High Schools Study Creek Health

The City of Santa Rosa’s Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Bioassessment Program originated in 1998 as an outreach effort for compliance with requirements of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System Permit (NPDES) for storm water discharges. Since the program’s creation, a total of 1,768 students from Elsie Allen, Maria Carrillo, Montgomery, Piner, Ridgeway, and Santa Rosa High Schools have participated. This experiential education program is provided to high school science classes with academic levels ranging from elective zoology courses to Advanced Placement classes.

Each high school monitors a Santa Rosa area creek near their campus, with a total of six creeks being assessed. Participants use a modified version of the Citizen Monitoring Level California Stream Bioassessment Protocol (CSBP) to guide their sampling. Students learn key ecological concepts, macroinvertebrate identification techniques and receive training in the sampling protocols and related equipment. Students then conduct a field assessment where participants collect and identify an aquatic macroinvertebrate sample, test water quality and conduct a habitat assessment. After the field assessment is done, students identify their collection of macroinvertebrates in the field or during a lab session. Participants then compile their data and compare their creek’s health with past results. At the end of the program students complete a culminating activity to educate their school or community about storm water pollution.

During the program’s eight years, the City’s project team has observed that successful stream
bioassessments do not automatically result in participants understanding their life-long role in preventing storm water pollution. This evolving program is trying to engage students in a local creek assessment while also informing and inspiring them to act in support of healthy Santa Rosa streams.