Salmon Creek Middle School

Occidental, CA

 

River Cutter Activity

Carol Lane's 6th grade

April 15, 2003

 

Carol Lane’s 6th grade science classes conducted outside several experiments with stream tables to investigate the effects of gradient and velocity on a creek or river.  The students had an opportunity to see how flow affected the course of the stream as well as sedimentation and deposition.  They also observed erosion in progress, which they could then relate to their own creek and future studies.  The students really enjoyed these activities despite a very cold and rainy day.

 

Head Waters to the Sea Field Trip

Salmon Creek Headwaters

Students learned about Redwood Ecology and wrote Haiku poems.

Students learned about native riparian plants and aquatic invertebrates with staff from STRAW

 

Students determined creek health through biomonitoring: they identified aquatic insects and determined their sensitivity to pollution.

In the lower reach of the creek, students learned about the history of the area from Kurt.

He showed them areas that are being restored at this horse ranch

New willow tree!

 

Students learned about other ways to stabilize banks of eroding creeks.

Salmon Creek Lower Reach

 

Then students traveled to the estuary of Salmon Creek at Chancellor Ranch.

They compared water samples collected at all three sites.

 

They learned about the wildlife at the estuary including endangered turtles.

Students also collected more aquatic insects and compared them to the ones found upstream.

The trip ended at the beach where Salmon Creek drains into Bodega Bay.