Students from across the watershed have spent the month of October getting out and exploring the rivers and creeks in our area before the weather forces them out of the water.
Ninth and tenth grade students from Owen High met at Black Mountain Recreation Park and learned how to conduct water quality tests using macroinvertebrate surveys as bioindicators of stream health, as well as chemical testing samples for factors such as pH and turbidity. They also performed stream assessments based on personal observations.
Second graders from Carolina Day School and Claxton Elementary AIG students participated in similar activities over in the Bent Creek Experimental Forest.
“The process of discovery for these students really helps them understand the underlying principles pertaining to the environment. I think it’s much more effective than reading about it in a textbook,” said RiverLink Education Coordinator Nikki Bauman.
As a result from the activities, both creek locations concluded to having healthy water. For more information on how to get your classroom or student involved with RiverLink environmental education, call 828-252-8474 x18.