2017 MAWD Project & Program of the Year. Detailed Award Information Form. 3) Watershed District: Bois de Sioux Watershed District (BDSWD)

Transcription

1 2017 MAWD Project & Program of the Year Detailed Award Information Form 1) Award Category (Project or Program): Program 2) MAWD Region (1, 2 or 3): 1 3) Watershed District: Bois de Sioux Watershed District (BDSWD) 4) Project/program name: Campbell-Tintah River Watch (CTRW) 5) Nominator (if different from above Watershed District) N/A 6) Project/Program Summary (Up to 150 words) to be read at the awards program during the annual meeting banquet: River Watch is a citizen monitoring program of the International Water Institute (IWI) which involves students and teachers in certified collection of water quality data, analysis and presentation of that data, group leadership, grassroots community activism, and state level environmental activism. The Campbell-Tintah River Watch program has participated and excelled in all of these areas. Student members monitor local river water quality monthly during open water (including summer months) logging data into a statewide database. Students use their data to address questions regarding local water quality in a basin-wide competition each spring, as well as direct application to local issues through the Bois de Sioux Watershed District and on their own. Students recently initiated the creation of a partnership with a local community group to provide community canoeing outings that will provide recreation and environmental education opportunities for area residents. Students have advocated for IWI program funding before Minnesota House and Senate committees on several occasions. Campbell-Tintah River Watch is an actively involved group of committed, responsible, knowledgeable students working hard to understand and improve their environment and community. 7) Define Problem or need addressed: The primary need addressed by River Watch is that of providing watershed education to students and the community at large. Community members need to have personal experience with the parameters of concern, research methodologies, and a personal attachment to the resource in order to be equipped to understand and help to make resource management decisions. Students lack access to real world experiences in science and technology, particularly as they apply to field research. They cannot understand and appreciate the reasons for policies and regulations, and may view them as arbitrary. Since the Rabbit River is identified as impaired for aquatic life by MPCA, greater public understanding of water quality and the effectiveness of management techniques is essential to the improvement of those parameters. 8) Goal/purpose of the project/program:

2 The primary purpose of the River Watch program is to increase community awareness of water quality management issues by providing watershed education to students and their communities. River Watch provides students with water quality monitoring training, and opportunities for scientific research, public presentations, and community involvement projects. 9) Describe project/program (continue on additional pages if needed, include watershed and water body information): The Campbell-Tintah River Watch team has participated actively in all facets of the River Watch program for over 13 years. The basic program consists of monthly water quality monitoring at 11 sites within the Rabbit River subwatershed of the Bois de Sioux River watershed. The advisor and two student representatives are trained annually by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) in water quality monitoring methods in order to certify that the group correctly uses standardized data collection techniques. Additionally, the group obtains monthly samples from a tile drainage test site and a control site which are sent to a state-certified analytic lab (RMB Environmental Laboratories) as part of a research project for BDSWD investigating the short- and long-term effects of tile drainage output on surface water quality. The Campbell-Tintah River Watch team provided a demonstration of water monitoring procedures and individual interviews for a video documentary of watershed district activities produced by the Bois de Sioux Watershed District. Students had a direct role in reporting pollution which they noticed during routine monitoring which resulted in an MPCA investigation and eventually a fine and corrective action required of a local agricultural cooperative, helping to protect the quality of the local surface water, as well as downstream areas. Students prepare research presentations dealing with annually determined water quality topics and deliver these at the annual River Watch Forum each spring (historically at UM-Crookston, but moving this year to Grand Forks, ND). Students earned four People s Choice (peer) awards (one gold, two silver, one bronze), three Judges Select (watershed professionals) awards (one silver, two bronze), and the inaugural Manager s Choice (RRWMB) award at the Forum over the past six years. Students have gathered data on snowfall, snow pack, and frost depth as part of a university research project examining spring flood prediction. Students were invited to provide testimony before Minnesota legislative committees in 2011, 2015, and 2017 in support of funding bills providing the basin-wide River Watch program with Legacy Funding. Most recently, students have partnered with a new community improvement group to offer a canoeing event, giving local residents an opportunity to enjoy recreation on their local river. CTRW was honored to have Skylar Niesche, a graduate of the program, become the first student honored with a Voyageur Award, given by River Watch which recognizes efforts that go above and beyond the normal activities of the River Watch program, an award typically reserved for adult leaders and program partners of River Watch. Another alumnus, Dylan Hensch, has served for two years as a water quality monitoring intern with IWI and will be graduating this winter with a wildlife management degree from UM-Crookston a school he first visited as a River Watch student in eighth grade.

