Braes Bayou Water Testing
Participants used their Scientific Field Journal to record their Water Testing data and observations from their testing sites in and around Braes Bayou.

The tests performed at Braes Bayou were: Coliform, Dissolved Oxygen, pH, and Phosphate

What is a bayou? The word bayou originated from the term bayuk, the Louisiana French word for "small stream" By definition, a bayou is a watercourse, usually the offshoot of a river or lake in a lowland area. It is a sluggish or stagnant creek, frequently flowing through swamp terrain. The term is used mainly when referring to areas in the delta region (the area near the mouth) of the Mississippi River. In comparison, a swamp is low-lying, marshy wetland, and is usually forested and seasonally flooded.

Land Use Survey: shows the approximate location of land and structural features, but involves no measurements of distances and no accurate determinations of bearings. All features are placed on the map in their approximate relationship by eye and by estimation. The finished map may include: clear labels, the date, surveyor's name, a descriptive title of the site, the North direction symbol. Sketch maps do have their limitations, but they are far superior to resorting to a written description of the location of various features. It is important to include how the land is being used and if these features could affect the results of the study.

Land Use Surveys from 4 different locations on Braes Bayou.

Each group discussed how the location area upstream may have effected their water quality data. They also looked at non-point source pollution and other variables for possible causes in water data differences.

Pond Water Tour:
Teachers analyzed Water Quality using four different pond environments (control, plants, fish, and plants in the dark). They used the Pond Water Tour Chart to assist them in identifying how each environments chemistry changed over a several day period.

The Pond Water Tour tests, Nitrates, Dissolved Oxygen and pH.