Students from Nesbitt Discovery Academy, a top-ranking STEM school, recently snagged first place at the NC Envirothon Community Service Learning Project competition for their water quality monitoring project.
The pioneering initiative allows students to independently monitor water quality for potential issues while collaboratively identifying and implementing solutions.
“Here at Nesbitt Discovery Academy, we encourage project-based experiential learning,” said Greg Tucker, Nesbitt Discovery Academy teacher. “This program is a great example as it will also make positive impacts in the water quality for neighboring communities and the French Broad River.”
The project’s goal was to install a stormwater wetland aimed at removing impurities from the water and construct an outdoor environmental learning center that will provide opportunities for students to advance their environmental knowledge in a natural setting.
Discovery Academy senior Harlan Glen describes the current water quality, “The fact it was once a manufacturing plant is reflected in our preliminary soil and water samples, which are both extremely high in metals.” Junior Clay Grant adds: “Documenting the water quality benefits the wetlands and vegetative detention basins – and that is extremely important. [Our work] will focus on pollutant removal efficiency and stormwater impacts.”
To read more about this initiative, please visit buncombecounty.org/governing/depts/soil/news_detail.aspx?id=19208.
Prepared by Buncombe County.