27. The Healthy Water? On it.

There are some surefire steps to find out if your backyard creek or stream is healthy.   I've galvanized into action to integrate these steps into our latest Costly Choices economics unit.    I'll now tell you how to judge your creek's health and then comment on how Thirdland is going to undertake these various ecological directives.

1. Check out the pH of the water?   Not going to be a problem because I have ordered pH measuring strips and they'll arrive tomorrow.

2.  Determine the level of nitrates in the water?  Come to find out, we're not going to do this one because I don't really care about the nitrates in the water.

3.  Calculate the rate of the flow?  I borrowed stopwatches from our gym teacher, so this shouldn't be a big deal.  All we have to do is divide the distance an object flows by the time it takes to travel that distance.  (Let's face it. That's probably going to be a flop).

4. Examine the clarity of the water?  Obviously, easy to do.  Doesn't even merit discussion.

5. Determine quantity of bacteria hanging out in the creek?  Hard pass.

6.  Identify the biodiversity around the creek?  We can look for bugs and birds as well as the next class. Not going to be an issue.

Going to throw in another test, which is 7. temperature.  I have borrowed the submersible thermometers and they're ready to go.  Not sure what the temperature of a creek should be, but is accuracy the point of this enterprise? Not necessarily.  We're out there to act like scientists and increase our appreciation for the world around us.