CIS student examining macroivertebrate sample Photo by Marcia Caldwell
CIS Academy Youghiogheny River Study
Margaret Zak, SPL Partner, was contracted in 2009 by CIS Academy to design a water quality study in the Youghiogheny River for students to assess the potential impact of sewage treatment plant overflows as a result of overloaded storm water sewer impacts in the local community. The study was designed to facilitate hands-on environmental education of alternative education students at the academy as part of a grant from State Farm Insurance Company. The water quality study is being conducted in four phases that include:
Phase I: Planning Phase/Site Reconnaissance/Gathering Background Information
Phase II: Classroom Instruction/Development of water quality study design and river sampling plan/Initiation of 7-month river sampling program
Phase III: Evaluation of sampling results/Student preparation of technical report
Phase IV: Communication of the study results to the general public and the development of potential soultions to the environmental problem. These solutions may include: disconnecting rain gutters and installing rain barrels in the local community.
CIS student examining river samples Photo by Marcia Caldwell
At the end of the study, students will have gained valuable knowledge in the STEM areas of study, as well as presentation skills, and various communication techniques for presenting the results of the study. A preliminary survey of the students involved in the study indicate a heightened awareness of man-made environmental problems, how to design a study to determine if a problem exists, and how to evaluate historical and current contributions to environmental problems in a particular locale. Various students have also expressed a desire to continue their education in the environmental sciences as a result of this study.
