Tours, Workshops and Exhibitions...

For more information call: 268-1027

  • Community Resource Trailer

    The Trailer is open: Saturdays from 9 am to 1 pm, and Sundays from 12 to 4 pm.
    Stop by to meet with the NMR team.

Recent Events Flyer-Adobe Acrobat File

 


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An essential part of the interdisciplinary inquiry of Nine Mile Run includes learning to "see" with the eyes of our colleagues. What happens when a planning/site development/art team begins to embrace and think about "place" from a diversity of points of view?

If you have another way to "see" or experience this particular place and would like to share it with our widening community of "Creative Inquirers," or would like to be notified of upcoming site tours, call the Nine Mile Run - Frick Watershed team at 268-3673. 

Ask to be added to the site tour notification list.

Henry Prellwitz

On April 13, 1997 Henry Prellwitz, Ph.D. candidate in geology from the University of Pittsburgh led a tour of the slag heaps. Henry began by taking us up to look at an Ames Limestone outcrop just below the Jewish home for the aged, then through, around and up and over the border of the slag heap. He identified various geologic features on the border of the slag/natural landscape and began an interesting discussion about the diversity of potential study areas on the site and the need for an extended exploration. [Sleep the Heap, and the possibility of an onsite symposium were floated!] He also explained that he has currently made an application for Heinz foundation funding, for test borings related to a groundwater inquiry for his PHD thesis. Henry was supported by Dr. Michael Bikerman his advisor during the tour. Steffi Domike invited Mining Engineer Chris Mark to participate as well. At the same time, John Stephen led a small group of educators and water biologists on a tour of the wetlands area of the site. Jody Krug a South Hill educator, Louise Davis a wetlands scientists/artist; Nancy Rackham a DEP water pollution biologist, and various folks from the educational curriculum offices at Pittsburgh City Schools. 

John Buck


  John with Eva once again, discussing his techniques of mushroom compost and seedlings for reclaiming slag hillsides.
 

On March 16, 1997, John Buck, Environmental Scientist, and his daughter Eva led a tour of areas upon which he'd conducted reclamation and revegetation experiments with Black Locusts and other species, 10 years ago. On steep slopes Black Locust and Bristly Locust seedlings were planted by volunteers suspended by ropes in the spring of 1986. They are now 12+ feet tall and have survived two significant droughts (1988 and 1995). The soil treatments that worked included surficial application of spent mushroom compost, without incorporation (plowing under), followed by seeding a mixture of warm- and cool-season grasses, birdsfoot trefoil (a legume), and planting of day lily bulbs. In the fall of 1995, lucky timing (merciful rains) and application of commercial fertilizer and winter rye seed alone also worked and nearby seed sources have since colonized the soil surface with perennial species. Compare the bare nature of this slope, with the following photograph.

John Buck is employed as a Project Manager for the firm of Civil and Environmental Consultants Inc.