3 10) Describe public benefit: The Campbell community and surrounding area derive several benefits from the Campbell-Tintah River Watch program. Students who participate in the program are more informed about water quality issues and management techniques than average citizens, building a base of better educated community members. Those students share information at home and with other community members by both formal an informal means, improving general public understanding of resource management issues. CTRW students have engaged elementary students in watershed education events through lessons and demonstrations of water quality monitoring techniques. The CTRW team has performed very well for the past decade at the annual River Watch Forum a competition between River Watch schools throughout the Red River Basin that requires students to use the data they collect and activities that they create and participate in to address different watershed management topics each year, presenting their findings to peers and watershed management professionals. The team s efforts are student-led, with minimal administrative oversight by their advisor. The student leaders gain greater experience in project management and teambuilding by being the real originators and directors of the team projects. The team s performance has become a point of pride for the community, and Campbell- Tintah has developed a reputation for quality work and knowledgeable students. The students are branching out into more community involvement efforts as well. As part of a recent community involvement project and inspired by their own experience kayaking with the River Explorers program of IWI, students from CTRW organized and carried out a community canoeing outing on the Rabbit River, introducing local families to water recreation opportunities nearby. The group plans to make the outing a regular community event to be held in the spring and/or fall of each year. 11) Watershed plan reference (where is the problem/solution identified in the watershed plan, does it address stated problems, objectives and goals): Problem: Water quality monitoring in the watershed immediately adjacent to project sites is necessary to establish baseline water quality conditions for the area and to document water quality impacts to portions of the watershed downstream of projects after implementation. Solution: the District has linked to the Red River Basin Monitoring Program through its River Watch activities and began monitoring water quality conditions throughout the watershed. Teachers and students from high schools in the watershed assist with monitoring efforts. Monitoring is performed at sites that help characterize conditions of distinct reaches of major waterways and associated tributaries including creeks and major drainage ditches. Participation with the Campbell-Tintah River Watch team is directly related to the Bois de Sioux Watershed s Overall Plan.

4 Goal 6: Develop water quality monitoring programs with local and state partners to characterize current conditions and assess long-term water quality trends. Objective 1: Continue partnership(s) with River Watch program to facilitate on-going collection of baseline physical, chemical and biological data. 12) Was project goal achieved? If so, how was the success measured? Yes. Success of this project can been measured by the program s longevity and continuity successful collection of data over 13 years. 13) Watershed or water body name to be protected or improved by project or program (if applicable) Rabbit River 14) Watershed or water body information (e.g., size, watershed area, classification, description): Bois de Sioux River Watershed; Rabbit River Subwatershed (321.4 square miles). The Rabbit River in considered an impaired waterway due to excessive turbidity. 15) Project partners (financial or inkind support) Agency or organization % Participation Bois de Sioux Watershed District % International Water Institute % Campbell-Tintah Public School % Campbell4C Community Committee % % % My apologies - I have no data to split participation, timewise, between the International Water Institute, Campbell-Tintah Public School and the Campbell 4C Community Committees. Over the past five years, the Bois de Sioux has spent $29,640 on River Watch program supplies, training, and travel for Teacher Mr. Mayeda and his students. Jamie Beyer BDSWD Administrator 16) Start date: ) Project status: On-going Project/Program? (yes/no) If completed provide completion date: Yes N/A

5 18) Project cost (this can be provided as total cash cost or a breakdown can be provided to show the cost of various project elements and partners): $4,600 average, per year 19) Letters of support: Each application may have up to two letters of support. The letters can be from individuals, agencies, organizations, or local units of government. Letters from staff or managers of the sponsoring District will not be accepted. Attach letters to this application as a pdf document. 20) Photos: As noted in the instructions, each nomination must be accompanied by at least 4 (4) photos of the project or program. The photos must be in a digital format.

6

7

8

9 RE: MAWD Project of the Year Finalist / Campbell-Tintah River Watch Program Oct. 26, 2017 Dear MAWD Award Reviewers, My name is Wayne Goeken. I recently retired from my position as founder and Director of the Red River Basin River Watch Program where I had the pleasure of working with over 30 high schools involved in this real-world citizen science program. The Campbell-Tintah River Watch team has always stood out as a model school at making the most of the program for their individual students, the school, community, local watershed, and the Red River Basin. With a goal of raising awareness of watershed issues through active monitoring and sharing of their data and experiences, Campbell-Tintah (C-T) is providing a valuable service by providing scientifically sound data that is used by decision makers at the local Bois de Sioux Watershed District and MPCA in assessment of their local streams. To ensure quality data, C-T students and teacher attend regular training sessions and learn alongside water quality monitoring professionals proper monitoring and data management protocols. Besides their regular stream monitoring contributions, the C-T program engages in additional opportunities made available through the River Watch program including a snow study activity which provides valuable information (snow depth, snow water equivalency, frost depth, and infiltration potential) to the National Weather Service to assist in critical flood forecasting so important to residents in the Red River Basin. They are also partnering with their local watershed district in a tile drainage study to help understand impacts of this evolving agricultural practice. To complement their exemplary involvement in watershed science, the C-T program also is a leader in sharing and communication of their knowledge of watershed issues to their peers, the public, and watershed professionals. They engage younger students in hands-on demonstrations of watershed principles as they help them understand the role of water and stewardship needs. They present their data and watershed observations to their school board, the local watershed district managers, and fellow River Watch teams at the annual River Watch Forum where they have won numerous awards for their displays and presentations. Members of the C-T team, more than any other team, have also been instrumental in helping the River Watch program secure state funding via testimony provided as to the benefits of the program at several Minnesota Legislative hearings in St. Paul and one in Moorhead. Most recently the C-T team has engaged the local community in paddling of their local Rabbit River as a way of demonstrating this local recreation possibility and helping raise awareness of stewardship needs to protect and improve this local natural resource. There are many other highlights too numerous to share that I recall associated with particular individual students who were committed to the program as well as the leadership provided by C-T Science Instructor and River Watch Advisor Roy Mayeda. With these considerations in mind, without hesitation I whole-heartedly endorse the Campbell-Tintah River Watch Program for the MAWD Project of the Year Award. Sincerely, Wayne Goeken th Ave SE * Erskine, MN * wgoekenmn@gmail.com

