Reading the River 2001: A Chronicle in Pictures. Reading the River - NKU Science Web 1

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Bruce McKenzie
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1 Reading the River 2001: A Chronicle in Pictures Web 1

2 Kentucky Post Article Teachers to share trip on river with classroom By Crystal Harden, Post staff reporter Northern Kentucky teachers got a close-up look at the Licking River this week, from its trickling headwaters in Magoffin County to its confluence with the Ohio River. They ran tests, visited a hatchery, paddled canoes and even sang songs about the river. In addition to the fun and camaraderie of the weeklong ''Reading the River'' workshop, the teachers came away with new ways to teach ecology, conservation, biology and lessons about life in and around Kentucky rivers. ''We had a blast on this trip,'' said Campbell County teacher Reeda Hart. ''We're almost hating in some ways to see this trip come to an end.'' The experience will likely stick with them. ''I think it's something that will have an impact on them for years to come,'' said Yvonne Meichtry, an NKU professor who helped organize the trip. The teachers will share what they learned not only with their students, but also with other teachers through lesson plans developed from the crash course on the 300-mile Licking River. About 20 teachers in eight counties participated in the program, which was sponsored by Northern Kentucky University and Morehead State University. Workshop organizers provided speakers along the way to offer the teachers information on the biology, geology, land use, history and culture of the Licking River watershed. Continued Web 2

3 Kentucky Post Article (continued) Teachers who took the trip came away with different ideas about how to incorporate what they learned into the classroom. Cliff Hart, an eighth-grade science teacher at Pendleton County Middle School, said he knows more now about the watershed and the kinds of life in the river. It's something he can share with his students - many of whom are intimately familiar with the Licking River. Jim Dent, a ninth-grade science teacher at Newport High School, said he culled ideas for different instructional tools that he could use in his classroom. He hopes to revise a board game he used several years ago about ecosystems to teach his students about river watersheds. Mrs. Hart, who teaches at Grants Lick Elementary in Campbell County, said she often teaches her students about rain forests and oceans, but little about Kentucky waters. She wants her students to learn more about river impacts and the environment. ''We're looking at what is happening to our ecosystem,'' she said. ''Even though they are just 6 years old, eventually they'll be 46.'' The trip taught her more about what affects water quality and the kinds of life in the river, she said. The teachers will develop curricula for the upcoming school year. The lesson plans will be posted on NKU's Web site for use by other teachers. Workshop organizers are hoping to develop an exhibit at the Behringer-Crawford Museum in Covington using sketches, photographs and scientific information produced from the trip. Publication date: Web 3

4 Licking River Watershed Maps Kentucky Basin Management Units Web 4

5 Licking River Watershed Basins Web 5

6 Stops made along the river during the summer workshop Web 6

7 Road maps came in handy too! Web 7

8 The Licking River Headwaters pool, Magoffin County 310 miles from the mouth of the Licking River Web 8

9 Headwaters stream Web 9

10 Downstream view, Saylersville, Magoffin County Web 10

11 Downstream view, Carpenter Bend, miles from the mouth Web 11

12 Cave Run Lake (Licking River Dam Reservoir), miles from the mouth Web 12

13 Licking River, downstream view of dam Web 13

14 Downstream view, Moore's Ferry, miles from the mouth Web 14

15 Downstream view, Sherburne, 134 miles from the mouth Web 15

16 Downstream view, Butler, 36.7 miles from mouth Web 16

17 Downstream view, Visalia Web 17

18 The mouth of the Licking River, Covington and Newport Web 18

19 Water Testing Results Web 19

20 Licking River Water Testing Headwaters Water Quality Parameters Date Temperature ph Dissolved Oxygen Conductivity C Flow Rate Low *310 river miles from mouth Web 20

21 Carpenter Bend Water Quality Parameters Date Temperature ph Dissolved Oxygen Conductivity Licking River C Bend Branch Biological Assessment Macroinvertebrate Tally Assessment Scale Carpenter Bend-Licking River 20 Good Flow rate Normal Collecting macroinvertebrates for biological assessment * river miles from the mouth Web 21

22 Cave Run Lake Water Quality Parameters Date Temperature ph Dissolved Oxygen Surface C Conductivity Depth 14.0 C (14.5 m) (14 m) 148 (3 m) Secchi 5 m Mircroscopic Analysis Cave Run lake was dominated by planktonic Cyanobacteria including Lynbya, Oscillatoria and Microcystis. Among the diatoms, Aulacoseira granulata was the most common in the lake, and dominant in many of the samples of the Licking River itself. An unsual finding was the prevalence of the protista Difflugia in the open water of Cave Run lake. In addition we found many species of rotifers, and a number of copepods and cladocera among the zooplankton. * river miles from the mouth Teaching sampling techniques for collection of plankton, Dr. Miriam Kannan, Professor of Biology at NKU. Web 22

23 Moore s Ferry Water Quality Parameters Biological Assessment 17 Good Date Temperature ph Dissolved Oxygen Conductivity Flow rate 412 cf/s C *154.6 river miles from the mouth Biological assessment Web 23

24 Sherburne Water Quality Parameters Biological Assessment Flow rate Low Date Temperature ph Dissolved Oxygen Conductivity 21 Good C *134 river miles from the mouth Canoeing a nine mile stretch of the Licking River, beginning at Sherburne Web 24

25 Butler Water Quality Parameters Biological Assessment Flow rate Normal Date Temperature ph Dissolved Oxygen Conductivity 23 Excellent C *36.7 miles from the mouth Downstream view of Licking River, water chemistry testing Web 25

0 320 Flow rate Normal Mouth of the Licking River,

26 River Mouth Water Quality Parameters Date Temperature ph Dissolved Oxygen Conductivity C Flow rate Normal Mouth of the Licking River, Newport and Covington, KY Testing water quality parameters Web 26

27 Summative Water Quality Parameters Date Temperature ph Dissolved Oxygen Conductivity River Headwaters C Carpenter Bend 6-18 Licking River 22.0 C Bend Branch Cave Run Lake 6-19 Surface 28.0 C Depth 14.0 C (14.5 m) (14 m) 148 (3 m) Secchi 5 m Moore s Ferry C Sherburne C Butler, KY C River Mouth C Web 27

28 Biological Assessment Macroinvertebrate Tally Assessment Scale River Headwaters Carpenter Bend-Licking River 20 Good Cave Run Lake Moore s Ferry 17 Good Sherburne 21 Good Butler, KY 23 Excellent River Mouth Microscopic Analysis Cave Run lake was dominated by planktonic Cyanobacteria including Lynbya, Oscillatoria and Microcystis. Among the diatoms, Aulacoseira granulata was the most common in the lake, and dominant in many of the samples of the Licking River itself. An unusual finding was the prevalence of the protista Difflugia in the open water of Cave Run lake. In addition we found many species of rotifers, and a number of copepods and cladocera among the zooplankton. Web 28

29 Location Flow Rate River Headwaters Low Carpenter Bend Normal Cave Run Lake Moore s Ferry Sherburne - Butler, KY River Mouth cf/s Low Normal Normal Web 29

30 Water Testing: Biological Assessments Plankton collection, Cave Run Lake Web 30

31 Plankton collection, Licking River Web 31

32 Seining for macroinvertebrates Web 32

33 Identification of macroinvertebrates Web 33

34 Recording data of macroinvertebrate species Web 34

35 Turtle, mouth of the Licking River Web 35

36 Water snake, Butler Web 36

37 Water Testing: Water Chemistry and Physical Characteristics LaMotte Testing Kits used by Licking River Watershed Watch: Temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, ph Web 37