All About Stewardship

Food for Thought

Food For Thought
Food for Thought...What other inexpensive tools might help you? Have a look around a hardware store or a tackle shop and see what else you can think of. Perhaps you can get a catalogue from the library or from your parents and browse for ideas in the classroom.
Food for Thought...Suppose you were to measure the temperature of your stream every year on May 1 for five years, and it was always about the same temperature. Then, suddenly one year you found it was five degrees warmer! What would you do? First, check your gear and make sure it is working well. If it is not, and the stream is this much warmer, you should contact the Ministry of Environment in your area and tell the Biologist about your findings. Search on the internet, or look at the BC Government web site for an office near you.
Food for Thought...These ideas are just the beginning. What other measurements could you take of a stream? How about a lake? How would you check on the health of a river?! Some other things you might measure - the temperature of the water at different depths, the clarity of the water (is it very clear, or very muddy for instance), the nitrogen levels (you can get a kit from your local pet store). A healthy river shows a lot of life. Can you see fish, birds, insects? Dip some water into a clear glass jar. Can you see small insects in the water? Have a look at the water under a microscope, and see how many different types of creatures you can see.
 
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