On September 26, 2024, Mr. Chambers' Environmental Science class, in collaboration with biologists from the Kansas Department of Wildlife Parks (KDWP), participated in a field trip to Lemon Park to evaluate the ecological interiority of a short stretch of the South Fork Ninnescah River. Students had an opportunity to assess the biological communities of the river by sampling fish using electroshocking techniques and collecting macroinvertebrates with dip nets. In addition to sampling fish and macroinvertebrates, students conducted a habitat survey and performed basic water chemistry tests to assess the overall condition of the river.
The project is part of an ecology unit in the Environmental Science curriculum that allows students to work with KDWP biologists who monitor surface water quality and other environmental issues in Kansas. Ryan Waters, Mark Van Scoyoc, and Brendon Mason worked with students, providing direction, oversight, and feedback as they collected fish and macroinvertebrates. This is the 22nd year for this project and collaboration between PCC and KDWP.
The macroinvertebrate community was slightly less diverse but was consistent with the invertebrate communities obtained in the past. The fish community continues to show an impact from invasive species, with fewer native minnow species being collected than in previous years.
Sediment loading is returning to levels seen before the significant flooding event in 2018. Over the past 22 years, the overall quality of this stretch of the South Fork Ninnescah has not changed. Fish and macroinvertebrate communities and plant nutrient levels were similar to those observed in previous years.
The river's biological, habitat, and chemical assessment allows students to better understand the interconnected relationship of these elements. Students recently finished interpreting the collected data and have written a formal report summarizing their findings. Recognizing how organisms interact with one another and their environment is a fundamental principle in ecology. Environmental science is all about how people interact with their environment and how they impact natural systems. Thanks to KDWP for their continuing support of this project.
