May 2012: Spring Programs come to a close as we look forward to the excitement of Commencement – Graduation is the moment we’ve been working toward for all these years so it is an extra exciting time. As we draw to a close for the school year, River Watchers take surveys to help us gain an understanding of how to improve our services and they also evaluate how they have done on their Personal, Academic and River Watch goals for the semester.
Download the Flying Fish Review here!
The new Flying Fish is here! 
Every year, we ask the River Watchers to tell us what they love about the program. Do they have a special memory they treasure? How has Austin Youth River Watch affected their life? The River Watchers write stories, draw pictures — whatever inspires them! Our “Flying Fish Review” is the annual compilation of these reflections, and we think you’ll agree that this year’s Flying Fish is especially good. But don’t take our word for it, download your own copy here.
River Watchers Monitor Fish populations in Williamson Creek
April – May, 2012: 30 River Watchers tested water on Williamson Creek in Dove Springs Park and also engaged in biological monitoring by searching for and photographing the fish populations in Williamson Creek. Students were intrigued by the colors and by the colorful behavior of the darters and sunfish.
Students test water at Barton Creek Habitat Preserve
May 7, 2012: 9 River Watchers learned about endangered species of birds, the golden-cheeked warbler and the black-capped vireo, which depend on habitat provided at Nature Conservancy of Texas’ Barton Creek Habitat Preserve. Students tested the water in the creek, observed the fish and swam in the beautiful water.
Career Talk by Matt Hendrix, Civil Engineer, URS Austin
May 3, 2012: Students of the Thursday group at Travis High have gotten to know our volunteer, Matt Hendrix, through the course of this semester as he has learned from them each week a new water test. Today Matt shared with the students about his career path as a Civil Engineer. Students asked great questions of Matt as they got an understanding of his path from high school to where he is today in his career as an Engineer at URS here in Austin.
1st Tuesday Monitoring with Park Ranger Jeff White
May 1, 2012: 9 River Watchers tested water and discussed their findings with Jeff White, Austin Parks and Recreation Department Park Ranger. Students hypothesized that the water would be pretty good and they actually found it to be good to very good water quality that day – thumbs up!
Austin Youth River Watch on KUT
April 17, 2012: 9 students tested water and visited with Michael Lee of KUT to contribute video and audio for a two minute story about Austin Youth River Watch and a great video. This was set up by our partners at I Live Here, I Give Here. Austin Youth River Watch was selected as the KUT Get Involved Spotlight group for the month of May! See the link here to read the story, see the video and hear the story.
River Watchers meet Green Teens
April 18, 2012: 10 Austin Youth River Watch students from Akins HIgh School met up with the Keep Austin Beautiful sponsored Green Teens and the Akins Environmental Club in East Bouldin Creek at Dawson Park. River Watchers showed each of the Green Teens how to do the tests. Students discussed interesting environmental issues at the site and helped their friends learn about why we do the tests we do and what they indicate in the environment. Students hiked in the creek bed and saw fossilized worms, old swimming holes and unusual water features. They discussed eutrophication, nutrients, algae and dissolved oxygen.
AYRW Senior Dinner celebrates upcoming graduates
April 5, 2012: 16 River Watch High School Seniors attend the annual AYRW Senior Dinner to commend graduating seniors. Travis High Culinary Arts catered and housed the special event. Thank you Rob and everyone at Culinary Arts who helped put on a worthy celebration for our most worthy River Watch graduates!
River Watchers embark on West Texas EcoLearning Adventure
March 10 -16, 2012: 14 Young Men of Austin Youth River Watch, representing all of our nine AISD high schools, travelled to the wilds of West Texas for an EcoLearning Adventure focussed on desert oases. The first night the group arrived at Independence Creek Preserve managed by The Nature Conservancy, near Sheffield, TX. After waking to morning Turkey calls, the group hiked to the top of a nearby mesa where everyone was treated to an endless vista and a talk from the Preserve Manager, Corbin Neill, about the importance of the Independence Creek watershed for improving the water quality of the Pecos River and the natural history of the area. Students then took Conductivity and pH readings of Independence Creek, demonstrating earlier points made by the Preserve Manager. The next three days, River Watchers camped and trekked in Big Bend National Park. Notables include; camping in the picturesque, high desert biome of Chisos Basin, hiking and swimming at Boquillas Canyon, Santa Elena Canyon, and the Hot Springs, an impromptu talk with the students from a Big Bend Park Ranger, and numerous wildlife and wildness sightings. The adventure continued with a stop at McDonald Observatory to view a presentation about the Solar Cycle. Students finished at Balmorhea State Park where they camped, gazed at the bright stars and swam in the cool, clear waters of San Solomon Spring. The students will never forget their experiences and new friendships forged from their six days in west Texas amongst the oases.
