Montana Water Summit

2007 Water Summit - for Teachers and Students

front range

The Boone and Crockett Ranch near Dupuyer, Montana was the breathtaking setting for the 9th annual Water Summit for Teachers and Students on May 7 and 8, 2007. This year’s Summit brought together 35 teachers, middle/high school students and presenters from around the state to network and share ideas on Montana’s water quality. Educators and students were engaged in real-world learning experiences. These hands-on experiences empower a new generation of citizens with the tools and knowledge to protect the waters that are important to them.

Some of the students are already involved in water quality investigations. Other students and their teachers came to learn the process and protocols for starting a water quality monitoring program in their schools. Classroom water monitoring programs allow students to take a stewardship role, enabling them to apply science and math knowledge to real world situations. Numerous science fair projects result from the investigations. The Water Summit offers a venue for students to share the results of their investigations with other participants, while teachers explore ways to integrate water monitoring and other key issues into their curriculum.

This year’s Water Summit involved the participants in the following ways:
beaverpond
Learning about beavers' role in the riparian area.
chemical dupuyer creek
Getting to know the chemical and physical parameters of Dupuyer Creek

. student project student2
Sharing results of water quality investigations.

. mapping macro
Learning about watershed mapping and investigating the macro invertebrates of Dupuyer Creek.

rollingriver
Using the Rolling River Trailer to explore the benefits of riparian vegetation in controlling streambank erosion.

Sponsors: Thank you to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality for supporting the event.