Water Conservation/Pollution Prevention
Constructed Wetland Studies
- Description: A wetland was constructed on the campus of NGHS in 2000 that captures and purifies water from the student parking lot. Students were involved in the planning and construction of the wetland, and continue to use and maintain this valuable resource. Students conduct studies in the wetland to learn identifying characteristics of wetlands, natural means of controlling and purifying storm water runoff, and the importance of wetlands to ecosystems. Students help to maintain the wetland by removing trash and controlling cattails, which threaten to overrun the area.
- Grade Level(s): 10--12
- Number of Students Involved: Approximately 30 students per semester since the construction of the wetland
- Dates: 2015 -- present (ongoing)
Efforts have recently been taken to conduct maintenance on the wetland to increase its use as an outdoor learning structure. Grants have been obtained to fund this maintenance. During the spring of 2019, carpentry students will build a walkway and viewing platform on one side of the wetland. Biology and environmental science students will then plant native wetland species to increase the biodiversity of the wetland. An informational sign describing the benefits of wetlands will be erected.
Local Stream Monitoring & Riparian Zone Maintenance
- Description: In October of 2012, a partnership was formed between NGHS, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the
Youghiogheny River Watershed Association (YRWA), and local landowners in order to create riparian buffer zones along a stream close to the school campus. The primary goal of the riparian buffers is to protect and increase the brook trout population found in the stream. Since the creation of the riparian buffers, students continue to visit the sites on a regular basis to monitor water quality, stream health, and biodiversity as well as to conduct maintenance at the sites as needed. Vernier® LabQuests and sensors to determine the temperature, pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen and nitrate level of water samples. Kick samples assess macroinvertebrate populations and electrofishing collects fish species, including brook trout, to estimate population size. Students complete stream habitat assessments. All data is saved to analyze long-term impacts of the creation of the riparian buffers and data will continue to be collected. - Grade Level(s): 10--12
- Approximate Number of Students Involved Annually: 50
- Dates: 6/11/15, 9/15/15, 9/13/16, 9/18/17, 4/13/18, 9/14/18 (ongoing)
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STAR Project
- Description: Northern Garrett High School first became involved in the STAR project in 2015. The Student, Teacher and Researcher (STAR) Nitrate Investigation is funded by the NOAA-BWET program and seeks to engage Garrett, Allegany and Washington County teachers and students in a local scientific investigation in collaboration with University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Appalachian Laboratory (UMCES-AL) scientists. Together this team investigates schoolyard nitrate pollution. Students work in small groups to collect precipitation and runoff samples at three sites on their school campus that are then sent to the Appalachian lab to be analyzed. Once students receive the results, they answer research questions and discuss their findings with the scientists to understand the role of western Maryland schools in nitrate pollution.
- Grade Level(s): 10--12
- Approximate Number of Students Involved Annually: 75
- Dates: 2015 to present (ongoing)
Aquaculture System
- Description: During the 2017/18 school year, students in environmental science worked on designing and constructing an aquaculture system that using aerobic bacteria to filter the water. During the 2018/19 school year, students continued the project. They first filled the system with water and monitored water quality for approximately one month. Once the water perimeters stabilized and were acceptable, yellow perch from the Baltimore Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET) were placed in the system. Students continue to monitor water quality, food intake, and fish growth rate. They have learned about ecosystems and nutrient cycling through this project.
- Grade Level(s): 10--12
- Approximate Number of Students Involved Annually: 50
- Dates: September 2017 -- March 2019
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