Ortonville-On Wednesday morning about 18 Brandon Middle School students were up to their knees in a mixture of mud, water and a host of questions.
The group of students from Dave Green’s seventh grade science class spent the cool, sunny spring morning collecting samples from Kearsley Creek near the M-15 bridge. Donning waders and sharing nets, the classes? efforts joined more than 2,500 area students from Macomb and Oakland counties to study the quality of water in the Clinton River and its tributaries as part of the Stream Leaders program.
‘The students love to come out here,? said Green. ‘They test water, find aquatic life and get a chance to get out of the classroom to study science.?
The program helps students evaluate the amount of erosion and sedimentation at each site, perform tests to measure levels of nitrates, phosphates, dissolved oxygen, and temperature. Also, a variety of aquatic life was identified. The students will share the information gathered at the annual Stream Leaders? Student Congress in November at the Macomb Intermediate School District.
‘This is the real world of science,? said Dan Keifer, development director from the Clinton River Watershed Council as he worked with the students. ‘This program, now in its 13th year helps students find consistencies between text books and science class and the real world.?
Among the finding were two lamprey eels’rather uncommon,? says Keifer.
‘The eels came up to spawn from one of the local lakes,? he said. ‘But they typically don’t pose too great of threat for trout like the larger cousin in the Great Lakes.?
The morning event was sponsored by Oxford Bank and Oakland County Farm Bureau.
‘Public opinion surveys always show the vast majority of Americans are concerned about water quality and seeing that our waterways are protected,? said Lois Robbins, Brandon Preservation committee.
‘Few are aware of these local rivers, streams and lakes that are right here in our communities and close to home. The ‘Stream Leaders’program is an excellent way of connecting the message nearby where people
live, and the students really get into the program. It is ‘real world? science that magnifies what they learn in the classroom setting by making it come to life in their own hometown.?