Watershed Education Program

Students visit their local water body to collect water samples to measure Dissolved oxygen, pH, Temperature, Turbidity, and Conductivity. They also collect and classify benthic macroinvertebrates. They use these chemical and biological parameters to define the water quality of their testing sites.

Students are given the opportunity to explore their watershed through the use of Geographic Information System (ArcGIS) maps. This process can facilitate discussion about how human activities may impact the watershed and therefore the river. Using free ESRI educational software and online accounts, students learn to:

• Use and create ArcGIS maps
• Import local resource data about their own watersheds
• Use Global Positioning System (GPS) units to locate water quality testing sites
• Post and analyze water quality and macroinvertebrate data  using the NHF&G statewide watershed map
• Share that data with the local community and other watershed schools

As an extension of studying the river, students can raise trout eggs in the classroom (Trout in the Classroom program) or study the behavior of fish with a warm water fish tank (Simulating a NH River Ecosystem program).

See Trout in the Classroom Video  

Electrofishing: Students get to become fisheries biologists for a day to study the aquatic resources of a river onsite by helping "electrofish." New Hampshire Fish and Game staff will allow the students to experience fish sampling techniques, to perform a habitat assessment, and to collect, identify, and measure freshwater fish species.