Stream Keeper - Day 2

Sunday morning finds us back in the classroom. Today is all about fish, frogs, trees, plants and bugs as relates to a healthy ecosystem and a healthy stream. Everyone has a story about "things gone wrong", oil spills, erosion of banks, poor engineering of bridges, antiquated farming practices and of the havoc wrought to the ecosystem; all very depressing, but biologist Dave is quick to point out that these things can be corrected and that nature has a way of healing itself. I hope that he is right.


In the afternoon we again visit a nearby stream and break into groups to search out the "wild life" in the stream. Those with chest waders take the deeper pools in search of small fish and those of us in gumboots take the shallower riffles in search of bugs. We turn rocks, scooping with nets and scraping the residue into our bins. I am reminded of my childhood and days spend exploring Thomson Park and playing in the creek. Later we categorize, compare and identify our catches.




We again perform water quality tests and those results along with the insects found confirm a healthy stream and fish habitat. It has been an eye-opening couple of days and although we receive Stream Keeper certificates I know that we haven't even scraped the surface.
We have signed on for a lesson in Eel grass mapping out in the straits next week - stay tuned!