Fall activities for Stream Team

The High School Stream Team started its activities for this fall with a barbeque/pool party on August 24 at Mr. Steigerwalt’s residence. There were 25 members and potential new members who attended.

Earlier in the afternoon , five stream team members and Mr. Steigerwalt tested the Grand River’s water quality at their test site below the new Grand River Bridge near Jameson. Those attending were Zach Brannen, Chris Craig, Nathan Osborn, Lindy Stanhope, and Desssa Crum.

The students tested several water chemistry levels, most falling in a normal range. They also collected three separate macroinvertebrate nets to monitor biological health at the riffle area, which was good.

They also went into the tree riparian zone above the bank to evaluate tree health for the Forest Keepers Network. Several trees were missing or losing leaves due to the heat.

They did not calculate a flow rate due to the velocity of the stream being so slow (4.5 cfs). Instead data was collected from the Internet from the gagging station near Gallatin.

The members also picked up trash along the road area that leads to where the old bridge washed out. The members then stopped at the Wabash Access, which they have adopted and picked up trash. Data is then sent to DNR.

On August 26th during second seminar in school the stream members met for their first official organizational meeting. Mr. Steigerwalt handed out new blue Stream Team T-shirts and discussed upcoming events.

The members then went down to the pond and took a group picture next to the new stream team sign Mr. Steigerwalt had made. Mr. Steigerwalt’s stream team #697 currently has about 68 members in grades 9-12.

Upcoming events include: water quality tests on the school’s pond every Wednesday after school from 3-4 p.m.; display booth at Chautauqua Sunday afternoon; and a float trip Oct 3-5.

The school will furnish us with a bus for the trip to the Niangua River at Bennet Springs and Mr. McCann has volunteered his time to drive the bus. The camping cost will be covered by stream team money from T-shirt sales.

Stream Team may have to charge the students $5-10 to cover the cost of additional canoes since Stream Team can only haul 10 canoes down there and currently have over 30 students signed up. Stream Team are having a meeting during seminar on the 17th of September to finalize plans.

Stream Team will be selling environmental T-shirts soon to raise money to cover our float trip after school to the Current River and other yearly expenses. Please help us out if you can. See you Sunday of Chautauqua.