Students assess river quality

Ninth grade Environmental Science students at Bethany Christian Schools found the quality of the Elkhart River south of Goshen to be “fair” as part of their study of river habitats. A highly experiential course, students apply what they learn in the classroom to the local environment. For this study students assisted the City of Elkhart’s acquatic biologist, Daragh Deegan, with an electrofishing sample and analysis to assess the health of the river community. Biological monitoring, as compared to just taking a water sample, is used to look at the health of a river over time.

chestnut lampreyAfter Deegan used an electrical current to stun and capture fish in a designated area, students collected data on each fish, recording weight and length and looking for a balance and diversity of species—especially the presence or absence of species less tolerant to pollution—as one way to get a picture of the river’s health. They found 24 species—including a chestnut lamprey—that they categorized into nine groups that reflect different roles in the ecosystem. When finished recording data, they returned the fish to the river. Using a point system based on the number of fish in each category they determined that the river is fairly healthy at that spot—earning a 44 out of 60.

Students learned that in this portion of the river, which is in an agricultural area, sediment deposits from land erosion can be a hindrance to a diverse fish population, whereas in a more urban or industrial portion of the river, chemicals and other pollutants can be more of a problem.