Complete report - Partners for Clean Streams

1989-Present
Description:
This is a junior high and high school water quality monitoring program initiated by Dr.
Peter Fraleigh, a UT Biology professor. Schools adopt water quality testing sites to
perform sampling and analysis of physical, chemical and biological indicators of water
quality. This project is modeled after project GREEN (Global Rivers Environmental
Education Network).
Tests performed in this project provide a “snapshot” of the waterways. They include
dissolved oxygen, fecal coliform, pH, biochemical oxygen demand, water
temperature, total phosphorous, nitrates, turbidity, total solids, and benthic
invertebrate communities. Target audiences included students, their teachers, and
school administrators. Students are taught the importance of environmental issues
and the real life application of science. Secondary audiences were the families of
participants and community leaders. This project raises public awareness and
knowledge about water quality, shows the effects of land use practices, and illustrates
the resources needed to achieve fishable and swimmable waters in the western Lake
Erie Basin.
Following water quality testing, students and teachers are encouraged to attend the
Student Summit. This is an all day event to allow the students to present their
findings to the community and the media, and to attend educational workshops
focusing on local environmental issues.
Throughout the years, this event has grown with over 10,000 students being involved
as of 2000. Year 2000 statistics: 1,000 students involved in testing; 22 schools, 33
sites.
Lead Organization:
Collaborator(s):
TMACOG
Year 2000: City of Toledo, Lucas County, Perstorp Polyols, Inc., Midwest
Environmental Consultants, Inc., Hull & Associates, Inc., Home Depot, ClearWater,
Inc., Lourdes College, Envirosafe, Churchill’s, Marco’s Pizza, WNWO-TV 24, and Star
105 FM.
Student Watershed Watch Public Service Announcements (1999-2000)
Worked with WNWO TV 24 to produce a public service announcements to promote
the Student Watershed Watch Program. The announcements aired at various times
of the day for 3-4 weeks preceding the Student Summit.
Lead Organization:
TMACOG
Collaborator(s): Lucas County, City of Toledo, WNWO TV 24
Maumee RAP Newsletters
1990-Present
Description: The Maumee RAP has created and distributed 52 newsletter issues since 1990.
Approximately 1,800 copies are mailed to interested citizens, hundreds of copies of
each issue are distributed at events and are given to other organizations to distribute
to their membership. Since 1998, copies of the newsletter have been included in
every other issue of the TMACOG Big Picture newsletter, significantly increasing
Activities and Accomplishments
in the Maumee Area of Concern
162
Issue 5: Increase Public
Participation and Awareness