Forestville Academy students learn about watershed stewardship

Middle school students at Forestville Academy got a crash course Monday in watershed stewardship directly from some of those making a difference in protecting and restoring Sonoma County waterways.

As part of their research into individual water resource projects they’ll be working on over the next couple of months, the seventh- and eighth-graders interviewed experts from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Sonoma County Water Agency, Pepperwood Preserve and other organizations.

Questions on everything from invasive wildlife to pH testing, waterborne illness to the effects of drought brought kids face-to-face with people whose work illuminates actions the students might take to contribute to the health of a small creek that runs behind the campus off Highway 116 near Covey Road.

And what they learned perhaps included far more than they imagined, as the experts shared knowledge about the links between streambank erosion and water quality, high stream flows and degraded fish habitat, and in-stream restoration projects that can slow water down and give fish a place to rest.

The students likely observed, as well, the overlap existing among issues like water supply, wildlife habitat, pollution and human activity.

But they learned “about how you can change people through science, people’s opinions,” said Siena Montiel, age 12.

Anette Cortez, 13, said the assignment was interesting because the students were allowed to choose their own areas of inquiry and know they can use what they learn to benefit a stream located literally in their backyard.

“Our Jones Creek is right there,” Montiel said with a nod toward the rear of the campus.

That makes the investigation more engaging, even though “it still feels like school work,” she said.

The interviews were part of a project-based learning assignment on the theme “Water is Life,” which will require most participants to design an experiment, prototype or model illustrating solutions they develop through their research. The school plans some kind of public presentation, as well, said Carol Swanson, a retired teacher who is helping facilitate the process.

Visitors Monday included Sarah Phillips, with the Marin County Resource Conservation and Trout Unlimited, who talked about working with property owners to stabilize their creek banks against erosion; Eric Larson, environmental project manager for state Fish and Wildlife, who discussed, in part, a love of science that has driven him since he was a boy; and Bruce MacDonnell, president of the Russian River Wild Steelhead Society, who urged one student to “be a voice for the creek.”

“Everything that happens in our watershed has an effect,” Chris Brokate, a small business owner who a few years ago founded the all-volunteer Russian River Clean River Alliance, told one student. The alliance has removed more than 150,000 pounds of trash from the watershed.

Another student, Maddy Hammack, 13, emerged from her interview with Brokate with a broad smile.

“I found out that somebody as little as me can make a big difference,” Hammack said,

You can reach Staff Writer Mary Callahan at 707-521-5249 or mary.callahan@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @MaryCallahanB.