New Web-Based Water Quality Tracking System

As suggested by Owen High School teacher, Pam Rhoda, RiverLink is now offering a web-based water quality tracking system. Through a digital map of the French Broad Watershed, this program creates a comprehensive and visually cohesive way to observe water quality, compare results with other groups, and look at surrounding area conditions.

Many times a year, school groups, community groups, or individuals measure pH, nitrate and phosphate levels, temperature, turbidity, and dissolved oxygen. RiverLink now collects those results and enters them as points marked by a green frog on a digital map.

By clicking on a frog, readers can look at spreadsheets of water quality results, study possible variables in results, and look at pictures and video clips of the location. Readers can also look at other concerning issues in the surrounding area that may be affecting water quality such as sediment runoff, oil spills, or landfill locations. This resource is an excellent follow up exercise for middle and high school students to reinforce RiverLink's Kids in the Creek Water Quality Testing class and to relate their watershed knowledge to other subject areas such as math, computer technology, and critical thinking.

To look at this program please visit this website: http://www.imrivers.com/hartwell

To report water quality results and see them online or to sign up for a preliminary Kids in the Creek Water Quality Testing class call Ashley Brown, Education Coordinator for RiverLink at 828-252-8474 x111 or email her at education@riverlink.org.

RiverLink is a regional organization spearheading the economic and environmental revitalization of the French Broad River watershed as a destination where everyone can work, live and play. For more information about how you can get involved contact us at www.riverlink.org, or information@riverlink.org, 252-8474.