-Linda Conlin-
SILVER SPRINGS--On a bright, sunny autumn day in late October, Silver Stage High School mentors traveled to the Rolling A Ranch in Dayton and prepared to greet their students, 4th graders from Silver Springs and Hugh Gallagher Elementary Schools.
They were teaching them about the Carson River watershed, using hands-on activities.
Conserve Carson River Work Day, an annual fall event, celebrated 14 years of work along the Carson River this year.
Students checked out Carson River water quality using chemical test kits. They learned about dissolved oxygen and how important it is for animal life. They tested the pH and temperature and measured the cloudiness of the river.
They used watershed maps and explored animals living in the Carson River watershed. Animal pelts from Nevada State Parks provided the opportunity to touch the fur and talk about animal behavior, what they eat and where they live. Students learned about their watershed and how the earth is divided into watersheds.
High school students had fun dressing up the elementary kids as bugs. Through this activity, they discovered how aquatic insects adapt to their environment to get the oxygen and food needed for survival. Aquatic insects tell scientists about water quality because some are so sensitive to pollution. If those sensitive insects aren't found in a sample, something may be wrong with the water for they need cold water with lots of oxygen to survive.
The 4th graders love making water cycle bracelets in the Incredible Journey station. Colorful beads, representing water in various locations in the water cycle, are collected and tell about the journey of a water droplet. Each student wore a bracelet depicting their Incredible Journey.
The station that students enjoy the most is the bioengineering station; bundling and planting willows on the streambank. With the help of the Dayton Valley Conservation District and the ARRA stimulus crew, students bundled willow cuttings. They laid bundles in trenches on the banks, covered them with soil and native seeds, and then pounded in stakes to firmly secure the bundles.
They were teaching them about the Carson River watershed, using hands-on activities.
Conserve Carson River Work Day, an annual fall event, celebrated 14 years of work along the Carson River this year.
Students checked out Carson River water quality using chemical test kits. They learned about dissolved oxygen and how important it is for animal life. They tested the pH and temperature and measured the cloudiness of the river.
They used watershed maps and explored animals living in the Carson River watershed. Animal pelts from Nevada State Parks provided the opportunity to touch the fur and talk about animal behavior, what they eat and where they live. Students learned about their watershed and how the earth is divided into watersheds.
High school students had fun dressing up the elementary kids as bugs. Through this activity, they discovered how aquatic insects adapt to their environment to get the oxygen and food needed for survival. Aquatic insects tell scientists about water quality because some are so sensitive to pollution. If those sensitive insects aren't found in a sample, something may be wrong with the water for they need cold water with lots of oxygen to survive.
The 4th graders love making water cycle bracelets in the Incredible Journey station. Colorful beads, representing water in various locations in the water cycle, are collected and tell about the journey of a water droplet. Each student wore a bracelet depicting their Incredible Journey.
The station that students enjoy the most is the bioengineering station; bundling and planting willows on the streambank. With the help of the Dayton Valley Conservation District and the ARRA stimulus crew, students bundled willow cuttings. They laid bundles in trenches on the banks, covered them with soil and native seeds, and then pounded in stakes to firmly secure the bundles.
"When springtime comes," Richard Wilkenson, Dayton Valley Conservation District manager, told the students, "we should have willow trees sprouting up along the entire cutting. The roots hold down the soil and prevent erosion and that is good."
This River Wranglers project is sponsored by the Western Nevada RC&D, the Carson Water Subconservancy District, Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Dayton Valley Conservation District and the Smallwood Foundation.
Conserve the Carson River Work Days is a watershed event, happening along the Carson River from the headwaters in Alpine County, CA to the terminus of the river in Churchill County, Nevada. Senators Harry Reid and John Ensign are honorary chairmen for the event.
Local contributors include Hodges Transportation, Ergs, Inc., The Fernley Leader, J&B Cabinets, Lahontan Storage, Nugget Casino in Silver Springs, Silver Springs Airport, LLC, Silver Springs-Stagecoach Booster Club, Silver Stage Nighthawk Booster Club, Vaquero Supplement, Mason Valley News, John Gavin Realty and Law, Dayton Valley Veterinary Hospital, Dayton Valley Dental Care, Shamrock Site Services, Dayton Bobcat Booster Club, Dayton DustDevils Booster Club, the Dayton Courier, Lyon County Parks Department and Douglas High School Silk Screening Class.
River Wranglers want to thank Rebecca Jones, Silver Stage High School science instructor, for preparing her students to teach about the watershed.
Thanks also to the elementary teachers from Silver Springs Elementary School; Bridget Perez, Maxine Emm and Carlene Fulton and Hugh Gallagher Elementary School teacher, Karen Staffen. River Wranglers appreciate all of the parent volunteers and give special thanks to Shelly Hardy for volunteering at the chemistry station.
Citizens who are interested in learning more about River Wranglers, email nevadariverwranglers@yahoo.com.
This River Wranglers project is sponsored by the Western Nevada RC&D, the Carson Water Subconservancy District, Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Dayton Valley Conservation District and the Smallwood Foundation.
Conserve the Carson River Work Days is a watershed event, happening along the Carson River from the headwaters in Alpine County, CA to the terminus of the river in Churchill County, Nevada. Senators Harry Reid and John Ensign are honorary chairmen for the event.
Local contributors include Hodges Transportation, Ergs, Inc., The Fernley Leader, J&B Cabinets, Lahontan Storage, Nugget Casino in Silver Springs, Silver Springs Airport, LLC, Silver Springs-Stagecoach Booster Club, Silver Stage Nighthawk Booster Club, Vaquero Supplement, Mason Valley News, John Gavin Realty and Law, Dayton Valley Veterinary Hospital, Dayton Valley Dental Care, Shamrock Site Services, Dayton Bobcat Booster Club, Dayton DustDevils Booster Club, the Dayton Courier, Lyon County Parks Department and Douglas High School Silk Screening Class.
River Wranglers want to thank Rebecca Jones, Silver Stage High School science instructor, for preparing her students to teach about the watershed.
Thanks also to the elementary teachers from Silver Springs Elementary School; Bridget Perez, Maxine Emm and Carlene Fulton and Hugh Gallagher Elementary School teacher, Karen Staffen. River Wranglers appreciate all of the parent volunteers and give special thanks to Shelly Hardy for volunteering at the chemistry station.
Citizens who are interested in learning more about River Wranglers, email nevadariverwranglers@yahoo.com.
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