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NWP Global Registry of Apprentice Ecologists - Hill Ditch, Toledo, Ohio, USA

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Hill Ditch, Toledo, Ohio, USA
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obibler



Registered: December 2019
City/Town/Province: Toledo
Posts: 1
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This year I designed an environmental research project that focused on the water quality of a man-made drainage ditch and compared that to the water
quality of a natural river. I did this by studying macroinvertebrate populations in two bodies of water. Macroinvertebrates are essential in determining the health of a waterbody because the organisms present provide a long-term perspective of stream health. The objective of this preliminary study was to use macroinvertebrates to indicate whether the water quality of a man-made ditch or a natural river was higher. Overall, preliminary results concluded that the natural river has a higher water quality than the man-made ditch. Despite this, it is significant to mention that man-made ditches are important to the preservation of rare and uncommon macroinvertebrate species and types. It is also important to note that many man-made drainage ditches have begun to evolve into natural ecosystems that are home to thousands of different organisms. With this in mind, I decided to organize an event to clean pollution out of the drainage ditch I sampled in hopes of improving the water quality. With the help of school and community members we cleared thirty pounds of styrofoam, plastic bags, water bottles, paper, syringes, and other various items out of the ditch during this two hour event. One of the most significant parts of this cleanup was the removal of a blockage of trash that had accumulated around a fallen tree and was hindering the flow of water downstream. I feel this was also the most successful aspect of the stream cleanup because it was the most noticeable impact made that day. I feel this event was a major success in the fact that we cleared such a large amount of pollution out of this ditch in such a short amount of time. This event was especially important to me because it demonstrated to me the impact that a community can make on their environment when they work together and set achievable goals. This event in addition to my research has opened my eyes to career opportunities I hadn't considered previously. I now strive to major in environmental engineering with a focus on habitat restoration. Being a part of and leading environmental stewardship events has been critical in my career choice and opened my eyes to new opportunities and ways of thinking. As I become more experienced and educated in different aspects of environmental stewardship I hope to educate others and spread the same love for the environment that others have instilled in me.
· Date: December 31, 2019 · Views: 2562 · File size: 26.4kb, 155.5kb · : 720 x 960 ·
Hours Volunteered: 40
Volunteers: 20
Authors Age & Age Range of Volunteers: 17 & 15 to 45
Trash Removed/Recycled from Environment (kg): 13.5
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