Students Monitor Silas Creek

Fifth grade science students from Sherwood Elementary have been learning all about stormwater runoff pollution from their teacher, Marian French.  They had even monitored Silas Creek last fall to check the quality of the water in the creek.  At Ms. French's invitation, the Stormwater Division helped to supplement what they had already learned.

First off, Community Educator, Roseann L'Esperance, visited with each of the classes and brought along an Enviroscape to help explain how pollutants can flow across a watershed. Students were full of thoughtful questions about the causes and consequences of various pollutants, such as fertilizers, motor oil and pet waste. 

Next, students returned to Silas Creek to meet with the experts Keith Huff and Andy Allen, from the City's Stormwater Division.  After learning all about how the city monitors for water quality, students carefully monitored and then compared notes with city staff and found that they were very close on the various parameters that were measured, such as pH, temperature, nitrogen and dissolved oxygen, among others.

Our hats are off to Ms. French and her fifth grade classes for really taking the time to learn all about stormwater runoff pollution and its' effects on our water ways!