Students from Lake Orion High School put school knowledge to hands-on use earlier this month as they participated in the Clinter River Watershed Council Stream Leaders Program.
According to high school environmental and biology teacher Jenn Carlson, around 50 students from LOHS environmental science classes were joined by three mentors from General Motors, Tom Valone, Sue Kelsey and Jeff Siebert, as they took part in the student water quality program on Oct. 8.
‘Students were split into three groups, and completed a physical survey of the area, conducted water chemistry tests and collected macro invertebrates,? Carlson said. ‘The data is then reported back to the watershed council and analyzed with all the other groups in the watershed.?
The students took samples of Clear Creek in Bald Mountain Recreation Area South, located behind the high school. Carlson said that the creek begins in wetlands near Lapeer Road and is a tributary to Paint Creek.
‘Water quality is an issue that affects our daily lives,? she added. ‘Our chemical tests indicated good water quality and the high diversity of macro invertebrates collected supported this.?
The stream collection project was used as closure to the class? Great Lakes Unit.