The Student Watershed Watch (SWW) brings our young people out to area waterways in northwest Ohio every year for sampling, studying, and reporting. Their hands-on analysis of water quality generates an appreciation for our natural resources and fosters the next generation of water stewards.
For 34 years, the Student Watershed Watch has involved hundreds of students and dozens of classrooms in annual water quality testing and analysis in area waterways. Each year, the project tasks students with sampling, studying, and reporting on water quality issues, giving them hands-on scientific experience and insight into the importance of protecting our natural resources.
The work involves field days in September and October where students collect water samples and use test kits to measure parameters such as dissolved oxygen, turbidity, nutrients, pH value, and bacteria levels. They look for what types of macroinvertebrates are living in the area and what they can show about the quality of the habitat for wildlife.
In October, enthusiastic students splashed around the regions watersheds with their boots, checking out cool bugs, and learning about the relationship between water and wildlife during hands-on sessions with our expert TMACOG Water Quality staff.
For more than three decades, TMACOG has facilitated the annual Student Watershed Watch, which involved an estimated 720 students from at least twenty schools throughout the region in 2023.
THANK YOU to our partners, teachers & of course OUR STUDENTS for attending the Student Watershed Watch Summit on Wednesday, November 15 at The Toledo Zoo. Students presented their results at the Student Summit. Students also voted for the best presentations! The students also got the opportunity to talk with water quality professionals and learn about career paths in water and wastewater, restoration, and biology.
Students who presented their Student Watershed Watch data were recognized with awards for the most creative and informative presentations & displays. Congratulations to our winners and thanks to everyone who participated in and supported Student Watershed Watch 2023!
More videos and photos will be on this page shortly!
For more information about this popular and valuable program, contact SARA GUIHER
“The Andersons believes that improving and protecting Ohio’s waterways requires the collaborative efforts of government agencies, businesses, environmental groups and universities. We are proud to be a part of this collaboration and are committed to helping find effective solutions to ensure safe, clean water for our region.”
“The SWW is such an inspiring program for young people. It gives them hands on experience to increase their understanding and their interest in preserving and protecting our environment.”
Lake Erie Volunteer Science Network (LEVSN)
Since 2020, Student Watershed Watch coordinators have worked with partners throughout the Lake Erie Basin to coordinate the collection of volunteer water quality data. Use the interactive map below that shows sampling sites and data for LEVSN partners. Zoom in on our area to see the data we've collected over the years!
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The Toledo Zoo hosted this in-person Summit, and it turned out to be an amazing day of science, creativity, and education! Check out the awesome photos of the Summit!
Click here for a gallery of photos from the Ottawa Hills sampling event.
Click here for a gallery of photos from the Otsego sampling event.
Click here for a gallery of photos from Navarre Elementary.
Click here for a gallery of photos from Marshall STEMM Academy.
Click here for a gallery of photos from Old West End Academy.
TMACOG is a member organization. Members include cities, counties, villages, townships, schools, and special districts.
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