Students also study macroinvertebrates as an indicator of stream health. These students also are mentors in Mrs. Gambill's elementary school class, accompanying the 3rd graders on field trips and working with them in the classroom to help them understand the different tests and to help them identify macroinvertebrates. Top Back WVC Water Quality Patty Vaughan, Forks Alternative School Students at Forks Alternative School study water quality issues involving Mill Creek, Warner Creek and Prairie Falls Creek, using advanced monitoring equipment and techniques to get data on dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, fecal coliform, nitrates, phosphates, turbidity, total solids and biological oxygen demand. Using the data from these parameters, a Water Quality Index is derived for the test sites along each site and comparative data is then kept throughout the year. All data is put onto the WVC database for long-term studies over time.
Students also study macroinvertebrates as an indicator of stream health.
Numerous field trips take place over the course of the year in this intense, hands-on environmental science class.