CITIZEN-BASED STREAM MONITORING OF KILBOURN CREEKIndian Trail High School and Academy

Paul Fix - Biotechnology and Environmental Studies Academy6800 60th St., Kenosha, WI 53144 (262) 359-8700

BACKGROUND

PROJECT GOALS

The overall goal of this project is to begin and maintain a long-term stream monitoring program that both educates students in environmental science and fosters a sense of civic engagement.

Specifically, we aim to:• Provide high quality data on a variety of stream attributes to state and local agencies. • Engage students in their learning by showing them a direct application of classroom knowledge.• Foster a sense of environmental awareness and stewardship in over 70 high school students each year.• Use annually collected data for in-class lessons on water quality analysis and graphing.

Students in the Biotechnology and Environmental Studies Academy are required to take a year-long Ecology course. As part of this course, students participate in annual service learning projects in state and city parks, which include exotic species removal, maintaining trails, and updating picnic facilities. This water quality study was intended to expand this already established program by allowing students to apply information and skills learned in their Ecology class to a real-world task. Students were trained in Water Action Volunteer (WAV, level 1) protocols before doing the biannual monitoring.

LOCATION

Kilbourn Creek is located in Gateway Center Park in Kenosha, Wisconsin near the intersection of I-94 and Highway 50. The creek is part of the Des Plaines watershed. The City of Kenosha recently acquired Gateway Center Park, which includes the Phil Sander Nature Area.

Picture from: http://basineducation.uwex.edu/basins/images/map2.gif

Wisconsin Water Basins

Location of Kilbourn Creek

RESULTS

In year one, students collected data in September 2009 and May 2010. Data were collected from

multiple sites and then averaged.