Kudos to the students of Burchell High School who have been making positive changes to improve the water quality of lakes and streams in their community of Wasilla, Alaska. Science students from the high school have been gathering data from local streams and lakes on a weekly basis during the school year and through the summer months using EPA approved equipment to collect data on water quality. The students learned how to test the water and developed baseline data that is being used by the Department of Environment Conservation, the Alaska Department of Fish & Game, the Wasilla Soil & Water Conservation District and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough.

Just recently these environmentally-minded students found out how their monitoring and data collection ended up benefiting their community.

A large culvert that collects run-off from local parking lots and restaurants, and drains directly into Wasilla Lake, is going to be removed. The water samples collected by students showed that the water had high levels of metals and acidity. As a result of the Burchell High School research project, a positive change is being made that will hopefully improve the quality of the lake

Captain Planet Foundation would like to congratulate these students for making a real difference in their community.