A Missouri Stream Team

Kids monitor Deer Creek's water quality

Austin DaGue

On their first field trip to the Deer Creek watershed this fall, 7th graders Austin DaGue and Hoahang Xu did water quality tests. They used the same sophisticated testing kits used by environmental scientists.

The two belong to Missouri Stream Team No. 76 at Ladue Middle School. Their team's low number comes because science teacher Elizabeth Petersen started her team in 1989.

Hoahang Xu

With help from the Missouri Department of Conservation, teams across the state regularly keep track of the environmental conditions of local streams. Kids in Team 76 make regular scientific tests and report their findings to state authorities.

While they're on their scientific field trips, the kids also clean up trash and litter.

Twelve-year-old Austin tested for the amount of dissolved oxygen (DO) in the creek water. "The water had 11 parts per million of oxygen, which is pretty good," he said. The higher the amount of dissolved oxygen, generally the better quality of the water.

Chase Lambie

But, nearby 12-year-old Chase Lambie said his DO test showed only 3 parts per million. "That's pretty bad," he said.

A lack of dissolved oxygen usually indicates pollution. Creek water without any dissolved oxygen can't sustain wildlife such as fish.

Twelve-year-old Haohang Xu's testing was for the amount of nitrates in the water. Her sample contained 1.5 parts per million, which is considered to be "within the acceptable range" for nitrates in Missouri streams.

Jordan Garner

However, at a different part of the creek, 12-year-old Jordan Garner got a much different reading. That indicated more nitrate pollution in the water.

Twelve-year-old Briana Kyles tested for nitrates in another location along Deer Creek. Her readings were about the same as Jordan's.

In an urban stream such as Deer Creek, a heightened nitrate level is often a sign of fertilizer runoff from nearby household yards.

Briana Kyles

Jordan said he likes the idea that his water testing results "are going to people who can do something about improving the water."

After the field trip, the kids' testing results are forwarded to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. That agency keeps records of stream water quality across the state.

Ladue Middle School has a multi-faceted environmental program. For instance, several of Ms. Petersen's science students belong to the school's Adopt a Highway team. That team has agreed to keep trash picked up along South Outer Road along Highway 40 in west St. Louis County. Their portion of Deer Creek is under Highway 40 at the intersection of Clayton and Warson rds.

(To know more about the Stream Team program, visit the MDC's website at www.mostreamteam.org. Or call Mark Van Patten in Jefferson City at (573) 522-4115.)

Mr.Van Patten, who is the state Stream Team coordinator, made a visit to Ms. Petersen's science classes late last month.

Christina Nguyen

Twelve-year-old Christina Nguyen did several other water quality tests on Deer Creek. One test was for turbidity, which measures the number of particles and water clarity.

She also tested for conductivity of the water. That's a measure of how well water conducts electricity. In this case, the ease by which electricity passes through is aided by water "impurities." (Ms. Petersen said distilled water's conductivity rating of zero.)

Other tests by Christina were for both water and air temperature.

Two kids making a water test

These tests give environmental officials a clearer picture of water quality in the stream.

Jordan Garner also did some water testing at home. She measured the pH level of water in the family's fish tanks. (pH is a measure of the alkali-acid balance of water.)

She said the water in her fish tank measured 7.0, which was "perfect." The reading for water in her brother's tank was 6.9.

The school's Adopt A Highway team

However, the water from his father's fish tank was a much-less ideal level of 4.0.

But, Jordan admits that her dad just had cleaned the kids' fish tanks but hadn't cleaned his own tank.

Most of the kids said they participated in recycling paper, cans and bottles at home. Also, Ladue Middle has a paper and can recycling program at the school.

To round out a busy Stream Team month, the Ladue kids had a display during a regional St. Louis Stream Team conference at Fox C6 Middle School. This first regional conference was held Oct. 27, 2007, in Arnold, Mo.