Students evaluate condition of river
by Lori Puckett
September 29, 2009
Paul Ingle, a watershed hydrologist from Flint Hills Resource
Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council, led students,
staff, and community in a stream assessment class on September 3 at
the river's edge of the Melvern Waterfront Park and
Trails.
Using a stream assessment worksheet consisting of ten
characteristics of a healthy stream, Mr. Ingle encouraged
participants to look at the stream with a whole new set of eyes.
Among the components on the evaluation were: channel condition,
bank stability, hydrologic obstructions, riparian zone, water
clarity, pools and riffles, riffle embededness, aquatic habitat,
E-Coli potential, and canopy cover. With Paul's assistance the
group came up with a score of 6.4. Each item was rated on a 10
point scale. The class was initiated and funded by Healthy
Ecosystems-Healthy Communities (HEHC) Project.
Participants in the activity included students from Mrs. Puckett's Environmental Education class, consisting of Rebecca Goodwin, Dakota Willingham, Daniel Heslop, Patty Brannan, Courtney Lee, and Cheyenne Graika, and members of Mrs. Cope's Spanish II class,consisting of Jamie Spencer, Jeff Engleken, Kenny Berry, Jasmine Mock, Becca Bush, Travis Cox, and Raven Peer.
There are many "best management practices" or BMPs everyone can use to keep local water supplies clean. See the following website for additional information: http://www.epa.gov/nps/toolbox/search.htm
Mrs. Pucket, Danny Rice, and Dee Robinson were students in a stream assessment class instructed by Paul Ingle in July 2009. In addition, Mrs. Cope, Mr. Rice, and Mrs. Puckett were among other area teachers who completed a class in the summer of 2008, called "Using Environmental Education as a Community Tool: Healthy Ecosystems-Healthy Communities."
