Monroe students learn about impacts from the street to the sea

Published 12:01 am Thursday, August 18, 2011

MONROE — You may live in Monroe, but your actions still affect local bays and waterways.

That’s what middle school and high school students learned earlier this month during a science camp at Monroe High School.

A total of 28 participants enrolled in the week-long camp, which was orga

nized by the nonprofit Sound Salmon Solutions.

The organization, which used to be called the Stilly-Snohomish Fisheries Enhancement Task Force, focuses on salmon restoration in the Stillaguamish and Snohomish rivers, and Island County watersheds.

The camp focused on stormwater runoff.

The group went on a field trip to Mukilteo Lighthouse Park to learn about sea creatures and measure water quality, said education coordinator Abby Kuranz. The water was fine except for elevated levels of phosphate — a chemical found in pet waste and detergents.

On another day, the students visited the Evergreen State Fairgrounds and learned about pervious pavement and other forms of low-impact development.

“We want the students to understand these issues and, hopefully, to instill some stewardship behaviors,” Kuranz said.

It seems to be working.

Rae Beecher and Isabel Babic, both 13 and from Snohomish, were part of a group that made a project to encourage people to garden with the environment in mind.

“I always get angry when I see people doing the wrong thing and hurting the planet,” Isabel said. “I want to encourage people to do the smartest thing.”

The Centennial Middle School students learned that every stream and all the water that goes through storm drains eventually ends up in the bays and inlets. In other words, “when your dog poops on the sidewalk, it poops in the water,” Isabel said.

The students made projects on the last day of camp to educate other people about pollution in the waterways.

Jamison Gillis, 13, of Snohomish, was tasked with making a poster for her group because she has the best handwriting. She said what she learned in camp will be helpful in next year’s science class.

Sisters Marlena and Alexandra Weid, who are 13 and 14, were shocked to learn about antifreeze. The chemical ends up in the waters when people pour it down the drain.

Lily Stephens, 13, Aline Escoto, 11, and Ben Hayes, 13, made a model of a house with a rooftop garden, rain gardens and pervious pavement in the front yard. Driveways in Lily and Aline’s Snohomish neighborhood already are made of pervious pavement.

“We were kind of already greenheads,” Lily said.

Katya Yefimova: 425-339-3452; kyefimova@heraldnet.com.