Mason scientists conduct stream monitoring for the City of Fairfax

R. Christian Jones, Professor/Director, Potomac Environmental Research and Education Center (PEREC), Environmental Science and Policy, and Benoit Van Aken, Associate Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry, are conducting stream monitoring for City of Fairfax.

As part of this work, the researchers are collecting samples at six locations in Fairfax City. 

They are analyzing the samples for dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, specific conductance, turbidity, nitrate, nitrite, total phosphorous, and E. coli.

The researchers will conduct sampling in July 2023, Oct. 2023, Jan. 2024, and April 2024. They will report the results of their analyses to City of Fairfax officials approximately one month after each sampling date.

"This project, a collaboration between the City of Fairfax and the College of Science’s Potomac Environmental Research and Education Center, is a continuation of a study which has been ongoing for the last 14 years," Jones said.

Jones and Van Aken received $7,312 from City of Fairfax for this work. Funding began in July 2023 and will end in late June 2024.