WATER WATCHERS of Indiana(WWO) is an organization dedicated to educating Junior and Senior High School youth to the importance of our waterways - their health (through scientific testing), their history (through research and interviews), and their aesthetic value (through-original literature and artistic expression). The organization was modeled after the Illinois Rivers Project, and is parent to the Indiana Rivers and Streams Project.

WATER WATCHERS schools have teachers from the science: agricultural science and business: social science; and English departments working together to coordinate student experiences at the waterfront. Some schools visit small streams, others use boats on large waterways, but they all learn about the importance of water, and water quality in society-past, present, and future.

Becoming a "WATER WATCHER" School involves the following:

1. Teachers from the English, Social Science, Science, and Ag Science Departments attend a training session sponsored by WATER WATCHERS or Indiana Rivers and Streams Project. (IF your school does not have an Agricultural Education Department, you may still participate.) All teachers learn how to conduct the scientific tests, and also receive special instruction to help them plan their curriculum within their department.

2. The teachers have the flexibility to coordinate how they will conduct the program within their school. The students must do a biotic survey of the sites they test. The must test on the spring and fall testing dates selected by WATER WATCHERS each year using HACH brand test equipment. Tests to be conducted include: biological oxygen demand, dissolved oxygen, phosphate, nitrate, pH, temperature change, fecal coliform, turbidity, velocity, and total solids. (Test results are then factored to form an overall water quality index.) They must report the data collected to the Indiana Rivers and Streams Project so that their data is included in the data base being assembled. Computerized reporting is encouraged.

3. Historical information, art and literature generated by the students can be published in "The Riparian". This yearbook has been funded by the Northern Indiana Public Service Company in the past, and consists entirely of the students' work.

Many schools become involved in clean-up efforts when they research water quality. This is not required, but is definitely encouraged, and is a natural offshoot of this project.

"School Administrators are very supportive of this project. It involves "tech prep", "real science", "Community involvement", "good publicity", and, "interdisciplinary cooperation".

For more information contact:

John Rouch, Coordinator Indiana Rivers & Streams Project 10464 N Grove Road Milford, IN 46542 219 658-9108

Becki Moffett-Carey, Secretary WWOI, St. Joseph River Basin 1120 County-City Building South Bend, IN 46601 219 287-1156

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