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November, 2002 Water Quality Monitoring
and Youth Training Report Austin Youth River Watch
Program Elisabeth Welsh, Program
Coordinator |
Report Summary
§
Water
Quality Narrative
§
Water
Problems
§
Gender
and Minority Composition of Program Participants
§
Programmatic
Notes
Water
Quality
A high dissolved solids level of 670 ppm and a high nitrate level
of 8 ppm were recorded at the Old Ford on Hornsbys Bend of the Colorado River
on November 12. All other parameters
were normal on the dates that students tested water.
Water
Problems Reported to City of Austin Water and Wastewater and/or Watershed
Protection Departments
NA
Gender and Minority Composition of Student Participants
Numbers represent the students who actively participated this month.
|
Ethnicity→ Gender
↓ |
Hispanic |
African
American |
Asian |
Anglo |
Other |
Total |
|
Female |
19
(40%) |
2
(4%) |
1
(2%) |
5
(11%) |
|
27
(57%) |
|
Male |
17
(36%) |
1
(2%) |
|
2
(4%) |
|
20
(43%) |
|
Total |
36
(77%) |
3
(6%) |
1
(2%) |
7
(15%) |
|
47
(100%) |
These percentages are rounded and may not add up to 100%.
Programmatic Notes
·
On 2 November 5 students participated in the Mussel
Watch Training at the City of Austin Center for Environmental Research at
Hornsby Bend
·
On 6 November Representatives of the Austin Youth
River Watch Board of Directors met with representatives of the City of Austin
and the Lower Colorado River Authority.
They decided that the AYRW will use some materials for water monitoring
provided by the LCRA, including supplies and equipment for a new nitrate
test.
·
On 9 - 10 November 7 young women in the AYRW
participated in the Young Womens Retreat.
It was held at the Nature Conservancy of Texas Barton Creek Habitat
Preserve. 4 volunteers from the Travis
Audubon Society helped students to learn about birds and how to identify
them. Then they lead the students on a
birding walk. 2 Scientists from the
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality helped students identify 11 species
of fish in the water. Students tested
the water quality. The AYRW President
volunteered by setting up and leading an orienteering activity.
·
On 13 November Program Coordinator, Elisabeth Welsh,
was 1 of 6 honorees in the Six for the Colorado event held by the Colorado
River Foundation, a non-profit organization associated with the LCRA. She was honored for her environmental
stewardship in coordinating the Austin Youth River Watch Youth at Risk water
quality monitoring program for three years.
Three students helped in the awards presentation. One student gave a short speech about why
she loves the Austin Youth River Watch.
And two students helped present each award to the honorees. Program Coordinator briefly thanked those
present for supporting the environmental stewardship opportunities for youth.
·
On 23 24 November 6 young men in the AYRW
participated in the Just for the Guys Campout and Diel Study at the Tabor Track
of the City of Austin Water Quality Protection Lands.
Summary of
Attachments
Student Participation Records and Mentor Tutoring Hours, Monthly Bank Statement, Annotated Checks (and a data printout)
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December, 2002 Water Quality Monitoring
and Youth Training Report Austin Youth River Watch
Program Elisabeth Welsh, Program
Coordinator |
Report Summary
§
Water
Quality Narrative
§
Water
Problems
§
Gender
and Minority Composition of Program Participants
§
Programmatic
Notes
Water
Quality
All parameters were normal on the dates that students tested
water.
Water
Problems Reported to City of Austin Water and Wastewater and/or Watershed
Protection Departments
NA
Gender and Minority Composition of Student Participants
Numbers represent the students who actively participated this month.
|
Ethnicity→ Gender
↓ |
Hispanic |
African
American |
Asian |
Anglo |
Other |
Total |
|
Female |
17
(44%) |
2
(5%) |
1
(3%) |
3
(8%) |
|
23
(59%) |
|
Male |
15
(38%) |
|
|
1
(3%) |
|
16
(41%) |
|
Total |
32
(82%) |
2
(5%) |
1
(3%) |
4
(10%) |
|
39
(100%) |
Please
note that these percentages are rounded and may not add up to exactly 100.
Programmatic Notes
·
On
7 December 11 students and one volunteer intern visited the Hornsby Bend Center
for Environmental Research
·
On
9 December - one student visited the seasonal lights on 37th St.
·
On
10 December six students and one volunteer intern visited the seasonal lights
in Zilker Park
·
11
December was the final day of AYRW for the Fall 2002 Semester
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January, 2003 Water Quality Monitoring
and Youth Training Report Austin Youth River Watch
Program Elisabeth Welsh, Program
Coordinator |
Report Summary
§
Water
Quality Narrative
§
Water
Problems
§
Gender
and Minority Composition of Program Participants
§
Programmatic
Notes
Water
Quality
Students monitored water quality at 15 sites this month. Total Dissolved Solids levels were high this
month at the sites listed below on the dates listed. All other parameters were normal on the dates that students
tested water.
