The River Mile Network
An Education Program of the National Park Service
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Happy New Year!
As we just get started with the new year there are new programs, new materials, new training and news to share!
Join us for our new Community Gatherings beginning in January! Registration is open for the Master Water Stewards Program and
Sincerely,
Janice Elvidge
Executive Director
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The River Mile Community Gatherings
These new gatherings are presentations on a variety of topics and by a variety of presenters. They occur on the last Wednesday of every month from 3:30 to 4:30 PM Pacific Time.
January 27, 2021
Idaho Water Resources Research Institute
Crayfish as environmental indicator species: A big treasure in a small package
The River Mile has been collecting crayfish, both native and invasive, from Washington and Oregon over the last 10 years. Because of their undesirability, the invasives that have been collected by The River Mile have been discarded rather than put back into the environment. But did you know that these animals actually possess a treasure trove of environmental information as they accumulate chemicals from the environment in their tissues that can be used in environmental monitoring? In this talk we will talk about why crayfish accumulate chemicals in their tissues and the different types of chemicals you can and cannot find in their tissues.
February 24, 2021
Dr. Eric Larson, University of Illinois
Update on the Pilose Crayfish
March 24, 2021
Jim Ekins, Extension Educator, University of Idaho Extension
The Clean Water Act
April 28, 2021
TBD
May 26, 2021
TBD
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February 17 and 18, 2021
Registration is Open Now!
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Looking for an exciting way to connect your students to science and nature for free? The 2021 Bird Fest is right around the corner--register now to ensure your spot!
Your class is invited to learn about all things birds! The annual Bird Fest is a free school education program
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Master Water Stewards
Virtual Live Training
February 23 and March 2nd 2021
4:00 to 6:00 PM
Two part training
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Register Now!
The Master Water Steward (IdaH2O) program is a volunteer, citizen scientist effort to collect basic water quality data for Idaho streams. This program is offered through University of Idaho Extension to provide a unique opportunity to learn about and document regional water issues.
The Master Water Steward program has been adopted by The River Mile. The River Mile and IdaH2O are combining data in order to expand water quality information.
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Investigating Crayfish and Freshwater Ecosystems
Virtual Training
March 23 and March 31, 2021
2:00 to 5:00 PM
AND
March 24, 2021 3:30 to 4:30 PM
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Learn to engage grade 2-12 students in fascinating crayfish studies in this hands-on STEAM workshop. Rick Reynolds, veteran educator and author of Investigating Crayfish + Freshwater Ecosystems, will team up with other partners from The River Mile Network to step you through student activities including scientific investigations in your local watershed. Gain confidence to participate with The River Mile's Crayfish Study to support important research by scientists and wildlife managers.
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2nd Sesquiannual Crayfish Conference
Virtual!
April 12, 2021
Save the Date!
Join us online for the 2nd Crayfish Conference!
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Call for Presenters
The call for presenters is open. Presentations should be about crayfish, their habitats, research, and projects. Has your virtual class of 4th graders been busy learning about and catching crayfish? Share what you have learned and how you adapted to the online platform.
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Student Science Symposium
May 26, 2021
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Save the Date!
We are exploring both in-person and virtual venues for the symposium.
3rd-12th grade students and teachers explore natural and cultural resources to learn about the environment and how scientists and resource managers study and manage these resources. Keynote speakers, special presentations and concurrent sessions are selected to enhance students understanding of the essential question: “How do relationships among components of an ecosystem affect watershed health?”
Watch for our call for presenters!
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Have an upcoming event
you'd like us to promote?
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Our network partners are always on the move. If you would like to see your next event in our quarterly newsletter, please email us at LARO_river_mile@nps.gov.
Want to see it on The River Mile's website?
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National Park Service
Ice Age Floods
National Geologic Trail
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New Materials Available!
Draft Investigating Ice Age Floods
Curriculum-Based Education Guide
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Rick is well known for his work on a variety of education materials for a number of agencies and organizations, most recently "Investigating Crayfish and Freshwater Ecosystems" for The River Mile, and "Inquiry, Exploration & Service Learning in the Sagebrush Ecosystem." We are thrilled to release this current work!
You can check them out and download them here!
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Seattle Times
Tire dust killing coho salmon returning to Puget Sound, new research shows
Dec. 3, 2020 at 11:00 am Updated Dec. 3, 2020 at 3:53 pm
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Seattle Times environment reporter
For decades now, scientists have known something was killing beautiful, adult coho salmon as soon as they hit Seattle’s urban waters, ready to spawn. They had escaped the orcas, the fishermen, traveled thousands of miles, only to be mysteriously killed as soon as they finally reached home.
In a breakthrough paper published in the Dec. 3 issue of Science, a team of researchers revealed the culprit behind the deaths of coho in an estimated 40% of the Puget Sound area — a killer so lethal it takes out 40 to 90% of returning coho to some urban streams before they spawn. It is a killer hidden in plain sight. More.....
Video
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Mink Creek Water Quality
An E. Coli Mystery Solved with DNA
The Mink Creek watershed supports a wide variety of recreation uses with many quality trails and camping spots close to home in Pocatello.
Much of the area also is grazed by cattle in the summer months. It’s an area managed for multiple use.
The West Fork of Mink Creek is part of the City of Pocatello’s watershed, so it is closed to livestock grazing. Continue Reading
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Foundational laws like the Clean Water Act are critical to protecting the health of our Nation’s water resources. But you don’t need to be a Clean Water Act expert to make good use of it. This video walks through the key principles and basic components of the Act that provide a baseline for understanding your state or tribe’s water quality standards and how they are implemented.
Get to know this landmark US water policy in our introductory video, produced in collaboration with Resource Media.
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EPA's Science Matters newsletter delivers the latest from EPA's Office of Research and Development
Published December 2, 2020
For nearly 50 years, EPA scientists have done research to support drinking water standards and protect America’s drinking water. However, drinking water systems are increasingly facing new challenges, such as emerging contaminants in source waters that can adversely impact health, including algal toxins from harmful algal blooms (HABs) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).....continue reading
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Ancient Mayan civilization used advanced water treatment technology
Shared by Earth Sky News
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Join the Community
Visit therivermile.org, click on "joinTRM" and complete the network registration form.
Community Groups
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New Resources
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