Student Watershed Watch Summit inspires, educates students

        Students from schools across Northwest Ohio who collected and tested water samples this fall gathered Nov. 15 for the Student Watershed Watch Summit at the Toledo Zoo.
        This was the 35th year for Student Watershed Watch, which has a long history of educating students about the importance of water quality and encouraging environmental stewardship.
        Over several weeks this fall, more than 20 teachers and nearly 1,000 students visited area waterways to collect samples and measure dissolved oxygen, acidity, turbidity, aquatic macroinvertebrates and other parameters that provide insight into water quality.
        At the summit, classes shared creative presentations highlighting their data and analysis. They also met with professionals working in environmental fields and participated in fun activities, including a scavenger hunt around the zoo.
        Schools participating in this year’s summit included Lake High School, Anthony Wayne High School, Chase STEMM Academy, Otsego Junior High School, Ottawa Hills Elementary, Sylvania Northview High School, Sylvania Southview High School, Westside Montessori, and Wildwood Environmental Academy.
        Students earned awards for their presentations and displays. Lake High School was honored for the Best Overall Table Display.
        Area waterways that students evaluated this fall included Ayers Creek, Detwiler Ditch, Hill Ditch, the Little Portage River, Mallard Lake Overflow, the Maumee River, the Ottawa River, the Portage River, Swan Creek, Tenmile Creek, Tontogany Creek, and Wolf Creek.
        Student Watershed Watch has a long record of participation among teachers and environmental professionals, as well as community partners who provide essential support, including General Motors, the Lucas County Engineer’s Office, the City of Toledo, and the Toledo Zoo.
        Learn more about Student Watershed Watch at https://tmacog.org/water/student-watershed-watch.
        TMACOG is a nonpartisan regional planning partnership made up of voluntary members in Northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. TMACOG members work together on transportation, water quality, and other economic development endeavors that affect quality of life for everyone in our region. For more information, visit tmacog.org.