10 Letter of support for Campbell Tintah RiverWatch Team Evelyn Ashiamah Oct 26, 2017 Dear MAWD Awards Committee Members, I'm Evelyn Ashiamah, and a former River Watch Coordinator. I'm sending this letter to support Campbell Tintah in the awards competition because they are an outstanding volunteer team that has been involved in water quality research of streams and ditches in their watershed, and promoted environmental awareness amongst the peers and the public. As members of the RW program, they are stewards of the streams and rivers in their watershed. Thirty two students have participated in RW since 2008 but have engaged several other students in many RW activities. The students usually join at 7 th grade and most of them remain permanent members until they graduate. They have Water Quality sites established by MN Pollution Control Agency that they monitor regularly once a month to look for trends and anomalies to make sure the streams meet the standards for recreation, fishing and aquatic life. The program applies the scientific method in teaching students to identify problems related to water quality and enables them to apply their critical thinking skills. Over the past few years, the team has engaged in special projects such as investigating the impact of Sub Surface Drainage water (Tiling) on receiving streams and rivers. This project was inspired by the observation of extremely high conductivity values that is usually the indication of high concentration of dissolved salts and other pollutants. The team got a better understanding of the nature of water discharged into ditches and streams from "tiled" farms. About 5 years ago, the students were out on a sampling trip and one of the ditches they monitor was nearly anoxic and had the smell of a rotten egg. They informed the appropriate environmental agencies and action was taken to make sure the same situation did not occur again. They also participated in sturgeon release/stocking by the Department of Natural Resources in the Red River of the North when the Christine Hickson dam was retrofitted to support fish passage. In addition to promoting environmental awareness, the team has started a community canoeing event to take members on the Rabbit River to teach them to appreciate, preserve and protect a river that is in their own backyard. I hope you consider the exceptional work being done by the Campbell Tintah RW team, and award them the 1st position. Thanks very much for your time. I can be reached at by phone at (218) or eveashiamah@gmail.com for questions. Sincerely, Evelyn Ashiamah.

11 Dear MAWD Awards Committee, My name is Dylan Hensch, and I am a Campbell Tintah graduate and a former participant of River Watch. I am currently finishing my final semester at the University of Minnesota Crookston majoring in Natural Resource Management. While at Campbell Tintah High School, I found myself participating in many extracurricular activities, but River Watch was one of my favorites. Without my involvement in the River Watch program, I likely would not have chosen to major in Natural Resource Management. River Watch provides a great learning experience that an ordinary classroom cannot. While some people may think that it is simply collecting water, it provides so much more than just that. River Watch involves a great deal of teamwork, presentation designing, and hands on learning with sampling equipment. Within the Red River Valley, the topics of runoff and high nutrient loads are becoming very well known. In recent years, flooding has also been an issue. Through River Watch, the data collected can be used for scientific purposes. There are very few other high school groups whose data is going to actual scientists and used for a purpose. The Campbell Tintah River Watch team is a very self sufficient group with great leadership and active participants. This team is expected to do the work themselves, not done by a teacher, and has done an exceptional job at that. Each year this group goes to the River Watch Forum and receives an award of some sort. Not many River Watch teams are able to accomplish this. For the second time in recent years, the Campbell Tintah River Watch team has presented to the Minnesota State Legislature in order to receive the funding necessary for the River Watch Program to exist. There are not many high school students in the state of Minnesota who have received a privilege such as this. Opportunities like this show exactly what kind of well mannered, respected, knowledgeable, and hardworking students the Campbell Tintah River Watch Team really are. Dylan Hensch hensc032@crk.umn.edu