Hi, this is from the 5th/6th grade class and the 7th/8th grade classes at Wingra School, in Madison, Wisconsin, USA. We are located at approximately 43:04 N 89:23 W, with a 1990 population of 191,262. Madison is a growing city, and was ranked number 1 place to live last year by Money magazine. Part of the reason for that is the beautiful natural areas in and around Madison, including 5 lakes of glacial origin.
The 7th/8th grade's water quality studies are focused on 3 sites in the University of Wisconsin Arboretum, across the street from our school. These include the spring fed duck pond and another natural spring, which both drain into Ho Neum (Wingra) Lagoon, another of our test sites. The lagoon is connected to Lake Wingra, a small lake off of Lake Monona, in the Yahara Watershed, part of the larger Rock River watershed. We are ultimately part of the Mississippi watershed. We are comparing the data at these 3 sites and how they compare to each other. We also hope to compare this same data at these same sites again in the fall to our springtime data.
The 5th/6th grade's water quality studies are comparing water samples from the Arboretum with several sites on their teacher's farm. They are doing less extensive tests, given the younger age.
We will not be able to provide phosphate test data, due the more dangerous nature of that test. Our Dane County Water Education Resource Department where we borrow equipment from, does not allow middle school age students to perform this test, due to the hazardous nature.
In addition to analyzing our own data, we look forward to comparing with the test results other schools found.
Wingra School Beth Ellen, Allen, Catherine, Debi, Rob, and all of our students