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Students study specimen

By Staff | Nov 5, 2010

(Chronicle photo by Jennifer Wabnitz) Ryan Morris-Escotar intently studies the stream creature through a microscope. Volunteer Jim Hoadley coaches him on what to look for in his sample.

Wednesday 20 students from Wildwood Middle School Environment Club went to Rockymarsh Run to plant trees and biologically survey the stream. Eight species of native deciduous trees were planted by the students.

A healthy trout stream needs to be just the right pH balance and temperature. Shade and trees can help with both of those requirements.

The club has gone to a training seminar at Mountain Institute for an overnight trip, camping in yurts. The training inspired them to do a local stream project.

They teamed up with John Nease’s team from Trout Unlimited. The goal of the field trip is to give the kids some field experience, studying live stream creatures and assessing the current water quality. They will return to study the water at a later date.

Wednesday’s findings were summarized as the water quality was mid- to low-range, but with the discovery of crawdads, sow bugs and possibly a dragonfly larvae, the stream is showing signs of bouncing back.