Upon the request of the executive director of the State of New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, the students will help monitor the water quality and aquatic life in the Connecticut River. River pollution is a real problem in our state, and there are many indicators that tell us if the river is a healthy environment for fish, plants, and other invertebrates. Water temperature is one of the most important factors for survival of aquatic life, and the amount of dissolved oxygen water can hold is directly related to the temperature of the water.
Many invertebrates are also indicators of a healthy environment or one that is becoming polluted.
You can help by taking detailed notes during your river study and forwarding this information to my office. I would be especially interested in the water temperature, the dissolved oxygen reading, the ph, and also the nitrate level. It would be extremely valuable if you could keep count of the specific organisms you collect. Also, note the time of day, the date, and any other pertinent information. Mr. Bell can help you with this.