Northwest Ohio Students Collaborate to Assess Water Quality in 34th Annual Watershed Watch

This past week, students from various schools in northwest Ohio came together to participate in in-stream field testing as part of the 34th annual Student Watershed Watch program, orchestrated by the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments (TMACOG).

Over 20 dedicated educators and an estimated 720 enthusiastic students embarked on visits to local waterways to gather samples and conduct assessments of critical water quality parameters, including dissolved oxygen levels, acidity, turbidity, the presence of aquatic macroinvertebrates, and other factors that offer valuable insights into the health of the region’s rivers and streams.

Following this data-gathering expedition, these young environmental stewards will convene at a student summit scheduled for November. During the summit, participating classrooms will have the opportunity to share and deliberate on the data they meticulously collected. They will also have the privilege of engaging with professionals actively involved in environmental fields, fostering connections and collaborations among their peers.

This remarkable and enduring regional initiative, which plays a pivotal role in promoting environmental awareness and stewardship among the youth, receives crucial support from a roster of dedicated sponsors. Among these generous contributors are The Andersons, the City of Toledo, General Motors, the Lucas County Engineer’s Office, Mannik & Smith Group, and the Toledo Zoo. Their commitment ensures the ongoing success of this vital program, which not only enriches the educational experience of these young learners but also contributes to the protection and preservation of our region’s precious water resources.”

“We’re grateful for the opportunity to work with so many teachers and students from across the region, and for the partners who help make this important work possible,” said Sara Guiher, TMACOG water quality planner, who coordinates the project.

Learn more about Student Watershed Watch at https://tmacog.org/water/student-watershed-watch 

TMACOG is a non-partisan regional planning partnership made up of voluntary members in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. Together, TMACOG members work on transportation, water quality, and other economic development endeavors that affect quality of life for everyone in our region. For more information, go to www.tmacog.org