Dam Damage

Geology major isn't afraid to get her hands dirty

April 1, 2008

One of Courtney Hayne's fieldwork experiences took place last summer in northwestern British Columbia. With Ben Edwards, associate professor of geology, she spent five weeks researching volcanic eruptions that take place beneath glaciers.

Courtney Haynes '09 has pursued field experiences at home and abroad as a geology major. She went to British Columbia in summer 2007 and currently is studying in New Zealand. But for her Sedimentology and Stratigraphy class with Professor of Geology Marcus Key last fall, Haynes found a local research opportunity during the Wittlinger Dam removal at the Yellow Breeches Creek.

"The water diverted from the dam was used to power a mill in Boiling Springs, Pa., and since the mill was no longer in use, the dam was costly to maintain and considered a safety hazard," Haynes says. "Dams in general have negative impact on aquatic life, so removing them is becoming more common. [However,] few studies have been done to look at the negative impact during the removal process."

Sediment flowing downstream that is trapped behind a dam suddenly breaks free when a dam is removed. This rapid change can damage aquatic life.

"I looked at the turbidity [the amount of suspended sediment] of the water and the sediment distribution across the stream," Haynes says. "The water was clear while the dam was in place, but became less clear while the dam was being removed and became clear again after the dam was completely removed."

"Courtney was out there measuring turbidity while they were taking the dam apart with a backhoe," says Key. "She was able to document throughout the dam removal that there was a big increase in turbidity. Fortunately, it was short-term enough that it didn't negatively impact organisms."

Her geology-driven approach to what often is studied through a biology lens will expand this summer through a student/faculty research project with Jeffrey Niemitz, professor of geology. The two will study sediment along Yellow Breeches Creek.

"Hopefully we'll determine the impact agriculture and industry has had on the creek," says Haynes, who will use this research as part of a senior project.

"One of the reasons I wanted to become a geology major was so that I would actually 'get my feet wet' and become involved in projects in the field," she says. Haynes also works for the Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring (ALLARM) when on campus.

"I hope to continue working with environmental issues in the future," says Haynes. "Understanding the science is the best way to convince the public that there is a problem and then be able to work toward solutions."