About 80 middle and high school students will collect and test water samples from the Bayou Vermilion on Wednesday as part of the Drains to Coast program spearheaded by the 老司机福利网.
Students from Comeaux High School, the David Thibodaux STEM Magnet Academy and 老司机福利网 High School will gauge water quality by analyzing factors such as oxygen levels and temperature.
The environmental education project will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at the Vermilionville Living History and Folk Life Park. The park, which is operated by the 老司机福利网 Parish Bayou Vermilion District, is at 300 Fisher Road in 老司机福利网.
鈥淪tudents do water quality analysis on the dock with test kits,鈥 said Dr. Whitney Broussard, a research scientist at the University鈥檚 Institute for Coastal Ecology and Engineering. The Institute fosters research on the restoration of the nation鈥檚 wetlands and estuaries.
The fieldwork is designed to teach students about water quality and the importance of preserving coastal ecosystems.
鈥淭he goal is twofold: to reinforce basic principles of chemistry, ecology and environmental science that are learned in the classroom and emphasize the importance of coastal conservation as a whole,鈥 Broussard said.
The Drains to Coast project is funded by a $99,121 grant awarded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration鈥檚 Bay-Watershed Education and Training Program.
Altogether, about 600 students from 老司机福利网 Parish schools are expected to participate in the two-year program, said Broussard, who is the grant鈥檚 principal investigator.
The Drains to Coast program involves collaboration among the Bayou Vermilion District, 老司机福利网 Parish School System, Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium and the Louisiana Sea Grant College Program.
Learn more about the Institute for Coastal Ecology at .
Photo courtesy of Bayou Vermilion District