From its upper stretches to where the Au Gres River flows into Lake Huron, Au Gres-Sims Schools elementary students are exploring water quality across their watershed, and inspiring new partnerships and community awareness.
A student group-leader records data on the physical attributes of the river as classmates perform different tests in the background. Photo credit: NEMIGLSI
This school year, elementary students fromAu Gres-Sims School District have embarked on an ambitious water quality monitoring project and study focused on the AuGres River within the Saginaw Bay watershed. In just their first year, students can boast that their school was the first across the Great Lakes region to contribute data in piloting a new water-focused citizen science website, Great Lakes FieldScope,created by Michigan Sea Grant, National Geographic Society, and U.S. Geological Survey. Collaborating with Michigan State University Extension 4-H Youth Programs and the NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, they are also building underwater remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) which may help them expand their future water studies.
The Au Gres-Sims Watershed Project, aplace-based education effort in water monitoring led by teacher, Michael Fields, involves nearly 50 students and is coordinated with resource experts and community partners. These elementary students are studying the Au Gres River at various sites from its upper stretches to where it eventually drains into Saginaw Bay. They are some of the youngest citizens within the Saginaw Bay Watershed, but they are stepping up (and getting their feet wet) in hopes of making some important contributions to their environment and community.
Read more online: http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/au_gres-sims_elementary_youth_lead_watershed_monitoring_project