Water sampling was done at the mouth of Rock Run on April 5.

Air Temperature: 55° F
Water Temperature: 46° F
Linn Run Gauge Height: 1.95
pH: 7.3
Alkalinity: 3.9

This month, Denny Hess conducted a training session on how to use the pH meter and do the alkalinity titration test.

Click here Rock Run pH Chart 2021 for the rundown on monthly test results for this year.

“Neither rain nor snow nor dark of night…”, you know the saying. You may question their sanity, but the FTTU citizen scientists were out in the rain and snow and mist and fog to do our monthly water quality tests at the mouth of Rock Run. We visited two other Linn Run tributaries Grove Run and Quarry Run and took samples there as well. The flow in the watershed was healthy do to snow melt and rain which also stesses the alkalinity of the streams. Rock Run has the lowest alkalinity of the three, which is what led to out limestone treatment project there. Quarry Run, which is basically a large spring, has the best water quality of the three.

Air Temperature: 37° F
Linn Run Discharge: 19
Linn Run Gauge Height: 2.16

Rock Run
Water Temperature: 41.5° F
pH: 7.3
Alkalinity: 3.1

Grove Run
Water Temperature: 39.5°
pH: 7.2
Alkalinity: 6.2

Quarry Run
Water Temperature: 40.5°
pH: 7.2
Alkalinity: 16.6

You may question their sanity, but the FTTU testing crew was out with temperatures in the teens at Rock Run taking water samples this past Saturday.
It was a “crisp” but beautiful winter day at Linn Run State Park, Rock Run was flowing moderate and as always, clear.

Air Temp: 19 degrees F
Water Temp: 29.5 degrees F
Linn Run Gauge: 1.91 ft.
Linn Run Discharge: 21.8 ft³/sec.
pH: 7.6
Alkalinity: 3.2

We also collected some snow from around the area, allowed it to melt, and took readings of those samples as well.
pH: 7.3
Alkalinity: 4.5

A new year of water quality testing begins on Rock Run. The flow is high with rain and snow runoff, so the stream’s alkalinity content is put to the test.

Air Temperature: 39 degrees F
Water Temperature: 40.5 degrees F
Linn Run discharge: 22.0
Linn Run gauge: 2.88
pH: 6.8
Alkalinity: 2.6

The testers braved the chill and completed the final water tests at the mouth of Rock Run on December 5.

December Numbers
Air Temperature: 36 Degrees F
Water Temperature: 40 Degrees F
pH: 7.2
Alkalinity: 5.0
Linn Run Gauge: 2.35
Linn Run Discharge:22

Highs and Lows
Air Temperature: High – 72 in August. Low – 27 in January.
Water Temperature: High – 67 in August. Low – 37.5 in January
pH: High – 7.5 in November. Low – 6.5 in January.
Alkalinity: High – 11.4 in August. Low – 2.2 in May.
Linn Run Gauge: High – 2.38 in January. Low – 1.4 in October.
Linn Run Discharge: High – 48.8 in March. Low – too low for a reading in August.

Averages for 2020
Air Temperature: 51.8
Water Temperature: 50.5
pH: 6.88
Alkalinity: 5.92
Linn Run Gauge: 1.92
Linn Run Discharge: 17.92

Surprisingly, despite the drought, Linn Run gauge and discharge averages were higher in 2020 than 2019 probably because of high flows early in the year.
pH was up in 2020, but alkalinity was down slightly probably because high flows produced low readings in January, February, March and May.
You can view the whole 2020 report by clicking here Rock Run Tests 2020.

The Citizen Scientists were at it again on Saturday, November 1st.
Readings taken at the mouth of Rock Run are as follows:
Air Temperature: 48 Degrees F
Water Temperature: 47.5 Degrees F
Linn Run Gauge: 2.01
Linn Run Discharge: 9.0
pH: 7.5
Alkalinity: 9.5

We also hiked in to the headwaters on the East Branch and took readings there.
EAST BRANCH
pH: 7.4
Alkalinity: 37.8

WEST BRANCH
pH: 6.8
Alkalinity: 2.1

MAIN STEM 200′ Below Confluence
pH: 7.3
Alkalinity: 35.2

The effects of the limestone sand dosing are plain to see from the difference in alkalinity. The limestone sand piles are located near the top of the East Branch. The West Branch has not been treated with limestone. The alkalinity test at the mouth shows the influence of the limestone (+7.4) 1.5 miles downstream.
The East Branch is about 3/4 mile long. The readings were taken about 1/2 mile from the limestone. Limestone sand is evident throughout the entire length of the East Branch. The West Branch is smaller and has a lower flow.

Here’s the readings taken at the mouth of Rock Run on October 4, 2020.

Air Temperature – 39 Degrees F
Water Temperature – 50 Degrees F
Alkalinity – 9
pH – 7.2
Linn Run Gauge – 1.4
Linn Run Discharge – 1.8

Samples were taken upstream above the limestone sand piles.

pH – 4.8
Alkalinity – Zero!
Water Temperature – 50 Degrees F

Much needed rain has brought up the flow and a breath of fresh “air” for the trout.

Air Temperature: 68 degrees F
Water Temperature: 65 degrees F
Linn Run Discharge: 2.5
Linn Run Gauge: 2.04
pH: 7.0
Alkalinity: 6.7

The Linn Run gauge remained around 1.4, well below average, for most of the month of August until the rain of August 28th brought levels above 2.0.

Some rain would be nice.

The gauge reading on Linn Run was the lowest recorded since we started taking these reading in October 2017. The alklinity test was the highest of 2020.
The discharge for Linn Run, measured in cubic feet per second, was unavailable on the USGS website because, it appears, the flow was below the minimum measurement of 2.0. The median flow for this time of year is 2.5 cubic ft/sec.
In the photo at left, Rock Run appears to be dried up, but there is indeed a flow in at least two of three channels.

Air Temperature: 72 degrees F
Water Temperature: 67 degrees F
pH: 6.6
Alkalinity: 11.4
Linn Run Gauge: 1.36

Flow goes down, alkalinity goes up, here’s the results of water testing for July.

Air Temperature: 70 Degrees F
Water Temperature: 63 Degrees F
Linn Run Gauge: 1.42
Linn Run Discharge: 5.9
pH: 6.7
Alkalinity: 8.0
Turbidity: Low & Clear

Lowest flow of 2020. Rain Please!