Think Globally

Ecosystems Studies Field Laboratory
at Altona Flat Rock

Learn Locally

Hydrogeology

     The hydrogeological environment of the Flat Rock areas is controlled by the absence of soil cover and the fracture porosity of the Potsdam Sandstone.  Bedrock control of vegetation growth is well shown at the Gadway jack pine barrens on Blackman Rock (photo below), where the vegetation pattern reflects  terracing of the horizontally bedded sandstone.  Small differences in soil depth and moisture availability can create greatly different ecosystems over very small distances in this region.  The Gadway Pine barrens on Blackman Rock is shown from an altitude of  about 7,000 feet in the photograph below.  The margin of the sandstone pavement, and its associated jack pine forest, is clearly delimited from the surrounding deciduous and mixed deciduous and  coniferous forests which are just beginning to "leaf-out" in the adjacent photo (right). 

The Gadway jack pine barrens on Blackman Rock. (photo by K.B. Adams)

    Hydrogeological studies at the ESFL site focus upon the area around Miner Dam.  The dam was part of a failed hydroelectric project built by W.H. Miner between 1910 and 1913.  By the time of it's completion, the Ambrusen-type dam attained a maximum height of 10-meters and stretched more than 700-meters across the Little Chazy River valley.  It took nearly 2 years to fill the reservoir to capacity.  Miner's engineers realized that seepage through Cobblestone Hill, which forms the northeastern boundary of the former reservoir, threatened the viability of the hydroelectric project.  To mitigate the seepage loss, they spread a 6 to 12-centimeters thick layer of concrete over the flank of Cobblestone Hill and poured a grout curtain to bedrock along the centerline of the reservoir. The grouted area, known locally as the "Scarpit" is clearly shown in the adjacent photograph (right).  In spite of these efforts, the hydroelectric project was only marginally successful and was ultimately abandoned in 1922.

< ESFL Site Map >               < B+W Aerial Photo of ESFL Site >

Aerial photograph of Miner Dam and the Scarpit from an altitude of about 3,000 feet.  The mixed hardwood and conifer forest in the lower foreground covers Cobblestone Hill, the pine barrens in the upper background covers Altona Flat Rock.	Miner Dam at ground level (view to north)

    Plattsburgh State University students utilize field studies and analysis of data from a network of meteorological and hydrological instrumentation around the former reservoir to better understand the hydrogeology of the upper Little Chazy River watershed and the reasons for the failure of Miner Dam.  The laboratories and student research projects that have been developed from the field site combine traditional field and laboratory skills with new technology and a problem-based, small-group learning approach. 

        < Acknowledgements >

Ed Romanowicz presents a hydrogeologic "chalk talk" to  REU students	Michael Parsons drills an observation well on  Altona Flat Rock	Jamie Bellona takes a break from sampling wetland plants on  Altona Flat Rock	Jason Pallack and Stephanie Stone measure discharge in the  Little Chazy River