The Three Mile Island disaster occurred on March 28, 1979. The nuclear power plant, in the small community of Middleton, Pennsylvania, suffered a partial meltdown in the Unit 2 reactor Many factors contributed to the collapse. Human errors, mechanical failures and communication breakdowns contributed to, as well as exacerbated, the disaster. Over the course of about a week, many theories, projections, announcements and media speculation led to widespread public fear and mistrust. Many experts considered the Three Mile Island disaster to be the worst disaster in the history of private nuclear power in the United States. Estimates of radiation losses have shown a wide range of amounts. This is still a controversial point, as no solution was ever reached. The Middleton, Pennsylvania ecosystem is highly dependent on the water quality of the Susquehanna River and Swatara Creek. The Pennsylvania Department of Natural Resources has indicated that a major concern in these watersheds is chemical pollution from point and nonpoint sources. Species of primary interest include plants, animals and aquatic species. Nesting bald eagles, peregrine falcons, and ospreys in the Susquehanna area would benefit from preserving buffer areas from sources of development and pollution. Pollution, including changing temperatures of the water source, threatens the waterpod, a native mussel. Flat-stemmed rush, white lily, and mallow are plant species affected by the water quality of these springs. Maintaining and improving water quality must be a priority for these species and the area's ecosystem. The area is predominantly agricultural in nature. Studies have indicated that after the 1979 disaster, pets, with...... middle of paper ....... Updated. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, 2005. Web. May 8, 2012. “Three Mile Island Incident.” Three Mile Island. World Nuclear Association, January 2012. Web. 02 May 2012. "Three Mile Island: The Inside Story." National Museum of American History. Smithsonian Institute. Network. 02 May 2012. .Wasserman, Harvey. “Three Mile Island: Exposing the Government Cover-Up of Our Most Notorious Nuclear Accident.” Alternet.org. AlterNet, 30 March 2009. Web. 02 May 2012. .