Water
Problems Reported to City of Austin Water and Wastewater and/or Watershed
Protection Departments
Total Dissolved Solids levels were high this month
in Blunn Creek at Blunn Creek Preserve with a level of 500ppm on 1/23/03, in East
Bouldin Creek at Dawson Park with a level of 550ppm on 1/15/03 and in Waller
Creek at Waller Creek Center with a level of 510ppm on 1/17/03.
Gender and Minority Composition of Student Participants
|
Ethnicity→ Gender
↓ |
Hispanic |
African
American |
Asian |
Anglo |
Total |
|
Female |
16 (43%) |
4 (11 %) |
1 (3 %) |
3 (8 %) |
24 (65 %) |
|
Male |
12 (32 %) |
|
|
1 (3 %) |
13 (35 %) |
|
Total |
28 (75 %) |
4 (11 %) |
1 (3 %) |
4 (11 %) |
37 (100 %) |
Programmatic Notes
· On January 10 16 Approximately 35 students set goals for the semester in the following categories: River Watch, Home / Personal and Academic / School
· On 10 January- 5 students from the LBJ Liberal Arts and Science Academy did a trial run of having River Watch on Friday. The students have a lot of homework and LASA students live all over Austin so travel time home is lengthy. Friday worked well for the students so LBJ will have AYRW on Fridays this semester.
· On 16 January there were some problems with the van starting and Pit Stop Auto Repair on S. Lamar fixed the problem for free.
· On 17 January Austin Youth River Watch set up a new website at www.AYRW.org
· On 19 January, the Austin American Statesman printed an article that said that Barton Springs pool has had levels of toxic chemical compounds that are worse than at some Super Fund sites around the country. It also said that there are several other similarly polluted sites on other Austin creeks including several creeks that we monitor. So we instituted a new temporary policy that the students must wear gloves for all of the tests including the water temperature test and any test in which they might come into contact with the water in the creek. The object is to avoid water to skin contact.
· On January 22 Volunteer Intern from UT Geography and Biology started mentoring with the Wednesday group from Austin High
· On January 24 Volunteer Intern from UT Geography started mentoring the Friday group from LBJ
· On 24 30 January 37 students discussed the topic of what they are doing this summer. This was part of the ongoing Career Exploration efforts to encourage the students to look into summer opportunities such as job trainings, etc.
· On January 27 Volunteer Intern began mentoring the Monday group from Johnston High
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February, 2003 Water Quality Monitoring
and Youth Training Report Austin Youth River Watch
Program Elisabeth Welsh, Program
Coordinator |
Report Summary
§
Water
Quality Narrative
§
Water
Problems
§
Gender
and Minority Composition of Program Participants
§
Programmatic
Notes
Water
Quality
All parameters were normal on the dates that students tested
water.
Water
Problems Reported to City of Austin Water and Wastewater and/or Watershed
Protection Departments
NA
Gender and Minority Composition of Student Participants
These numbers represent the students who actively participated this month. Percentages may not add up to exactly 100% due to rounding.
|
Ethnicity→ Gender
↓ |
Hispanic |
African
American |
Asian |
Anglo |
Total |
|
Female |
15 (38 %) |
4 (10 %) |
1 (3 %) |
3 (8 %) |
23 (59 %) |
|
Male |
14 (36 %) |
1 (3 %) |
|
1 (3 %) |
16 (41 %) |
|
Total |
29 (74 %) |
5 (13 %) |
1 (3 %) |
4 (10 %) |
39 (100 %) |
Programmatic Notes
· On February 1 9 students planted trees with Tree Folks at Hornsby Bend
· On February 3 7 : approximately 40 students responded to the Career Exploration Topic: Who is your hero and why?
· On 4 February Volunteer Intern began mentoring the Tuesday group from Akins High
· On 10 14 February: Approximately 40 students Explored the Career Topic: How do you decide what kind of work to do for your career?
· On 13 February 8 students and program coordinator visited the DAC and toured the Black History Month Art Exhibit
· On 14 February 4 students, intern and program coordinator visited the DAC and toured the Black History Month Art Exhibit
· On 18 February 9 students, intern and program coordinator visited the DAC and toured the Black History Month Art Exhibit
· On 19 February 8 students, intern and program coordinator visited the DAC and toured the Black History Month Art Exhibit
· On 20 February 6 students visited the Totally Cool, Totally Art Exhibit at MexicArte Museum. The exhibit featured young artists from the local recreation centers. The students recognized the names of some of the young artists as people from their neighborhood.
· On Friday 21 February 5 students discussed College Scholarships
· The Diel Study to be at Tabor on February 22-23 was cancelled due to rains that made the site inaccessible.
· On Tuesday, 25 February Austin was shut down by snow and ice
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March, 2003 Water Quality Monitoring
and Youth Training Report Austin Youth River Watch
Program Elisabeth Welsh, Program
Coordinator |
Report Summary
§
Water
Quality Narrative
§
Water
Problems
§
Gender
and Minority Composition of Program Participants
§
Programmatic
Notes
Water
Quality
On 24 March, a high dissolved solids level of 650ppm was detected
in the Colorado River at the Old Ford on Hornsby Bend. All other parameters were normal on the
dates that students tested water.
