APW-Getting WET With ADEQ

"Super excited" was the expression used by ADEQ's water quality monitoring guru, Meghan Smart, to describe the new partnership with Arizona Project WET (APW) to begin monitoring select rivers during school field investigations. Smart, who recently delivered a brown bag presentation for the WRRC, was pleasantly surprised by APW's quick response and interest in the Arizona Water Watch (AWW) citizen science program.

 

APW is always eager to bring real-world science to Arizona's students and routinely offers such experiences with its  Riparian Habitat Exploration (RHE) curriculum. The RHE lessons feature project-based field investigations for middle and high school students supported by a variety of community-based Mentor Scientist volunteers. At the Hassayampa River Preserve last week, Mentor Scientist trainees from the Liberty High School STEM Club as well as volunteers from Prescott College worked with APW staff to collect streamflow and water quality data for the Arizona Water Watch program. Parameters monitored included dissolved oxygen, pH, specific conductivity, total dissolved oxygen as well as air and water temperature.  

 

APW and ADEQ are currently collaborating with Maricopa County Parks and Recreation on future water quality monitoring needs and an ADEQ site identification location for the Hassayampa River Preserve.  Other riparian sites in Maricopa and Pinal County are also being considered to help expand ADEQ's stimulating citizen science program. Stay tuned for more!