River Watchers
River Watchers are of all ages and backgrounds. They are
students, teachers, concerned citizens, and anyone who joins in
this fun and worthwhile effort to monitor and protect the
waters of the St. Louis River watershed and surrounding
area. While participating to meet the goals of observing,
documenting, and appreciating the natural beauty of this
valued water resource, these St. Louis River sentinels
develop valuable scientific skills while serving their
communities as river basin stewards. The St. Louis River -
River Watch project is an important environmental learning
activity for area secondary school students and their
teachers. Presently, 25
area schools participate in the monitoring project.
More than 800 students will be actively involved in this
year's monitoring! In most participating schools, these
River Watch activities are integrated into the secondary
science curriculum.Monitoring sites extend from near the river's source at Seven Beaver Lake to the Duluth/Superior harbor. Students, teachers, and college student assistants collect and analyze river samples at designated monitoring sites. These data are compiled and made accessible to all the schools. Participants can then draw conclusions about the water quality of the entire St. Louis River. Not only does the River Watch program serve as an excellent environmental education activity, but it also promotes and inspires stewardship of the freshwater resources in our area. By participating, River Watchers directly help their communities make more informed decisions relating to the integrity of the St. Louis River watershed.