Rogers City, Mich. students gather first ever data on Trout River

A group of middle school students in Rogers City, Mich. is collecting data on Trout River, a waterway that has never before been tested for water quality, according to a release from Michigan State University Extension.

Students participating in the yearlong, place-based education opportunity will test pH and dissolved oxygen levels. They will study fisheries, aquatic ecosystems and learn about the region’s maritime heritage. By comparing macroinvertebrates and other tiny insects, the children will begin to understand relationships between organisms within the ecosystem.

Teacher Holly Wirgau leads the student monitoring effort, which involves boating into Lake Huron to gather data. Support for her students’ work is being provided by Michigan Sea Grant, the Northeast Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative and other partners interested in water education. The collected data will provide the Rogers City community with a baseline of knowledge on the Trout River and its watershed.