​Delaware Bay Team Jumps into Spring with Student Programs

The team at the Delaware Bayshore office hopped right into Spring by visiting schools in South Jersey to deliver programs on stream ecology and macro invertebrates, pollution and stormwater management, and Green Stormwater Infrastructure.
 
Fourth graders at Anthony Rossi Elementary School in Vineland explored samples collected from nearby streams in search of macroinvertebrates during our “Stream Study” program.

By sorting and identifying the creatures that live in the stream, the students assessed the health of 2 local streams and learned which macroinvertebrates are most sensitive to pollution. Among the creatures we found were dragonfly nymphs, caddisfly nymphs, cranefly larvae, and even a crawfish! Student discussed how streams become polluted and how we can help protect stream habitats in South Jersey.

The team also visited ninth grade agriculture students at Cumberland Regional High School in Bridgeton for a discussion on stormwater management practices and the impacts of pollution and runoff on local waterways and ground water.

The students toured the campus installations designed to filter pollution from stormwater runoff. Also known as "Green Infrastructure," which include a rain garden and stream or riparian buffer (which uses natural vegetation along a waterway) were installed in partnership with the American Littoral Society in 2019.

Students also measured the area of impervious surface surrounding their rain garden to determine the volume of stormwater runoff being stored and filtered before it goes into the neighboring stream; spent time straightening the supports for the young trees planted in the riparian buffer; and learned about how the buffer space protects the stream from runoff from nearby sports fields and roadways.