Sauk River Field Investigation

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Sauk River Field Investigation

• Emily Wolf - Osakis High School
• Adam Hjelm - Sauk River Watershed District

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Warning This not a field trip. Interaction
Required.
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Overview
Students Water Bugs Mud Opportunity
SCIENCE
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Sauk River Watershed District
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Sauk River Watershed District It is our mission
to apply our unique abilities and authorities in
a way that protect and enhance our watersheds
resources for today and tomorrow.
The education program is composed of three major
areas Youth Education Adult Education
Public Outreach
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Sauk River Headwaters ProjectOsakis Field Day

• Benefits to the Watershed District
• -Mission and Overall Plan
• -Youth Education
• -Public Outreach

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Objectives

• Earth Science
• Students will be able to...
• Measure water quality and river characteristics
  in the field
• Analyze real data
• Evaluate a development proposal and make their
  own decision based on scientific evidence

• Watershed District
• Engage a younger audience
• Instill early environmental ethics
• Offer a hands-on, memorable field event
• Public outreach

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In the classroom

• Water Resource Quality Basics
• How is it measured?
• - Geology - Chemistry
• - Biology - Physical Characteristics
• Guest Presentation
• Sauk River Watershed District
• Watersheds and Land Use
• Certification Testing

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Water Resource Consultants

• Project Manager Leader and teacher contact
• Data Specialist/Financial Administrator Record
  keeper and budget manager
• Field Investigator I - primary data collector
  for two stations, responsible for knowing what to
  do and how to do it
• Field Investigator II primary data collector
  for remaining two stations

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Real World Connection Housing Development on
RiverfrontEvaluate RiverGeologyBiologyChemis
tryPhysical Characteristics
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Project Requirements

• Present research findings to the Sauk River
  Watershed District
• Make an evidence-based recommendation for or
  against the housing development
• Use clear supporting information for the decision
• Address each research area biology, chemistry,
  etc.
• Work as functional group of professionals

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Onsite

• Organized Groups
• Station supervisors chaperones
• 15 students per site
• About 45 min per site

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Site Selection
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Resources
Examples Waders Nets Test Kits Tape
Measures Meter Sticks Turbidity
Tube Buckets Forceps Clipboards Funding Staffing
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A moment to observe and organize

• Stations/Sites
• Geology
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physical Characteristics

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Geology
Stream Profile and Sediment Analysis
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Biology
Macroinvertebrate Collection
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Chemistry
Water sample collection, and measure velocity,
flow volume, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen.
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Physical Characteristics
Site sketch, visual survey, and land use estimate
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Site D. Physical Evaluation 1. Site Sketch 2.
Visual Analysis 3. Land Use Estimate 4. Litter
clean-up Equipment compass, map, graph paper
Site A. Geological Evaluation 1. Stream Profile
at 3 sites 2. Max/Min Depth Width 3. Sediment
Texture Analysis Equipment sieves, measuring
tape, meter sticks
Site C. Chemical Evaluation 1. Turbidity 2.
Velocity 3. Flow Volume 4. D.O. 5.
Temperature 6. pH 7. Water Sample Equipment
sample bottles, T-tube, thermometer, D.O. meter,
stopwatch, measuring tape, tennis ball
Site B. Biological Evaluation 1.
Macroinvertebrate Collection (15 reps) 2. Bug
Sort 3. Sample labeling for transport Equipment
Nets, critter boxes, plastic wrap, forceps NO ID
KEYS
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Outdoor Laboratory
Macroinvertebrate ID Chemical Analysis of
Phosphorus Nitrogen
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River/Lake Investigations

• Multiple grades
• Multiple disciplines
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Earth Science
• Geology
• Environmental Science
• Life Science
• Multiple skill levels

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Project Variations

• Consultant Firm Evaluation for Development
• Comparative River Study Sauk vs. Spruce Creek
• Watershed Water Quality Survey by River Crossings
• Lake Investigation
• Semi-Comprehensive Water Quality Assessment

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Difficulties and Challenges
Moisture Equipment Staff Buses Site
Selection Lavatories
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Results

• Appreciation of fish dry clothes
• Field experience data collection
• Ownership of local resources
• Thoughtful evaluation of real-world problem
• Science experience and application outside the
  classroom

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Other Agencies

• SWCD (soil and
  water conservation districts)
• Counties
• Cities / Municipalities
• U of M Extension
• Lake Associations
• Volunteer Organizations
• DNR
• Game and Fish

• NRCS (natural
  resource conservation services)
• BWSR (board of soil
  and water resources)
• EPA (environmental
  protection agency)
• MPCA (MN pollution
  agency)
• Colleges / Universities

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Sauk River Watershed District
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Contacts Resources

• Emily Wolf
• Osakis High School
• [phone] ext. 113
• ewolf_at_osakis.k12.mn.us
• Website Resources
• For this power pt., worksheets, handouts, etc.
• www.osakispublicschools.org
• (Select HS Staff Pages, then Wolf E. Sci)

• Adam Hjelm
• Sauk River Watershed District
• [phone]
• adam_at_srwdmn.org
• www.srwdmn.org