Joe Super, Central Campus science teacher, brought his students to the river to engage in various tests designed to look at the river through biological, physical, and chemical sampling.

“I really enjoy bringing them out here. I think it really connects with our textbook and our biology curriculum,” said Super. “It’s great to tie it all together and be better citizen scientists.”

Super explained that blue-winged teal utilizing the river this spring are doing so because of an abundance of macroinvertebrates which provide food. Later, he said, the teal will move to potholes in the area and do their nesting. The example provided by Super helps students understand the importance of water and water quality to the environment.

“I think it’s very cool,” said Tatum Fleming, Central Campus student. “Today we’re measuring the flow and how deep the water is and seeing how any erosion has changed the water.”

Kim Fundingsland/MDN Mandy Schmidt, left, and Tatum Fleming, check results of measurements taken at the Souris River Wednesday. Both are biology science students at Minot’s Central Campus.

Fleming was among students using a weighted measuring system that was lowered to the bottom of the Souris River from the bridge above. Other students were involved in testing for alkaline content and turbidity.

“We’re seeing the PH levels of the water by taking measurements,” said Mandy Schmidt, Central Campus student. “It shows us that we need to take better care of the community and our world.”

Super went to the water’s edge to fill a bucket, which was then carefully poured into a tall tube with a “target” on the bottom and a drain hose on the side. Water was released slowly from the drain hose, lowering the water level in the tube, until a student could see the target at the bottom of the tube.

“This measures turbidity, tells how clear the water is,” said Gabriel Bradford, Central Campus student, while peering into the tube.

Turbidity, explained Super, is one of the factors used to determine a Water Quality Index for the Souris. He also noted the lack of flow in the Souris this year due to drought conditions in the region.

“We get a mixture of bad things happening when we get such low flows this early in the season,” said Super. “Normally at this time of year we’d have about 600 cubic feet per second of water flowing and, right now, it is under 10 cfs. Essentially, zero.”

One of the effects of such a low flow in the Souris could be an earlier than usual outbreak of algae blooms, which can alter water quality in several ways, including a lowering of dissolved oxygen content necessary for the survival of a variety of aquatic life.