Results of Holley students'
water quality study to be presented

Because water is in such abundant supply, many people take it for granted, Dan Goodwin, ninth grade environmental science teacher at Holley High School said. Students in his classes, however, have spent the past six months collecting and studying the water in the area and now have a greater appreciation for the need to keep the supply safe for drinking.

Goodwin, with the help of Holley High School Principal Mike Gilbert, put together a grant application to the Toyota Tapestry Foundation and the school was awarded $10,000 toward the water quality study program. Fellow environmental science teacher Ashley Grillo helped with the project.

The study involved second and sixth graders as well as the two dozen students in the ninth grade class.

"The students tested 10 different water quality parameters and those parameters went toward making the water quality index ratings," Goodwin said. "The WQI ranks the quality of the water."

While the ninth graders worked on the water quality index findings, the sixth graders designed and researched the different type of plants that could be grown in Sandy Creek to mitigate the effects of erosion. The second graders did their part by growing and planting the plants along the creek, Goodwin said.

"We took the 10 parameters and split them among the students so each group of students became experts in the area they were assigned," Goodwin said. "Those groups were each responsible for putting together the presentation and they will be the ones disseminating the information to the public."

The study, Goodwin said, opened the students' eyes to the water quality and to the importance of the environment and why they have to work to help preserve it.

"Now that the study has been completed, we also have a baseline for future testing," Goodwin said.

Now that the studies are complete and the results compiled, the students have prepared power point presentations which will be presented to the public on Tuesday, June 7 at 7 p.m. in the Holley Elementary School Cafetorium.

The event is open to the public. Contact Goodwin at the school at 638-6335, ext. 2134 for information.