Living Laboratory
The Goose Creek Living Laboratory brings together students, residents, and university professors to conduct research and monitoring of Goose Creek using real-world methods and cutting-edge technologies. The Living Lab provides real-life experiential learning for undergraduate and graduate student scientists within steps of West Chester University and gives students meaningful collaborative experiences. As we continue to expand our analytical capacity, the Goose Creek Living Lab will continue to educate students, build collaboration, and help inform data-driven restoration and management. Please check out the work of our student scientists below!
Monitoring Stations
Research on Goose Creek is continuous due to the monitoring of two research sites along the stream. Click the links below to be redirected to the Monitor My Watershed data pages on Goose Creek.
BIO 435-21: Stream Assessment and Rehabilitation
2022 Summer Session I
In the summer of 2022, seven West Chester students participated in this service-learning course under the guidance of Dr. Megan Fork. Students conducted projects in the urban watersheds of West Chester and analyzed the environmental health of the Goose Creek corridor. Their report describes riparian vegetation, stream water temperature and chemistry, and aquatic animals at three sites. Their research shows that more than half of the riparian plant species are non-native and invasive. While the dissolved oxygen concentrations in the stream can support fish and invertebrates, the students observed high concentrations of phosphorus and conductivity, indicators of urban pollution and poor water quality. The class recommends planting and maintaining robust riparian buffers around the streams to mitigate some of these issues.
Student Report: Ben Langey
This research was conducted by Ben Langey in the summer of 2022 for his Master's Degree at West Chester University.
Student Report: Danielle Scudero
Danielle conducted her research in the summer of 2022 as an intern at Brandywine Urban Forest for her undergraduate degree in Biology: Ecology and Conservation.