Testing the Waters in Northwestern NC
Many schools surrounding the Western Satellite Office of The Science House are currently participating in the Rural Schools Equipment Loan Program. Teachers are trained to use the latest data-collection technologies by the Western Outreach Coordinator, Gina Barrier. After training, teachers check out a classroom set of the equipment for use with their students. Some of the most used equipment includes the TI CBL (Calculator-Based Lab units) or Vernier LabQuest technology with the water quality probes. With a grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, four water quality kits were developed for teachers in Caldwell and surrounding counties. The kits include temperature, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity sensors. Teachers and students in Caldwell, Catawba, Burke, Wilkes, Alexander, and Ashe counties have used the equipment for local water testing. A couple of the programs are highlighted below.

Caldwell County:
What better way to develop character, good citizenship, and volunteerism in young citizens than to empower them to become concerned stewards of their environment? Caldwell County’s water resources are endangered. Local government and civic groups are taking action to clean, protect and restore our waterways. However, Caldwell County students are leading the educational campaign.

Lower Creek, a waterway that runs directly through rural farmland and pastures then through the middle of the City of Lenoir is on the 303D list of endangered streams. It empties into Lake Rhodhiss, along the Catawba River, which is also on the list, and is the only source of Caldwell County’s drinking water. Local environmental and government agencies are working on a plan of action. During the course of this project, students will assist these agencies in their efforts by monitoring water quality and reporting their findings. Local students will also research and develop methods of cleaning up their local waterways.

Students from Collettsville are monitoring the Johns River. Students from the Gamewell and Hibriten areas are monitoring Lower Creek. For comparison, students from Hudson, the Caldwell Early College High ad the Caldwell Middle College are monitoring Little Gunpowder Creek that flows into the Catawba River near Lake Hickory. Happy Valley students are monitoring the Yadkin River.

Students from the Caldwell County Middle College and Caldwell Early College High School created a permanent kiosk (informational booth) for the public at the local greenway and walking park. In this kiosk they will display information on local water quality for public education. An outdoor classroom is also planned for the area.

The program stresses quality monitoring of chemical and biotic parameters, the overall health of the stream, environmental issues, stewardship and best management practices.

Catawba County:
Each Fall and Spring, teachers and students from Catawba County Schools including Mill Creek Middle and Riverbend Middle descend upon Historic Murray’s Mill in Catawba, NC for a fun-filled yet educational day of playing in the water! Students play pollution games, reflect on their day in writing, tour the old mill and test the water. In the millpond, student test chemical parameters such as temperature, pH, conductivity, turbidity and dissolved oxygen. In the stream below the dam, students search for macro-invertebrates, biological indicators of water quality. In the photo to the left, students discovered bryozoan colonies in the stream.

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