The Western Virginia Water Authority (Authority), Smith Mountain Lake Association (SMLA), and Blue Ridge Soil and Water Conservation District are partnering with Benjamin Franklin Middle School (BFMS) for their annual Creek Week program. Each spring, all Franklin County sixth grade students use the outdoor classroom built on the school’s property to study the water quality of Powder Mill Creek. This year, students will be at the creek on April 23, 24 and 28.
Started in 2013 by the Western Virginia Water Authority to give students the opportunity to learn about watersheds, environmental impacts of pollution and best management practices to improve water quality in their own community, this program features classroom education and hands-on learning along Power Mill Creek on the campus of BFMS. Prior to going to the creek, educators from the Authority coordinate with science teachers at BFMS to prepare students for their Creek Day. Students learn about watersheds, point and non-point source pollution, and best management practices. A simulation activity where students search for and classify benthic macroinvertebrates is also used in the classroom so the students understand how the macroinvertebrates they find in the creek can be used as indicators of water quality. During creek week, the students rotate through different volunteer-run stations at Power Mill Creek, using chemical tablets and electronic readers to test for temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen. Students also get the opportunity to collect and analyze benthic macroinvertebrates from the creek alongside master naturalists from SMLA to determine the health of the stream.
“We always welcome the opportunity to take students outside of the traditional classroom setting and connect them with the environment,” said Laura Schirmer, Public Relations Specialist at the Western Virginia Water Authority. “This is such a meaningful and memorable experience for the students, and we look forward to partnering with local organizations to make this program happen each year.”…