phenology study!
Mr. O'Gilvie explains the programs at ECC.  We thank him for a wonderful trip!  Thanks to Jennifer too!

Just a short bus ride back....
We had a great morning! 

At MSSD - we missed lunch A, but plenty of time to get some food, lunch B.