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Salt Runoff and the Hudson River
The amount of road salt that is dumped on our streets, parking lots, and sidewalks each winter eventually ends up in reservoirs, streams, and rivers. In these two lessons, students discover the effect of salt pollution on an aquatic organism (Daphnia magna), and then use data from a local watershed to investigate the inputs and outputs of salt to a local stream.
Lesson 1- How Much Salt?
Students observe the effects of varying concentrations of salt on water fleas (Daphnia magna) and/or seeds. The salt concentrations range from that of pure ocean water, to the brackish concentrations that exist in the Hudson, to the amount of salt found in tributary streams. This will give students an idea of the amount of salt that is detrimental to organisms.
Lesson 2- Why Is It So Salty?
Over the course of several weeks (or months, depending on your schedule), students will test water quality parameters at their local stream, pond, lake, or the Hudson River. An interesting version of this is to test the water in various parts of the watershed, or to measure changes during the seasons. You can have students compare data with other schools by using our website or the Snapshot Day data website.
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