Photo Gallery
Headwaters
Title 2
Title 3
Title 4

SECTION 3
Title 1
Title 2
Title 3
Title 4
Title 5

SECTION 4
Title 1
Title 2
Title 3
Title 4
Title 5
Title 6

Summary by Stockton Student Bob Fromtling

Adam’s Branch Survey

In our survey of the stream quality and storm water runoff in Adam’s Branch, we asked the residents in the vicinity of the stream to fill out questionnaires focused on knowledge and interest about steam quality.  We received twenty eight responses. 

The residents who responded had lived in the vicinity for anywhere from a couple weeks up to thirty years.  The average period of residency was four and a half years. 

When gauging the citizens’ knowledge of Adam’s Branch, I was shocked to find very little general knowledge of its whereabouts and its headwaters.  Very few people knew that Adam’s Branch and the pond/rainwater retention basin it flows from were the nearest surface water to their houses.  In fact only two residents knew that the Branch was the closest water. 

Despite the lack of knowledge pertaining to Adams Branch, much of the neighborhood seemed aware of storm water runoff problems in their locality.  A couple people knew that the runoff from the racetrack and Hamilton mall parking lot were responsible for Adams’s Branch and many were concerned about storm drains and their inability to cope with the large amounts of runoff the neighborhood receives as result of its proximity to the racetrack and mall.  Half of the residents surveyed said that they were concerned with storm drain backup.  One resident even described the scope of the problem.  She described to me events when rainwater would rise up to the point where her entire lawn was saturated and water almost reached her door. 

Eleven residents said that water based recreational activities were very important to them, but many also stated that the water was not of very good quality and some were distrustful of the effects the water could have on humans.  Of the twenty eight people surveyed, twelve had no children and eleven said that their children either waded or swam in the pond near their housing complex.  It can’t be certain, but the amount of storm drainage coming off the parking lot of Hamilton Mall probably carries with it a lot of gasoline and other car created pollutants.  I’m not sure if this could cause negative health effects on the children that play in the stream, but it is a possibility and could be looked into. 

When asked whether they were satisfied with their current water based recreation opportunities, only six said yes.  Many residents were interested in the possibility of streamside trails, picnic areas, or wildlife observation sites.