Water quality for propagated sturgeon at TNACI- By Gabby T.

A few weeks ago,  the Fellows went to TNACI for the second time. We were told about how the water quality was tested for the sturgeon. The reintroduction biologists need to test the water for the temperature, the amount of oxygen, hydrogen (pH) and ammonia. 

They also test for the amount of nitrate and salinity in the water. During our time there, we tested the temperature, pH, and ammonia. We got to get our hands wet and help test the water with the instruments.  A very important part of this process is keeping the instruments clean while testing the different tanks. If they are not properly cleaned, then the results could be inaccurate.  We also helped the biologists keep track of the results of the temperature and amount of nitrate and salinity. We all learned a lot about what sturgeon need to survive and that was only their water!

Duck river mussels with Nature Conservancy of TN. -by Kayla M.

      The 9^th grade Tucker River Fellows went to the Duck River where we kayaked down the Duck river. In this river there are many different types of Mussels. While we were there we looked for mussels at bottom of the river. 

Many of these freshwater mussels have funny names like the Spike, Bird Wing (an endangered species), Rock Pocketbook and many others. The Duck River has over 50 fresh water mussels and has the most diverse freshwater population in North America. It is also where ¼ of a million people get there drinking water from and also where five counties put their treated waste water.

       When we where there, we meet Emma Williams GPS class of 92’ who owns a communications company and is on the board for the Nature conservancy (TNC). We also meet Rob Bullard who is the Tennessee Cumberland River programs director for TNC, Sally Palmer who is a TNC ecologist and who helped us identify many of the mussels and Cory who works with agricultural practices for TNC.