Water
Problems Reported to City of Austin Water and Wastewater and/or Watershed
Protection Departments
NA
Gender and Minority Composition of Student Participants
These numbers represent the students who actively participated this month.
|
Ethnicity→ Gender
↓ |
Hispanic |
African
American |
Asian |
Anglo |
Total |
|
Female |
20 (41 %) |
5 (10 %) |
1 (2 %) |
4 (8 %) |
30 (61 %) |
|
Male |
17 (35 %) |
1 (2 %) |
|
1 (2 %) |
19 (39 %) |
|
Total |
37 (76 %) |
6 (12 %) |
1 (2 %) |
5 (10 %) |
49 (100 %) |
Programmatic Notes
· On 7 March 7 students, one board member, one volunteer and the program coordinator traveled to and camped at Ray Roberts Lake State Park north of Denton, Texas as the first stop on the Spring Break 2003 Ecological Learning Adventure
· On 8 March - 7 students, one board member, one volunteer and the program coordinator attended the Texas Watch Statewide Meeting of the Monitors at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas. Students attended at least two talks and visited with other monitors (professional and volunteer) from around the state and around the globe. Students interacted with the DFW Metroplex Urban Wildlife Biologist, the Volunteer Monitoring Coordinator for our EPA region, and the CEO of Alabama Water Watch, who implements programs in Alabama and in rural areas of several countries around the world
· On 8 February - 7 students, one board member, one volunteer and the program coordinator camped at Ray Roberts Lake State Park
· On 9 March - 7 students, one board member, one volunteer and the program coordinator traveled to and camped at Whichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge. The students enjoyed hiking, rambling over rocks, seeing wildlife like bison and prairie dogs and learning about prairie and grassland ecosystems. Students looked at the stars that night with the telescope.
· On 10 March - 7 students, one board member, one volunteer and the program coordinator visited the OU Biological Research Station on Lake Texoma. The researchers talked about fish and then lead the students on a collection of mussel shells. The emphasis of the talk was that the students should always do things that are interesting to them.
· On 10 March - 7 students, one board member, one volunteer and the program coordinator camped at Maher Farms the family farm of one of the AYRW board members near Ardmore, Oklahoma. On the way to the camping area we had to drive through an active cow pasture and were surrounded by about a hundred cows so that we could not move the van. The students were so excited. That evening we visited an old cemetery at the Farm.
· On 11 March - 7 students, one board member, one volunteer and the program coordinator visited the Noble Foundation Research and Restoration Area on the Red River. They talked with the students about how prairie grasses hold together soil and how that is especially important for water quality in the area of the Red River where the soils are deep above the bedrock. We looked up close at some of the tall prairie grasses and also at a site of a recent controlled burn.
· That evening on Maher Farms, the students hunted for arrow heads and had a bonfire.
· On 12 March - 7 students, one board member, one volunteer and the program coordinator headed home to Austin.
· On 18 March 8 students visited the Director and Education Coordinator at the Texas Nature Conservancy Barton Creek Habitat Preserve he talked with them about environmental career pathways and emphasized that he has always done things that interest him.
· Young Womens Campout and Diel Study was moved from March 22 23 to March 29 30 so that more young women could attend.
· On 29 - 30 March, 6 students participated in the Young Womens Campout and Diel Study at the Tabor Track of the Water Quality Protection Lands managed by the City of Austin Water and Wastewater Utility. They participated in some activities designed by the Leopold Education Project, a program to get people familiar with the writings of Aldo Leopold and his concept of the Land Ethic. Students observed and then wrote poems, drew pictures, etc.
· On 31 March 8 students Explored the Career Exploration Topic: Resumes and Interviewing Skills
· On March 31 8 students discussed what to do in potentially violent situations
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April, 2003 Water Quality Monitoring
and Youth Training Report Austin Youth River Watch
Program Elisabeth Welsh, Program
Coordinator |
Report Summary
§
Water
Quality Narrative
§
Water
Problems
§
Gender
and Minority Composition of Program Participants
§
Programmatic
Notes
Water
Quality
On 8 April, a Total Dissolved Solids level of 570 ppm was
identified in East Bouldin Creek at Milton St.
On 9 April, a Total Dissolved Solids level of 550 ppm was detected in
East Bouldin Creek at Dawson Park. Readings at these two sites later in the
month were lower and within normal parameters. All other parameters were normal
on the dates that students tested water.
Water
Problems Reported to City of Austin Water and Wastewater and/or Watershed
Protection Departments
NA
Gender and Minority Composition of Student Participants
These numbers represent the students who actively participated this month.
|
Ethnicity→ Gender
↓ |
Hispanic |
African
American |
Asian |
Anglo |
Other |
Total |
|
Female |
20 (35.7 %) |
5 (8.9 %) |