How do you get a snapshot of water quality along 20 miles of the Pennypack Creek? A lot of people, a lot of stream walking, and a lot of sample filtering… a hearty team of volunteers from Temple University and Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust came out on Oct 2 to collect samples every half mile from the headwaters to Rhawn St in Philadelphia. We started with the 2007 Philadelphia Water Department sampling sites (map) and filled in data points in between. The samples will be analyzed for nutrients, trace metals, and stable isotope tracers. This study is funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation which compares 4 urban streams on the east coast as part of the Critical Zone network. Pennypack Creek will be getting a detailed look over the 5-year study.