Inquisitive sixth-graders got out their test tubes, tweezers and magnifying glasses last week to analyze how healthy the retention pond is at Oxford Middle School.
Aided by members of the Rotary Club of Oxford, the activity was part of the Clinton River Watershed Council’s stream monitoring program.
Judging by what the scientists-in-training found, the little pond is in pretty good shape.
Phosphate and nitrate levels were low meaning there aren’t many detergents and fertilizers finding their way into the pond.
A variety of macroinvertebrates that are either sensitive or somewhat sensitive to pollution were found and cataloged including beetles, Mayflies, gilled snails, damselfly and dragonfly nymphs, and scuds.
‘Several species that cannot tolerate pollution are living in the pond, indicating good overall pond health,? said science teacher Jennifer Bennett.
The water’s pH level was neutral while the turbidity was low, both of which are considered excellent results.
Turbidity refers to how clear the water is. The greater the amount of total suspended solids in the water, the murkier it appears and the higher the turbidity.
Thanks to all the rain the area received this year, the pond is six to nine inches deeper than it was when students tested it back in May.
Despite all the good news, the pond continues to be extremely limited in its natural ability to sustain more complex organisms.
The amount of dissolved oxygen in the water was measured at 39 percent, which is ‘not so good,? according to Bennett.
‘There isn’t a lot of dissolved oxygen which means you can’t have a lot of the organisms that increase the diversity of the pond,? she explained.
For example, there are no fish in it because of the lack of dissolved oxygen.
The reason the dissolved oxygen level was so low is because unlike a river or stream, in which water is constantly churned up by a current increasing the amount of oxygen in the water, the pond water is stagnant.
Bennett and some parents are looking into having the pond aerated, but obtaining the necessary equipment is a very expensive proposition. However, the educational and environmental benefits would outweigh the cost in her opinion.
‘By oxygenating the pond, we can increase the bio-diversity,? Bennett explained.
Oxygen-rich water allows the introduction of fish, which would in turn attract ducks and geese who feed on fish.
‘Maybe the cranes would come over here instead of always being over at Parker Lake,? Bennett noted.
Bennett would also like to see an observation deck or boardwalk constructed by the pond to allow elementary students throughout the district the opportunity to visit, learn and increase environmental awareness.
Creating a student-accessible, diverse ecosystem at OMS could also become a ‘money-maker? for the district, meaning other schools in the area might pay to take field trips there, according to Bennett.