Environmental Education, Salmon, South Sound GREEN, Water Quality

Water testing in South Sound

IKPThis fall nearly 1200 students visited their local waterways to find out how healthy the water is for salmon.  With mostly sunny, dry days this fall, students fanned out across the Henderson, Deschutes, Eld and Totten Watersheds.  Overall, 57 sites were tested.  Student data showed better than optimal levels of dissolved oxygen in the Deschutes River, cold temperatures (all below 9 degrees C), and low turbidity.  Students will trek back out to their monitoring sites this February to once again collect and test the water, this time making observations on how increased rainfall might change their results.  Many thanks to the teachers and multiple parent and community volunteers who turned out to make this day a success!