START PROGRAM

Students Testing Aquatic Resources Together

START is a project of the Potter County Conservation District. Together with individuals, watershed groups, communities and schools in Potter County we are working to monitor and protect our watersheds. START is a water quality monitoring and environmental education program for young people and adults.

START program goals are to:

1. Build an independent database on the health of Potter County waterways.

2. Identify target areas of non-point pollution, restoration, and protection in a scientific and sound manner.

3. Provide Potter County Students with the opportunity to use their classroom experiences to directly benefit their communities.

START has provided through a Growing Greener Grant:

1. Our Watershed Specialist who will teach, demonstrate, and assist in the use of equipment and identification of species for any class or group participating.

2. HACH Monitoring test kits for chemical analysis of stream chemistry, including PH, Dissolved Oxygen, Ammonia, Nitrite, Alkalinity, temperature and others.

        3. Step-by-step directions for testing and monitoring streams.

4. Boots and waders, kick nets, identification charts for indicator species, student notebooks.

        5. Monitoring Certificates for your group.

6. Connections to Trout Unlimited, Watershed Groups, Boat and Fish Commission, Department of Environmental Protection, and local and state officials.

If your class or group are interested call Jack Fleckenstein Watershed Specialist at the Potter County Conservation District at (814-274-8411)