Soggy Students Test Streams

On a bitter cold day in early February, Great Swamp Watershed Association volunteers Gene Fox and Chuck Whitmore conducted a field study of Loantaka Brook along with 16 hardy students and two teachers from the Health and Medical Science Academy at Morristown High School. 

Loantaka Brook is the most severely degraded stream in the Great Swamp Watershed and is targeted for future restoration. Two groups of students took water samples from five preselected collection sites and tested the water for pH, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, temperature, chlorine and phosphate ions, which are indicators of water quality. Another measure of the health of a stream is macroinvertebrates. The students learned that the quantity and diversity of macroinvertebrate species are directly related to the health of a stream because when the water is clean macroinvertebrates flourish and when the water is compromised, there is a dearth of macroinvertebrate species.

According to Project Director Jill Magidson, the Health and Medical Science Academy at Morristown High School began this fall for students with an interest and strength in math and science. "This type of field work is a wonderful way for the students to get 'hands on' experience and they have the chance to see how data from the water samples is used in the real world. This water sampling project is very real and we're hoping to make it an ongoing part of our curriculum."

Watershed Association Stream Protection Specialist Kelley Curran says: "Because of the serious condition of Loantaka Brook, we've been collecting a variety of data about it and will be consulting with Watershed Scientists to develop and implement restoration of the stream. This is an exciting and extremely worthwhile project for us and we are delighted to be working the students at Morristown High on it. A successful restoration of Loantaka Brook may well serve as the prototype for the implementation of restoration projects on the other streams in the Great Swamp Watershed."


The Great Swamp Watershed Association was created in 1981 to protect the Great Swamp watershed basin. Celebrating more than 20 years as a non-profit organization, the Watershed Association relies solely on membership and contributions to protect the continued health of our watershed's area. If you're not already a member, become one today. For more information on stream restoration, call (973) 966-1900, or visit their website at www.greatswamp.org.

 

MHS students Francis Yango and Maria Cardona brave the winter elements to 
collect water samples from Loantaka Brook.