1. Watershed Committee’s
Water Wednesday
Volunteer Scientists
These past couple of weeks, I have been spending a great deal of time in our local streams. Students from
the area, elementary and high school both, have been interested in learning how to test streams for
pollution and quality. We’ve used chemical test kits to measure dissolved oxygen, nitrates, and more.
We’ve shuffled and danced upstream of the kick nets to capture and identify a variety of benthic
macroinvertebrates. And after all our activity is through, we talk about the problems that each stream
might face. Some streams are nearly wild, flowing between untrimmed and untamed banks. Some are
urban, like Jordan creek, pouring through subterranean concrete caverns and spending most of its time
working as our storm drain system. Others meander through parks, like Fassnight Creek, bringing joy
and rest to those who visit its calming
waters, and taking away the trash, lawn
chemicals, and waste that we sometimes
contribute. Ozark streams are special. Their
beauty, life, and abundance make them
something to treasure. Although,
sometimes they are easy to take for
granted. The good news is that many of us
in the region have been smitten by these
fluvial masterpieces. Countless volunteers
and professionals dedicate time and energy
to collecting data on our stream quality,
cleaning up litter, and educating the
community about keeping our water clean.
The best part is that anyone can help. We
have events throughout the year that allow
for anyone to get involved; from the
casual volunteer to the hardened water warrior. If you are looking for some way that you can protect and
improve your neighborhood stream, check out the resources listed below. And as always, take care of
your water.
http://www.mostreamteam.org/
http://www.springfieldmo.gov/stormwater/pdfs/Adopt-A-Stream.pdf
http://www.jamesriverbasin.com/
http://watershedcommittee.org/get_involved/
Rob Hunt
Watershed Center Coordinator