Here at Table Rock Lake Water Quality, we have many projects going on all the time. Recently, I have taken the initiative to travel to local schools and speak on the topic of water quality. November has been busy with starting educational presentations at local schools on stream biomonitoring. I bring in live macroinvertebrates and the students solve a pollution problem for a simulated fish kill case study. They identify the macroinvertebrates and determine the water quality rating for each of their sites. I discussed the potential different types of pollution such as stormwater run-off and as a class, we discuss possible solutions. Table Rock Lake Water Quality is bringing awareness of stormwater runoff through introducing the causes and effects. I am helping spread the word about stormwater problems when I visit the schools and many of the students mention that they have never thought about pollution in this way. TRLWQ is writing a new grant proposal to demonstrate methods of stormwater retention in the lake Table Rock Lake area. I am excited to help educate the public about these issues so that we may start to talk about solutions to stormwater runoff pollution. The educational presentations have been a great experience and the middle school students are always excited to look at all the aquatic bugs. I have catered the presentation to certain age groups so middle school and high school students can be equally challenged. Middle school students use a picture key to identify the macroinvertebrates while high school students use a dichotomous key. Not only are the students learning about water quality but they are developing laboratory skills as well! I am continuing to travel to local schools and speak about water quality issues. If you are interested in having a “hands-on” presentation to your school or citizen group, just contact Tammy Yelden at (417) 739-4100 or tammyyelden@lvbw.net .
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