Story by Jim Hinds, Photos by Cheryl Bolton
Master Naturalists, Jim Hinds and Cheryl Bolton took part in a citizen science project co-sponsored by the Stroud Water Research Center, the University of Arkansas, Oakland University, Virginia Tech, and the National Science Foundation to research the long-term effects of salt on nutrient cycling in streams. The “Chasing Salt” project involved teams from areas of 16 states. Volunteers were recruited in October, and selected teams were provided with necessary equipment for deployment by the end of November.
The tests included cotton strips that were placed along the stream bank and in riffles at upstream and downstream sites along Brush Creek and temperature monitors for downstream riparian and stream sites. The testing strips were placed on November 23. Unfortunately for complete data from our site, there was a storm two days later that brought the usual 1 to 3 cubic feet per minute (CFM) flow up to 227 cfm—washing away our upstream cotton strips.
The cotton strips and temperature loggers, along with soil and water samples were collected on December 22 and returned to the project scientists on January 2.
