Cool, Clear, Water...

All day I've faced a barren waste

Without the taste of water, cool Water

Old Dan and I with throats burned dry

And souls that cry for water

Cool, clear, water

Cool Water ~ Bob Nolan (1936)

The view from a deck at Concordia University. They are located adjacent to a dedicated 250 acre nature preserve.*

About 20 people gathered at Concordia University to train for membership on the Texas Stream Team. ** Sponsored by the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University,*** certified team members test water and gather data regarding the waterways of the state. The team includes schools, colleges, river authorities, municipalities and other local governments, and environmental groups (like the Texas Master Naturalists).

DH and I attended to see if this is something we might want to do as part of our volunteer work in our community. Neither one of us has any great proficiency in chemistry and so we were cautious about our suitability as "citizen scientists."****

Will Butler (incredibly patient with this group of often overly-enthusiastic trainees) from the Meadows Center gave us an overview of the need for the team as well as how data is used. Then, using tap water, he walked us through the testing for water quality (pH, dissolved oxygen, and conductivity) as well as how to calibrate our meter, properly take temperatures and make accurate field observations (consistent with monitors across the state). Then we headed to the field.

It looks complicated.

But we had step-by-step instructions and tools.

At a small stream in the preserve we learned how to us a few more pieces of equipment and how to properly do a "bucket grab." Then we tested the stream water.

Watching Will demonstrate the "bucket grab."

My group had to repeat the dissolved oxygen test. We suspect our sulfuric acid (seriously, there was some chemistry happening) was too far past the expiration date (2013) to work. We borrowed another team's bottle and were successful on the second try.*****

As we left the training we were able to slow down on our walk back and take a good look at this part of the preserve.  It is a remarkable place. We want to come back - soon.

There are interesting sites in the preserve.

Some of the paths are level.

There was a good deal of moss on the rocks in the area where we tested water.

Some paths were along the hillside and were a little less than level.

It was all beautiful.

Friendly ferns and moss.

More ferns.

And more.

In some places even the steps looked like they had always been there.

Looking back down the hillside.

What must this place look like in the spring? Here a mistflower waited for pollinators.

Yes, we are coming back.

NOTES:

*From the Concordia website :
  
          Concordia University Texas is located on a 386-acre tract in northwest Austin, 
          four miles east of Lake Travis. The university dedicated approximately 250 acres 
          of its campus as a nature and wildlife preserve as part of a conservation 
          easement with Travis County. The campus is a “living classroom” for the study 
          of responsible urban environmentalism and offers a unique opportunity to 
          investigate and manage endangered species, native plants, hydrology, forestry, 
          geology along with archeology in a spectacular setting crafted by God’s divine 
          hand.

http://www.concordia.edu/about/visiting-ctx-and-austin/campus-information/nature-preserve/

** http://www.meadowscenter.txstate.edu/About/Our-Mission.html

***The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment aims to develop and promote programs, research and techniques for ensuring sustainable water resources for human needs, ecosystem health and economic development.

****Heavens, my last science class was in 1974. I took no science in college. Yes, I have a real degree. (I placed out of 6 hours of general science. --- Thank you, Mr. Goldman, Mr. Euton, and W.T. Henry for your patience and remarkable instruction!) But we have a stream in mind - part of a vision for a bigger project (and maybe just a dream - or nightmare).  I have no idea of DH's preparation, but he's a history major, for goodness sake. In any event, we were willing to give it try.

*****I don't want to minimize the training. Training was 4.5 intense hours of detailed procedures for accurate and consistent monitoring.