The document provides information about the Muddy River in Boston and how students can study its urban ecology. It describes the Muddy River restoration project and tools that students can use to explore the river's field site, collect water quality data, develop a research question, gather data, and share their research at conferences. The goal is to educate students about the unique ecology of the Muddy River and its watershed through hands-on study.

1. How Muddy is the Muddy River?
Patreka J. Wood-Blain
Boston Public Schools

2. What is Urban Ecology?
• Relatively new area of science
• Focuses on the affects of urbanization on
the health of the ecosystems
• The Urban Ecology Institute educates
students about their environment through
hands-on exploration of the unique
ecology at each field site.

3. The Muddy River
• Encompasses 5.6 square miles
• Flows through Boston, Brookline & Newton
• Part of the Charles River Watershed

4. Muddy River Restoration Project

5. Exploring Your Field Site
• Scavenger Hunt
• Social Ecology Site
Survey
• Mapping Your Field
Site

6. Water Quality Test Kits
• Dissolved Oxygen
• Nitrates
• Salinity
• pH
• Water Quality Data
Sheets

7. Developing a Research Question
• What Makes a Good Research Question?
• Card Sort Game
• Finding a Good Question
• Designing Your Study

8. Gathering Data
• Site Survey Data Sheets
• UEI Database

9. Sharing Research
• The Student Urban Research Gathering
on Ecology (SURGE!) conference in
March
• The Annual Student Research Conference
in May allow students to showcase their
work for fellow students

10. For More Information
• www.muddyriver.wikispaces.com
• Visit www.urbaneco.org
• Email pwood2@boston.k12.ma.us