What began as a STEM activity at West Virginia University Jackson’s Mill turned into a real-world lesson in science, public health, and the importance of protecting West Virginia’s waters.
During WVU Extension Ultimate Outdoor Weekend, students made a surprising discovery that sparked further investigation into E. coli levels in the West Fork River, a study that continued at two state 4-H camps, Alpha I and II.
Ultimate Outdoor Weekend gives students a chance to explore the outdoors and learn wilderness skills. During a STEM class, led by Emma Gardner, STEM specialist at WVU Jackson’s Mill, students collected water samples for the WV Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) Save Our Streams Program.
When the samples were tested, the results came back alarming – E. coli levels were at 700.
“For reference, a healthy level is about 100 to 130,” Gardner said.
This was an eye-opening moment for students involved, who saw firsthand how environmental health connects to human health.
E. coli is a bacterium that naturally lives in the intestines of humans and animals. While harmless there, it becomes a health concern when found in rivers and streams. That’s where the Save Our Streams Program comes in. The program engages citizen scientists through workshops, training and monitoring efforts to ensure West Virginia’s waters remain safe for swimming, fishing and other water activities.
Gardner submitted the data they collected to the WVDEP Save Our Streams Program to be further reviewed. Callie Sams, Watershed program manager for the WVDEP, explained how volunteer-collected data fits into the larger process.
“Volunteer-collected water quality data, such as the Save Our Streams surveys conducted by Emma and the students, provides additional insight into the health of West Virginia streams. Our WVDEP Water Quality Standards and Assessment Section may review volunteer data, noting streams and locations that volunteer survey data suggest need further investigation. Volunteer data when submitted is also used for assessment decision purposes in the development of the biennial Integrated Report,” Sams said.
If the water is contaminated, WVDEP will submit the stream for inclusion on the federal EPA 303(d) list of impaired waters. From there, scientists will calculate a total daily maximum load (TDML), the amount of pollution a stream is able to handle, and secure funding for cleanup and restoration through the Clean Water Act.
Still curious about the river's health, Gardner and her group decided to continue testing over the summer at state 4-H camps, Alpha I and II. This time the level of E. coli was even higher, measuring at 1,300.
“That’s dangerously high.” Gardner said. “We plated the water in gel, let it sit and counted the dots, each one representing a colony that grew from a single E. coli bacterium. It was eye-opening for the students.”
Clare Talbott, an intern for the DEP Watershed Improvement Branch and current student of the WVU Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources who worked alongside Gardner at Alpha I and II, remembered the shock.
“After the sample incubated in the petri dish, we came back the next day, and it just looked horrible. The E. coli grows in circular colonies, and the dish had more spots than a dalmatian,” Talbott said.
Faith Reed, an Extension camping instructor and recent graduate of the Davis College who also assisted with the river testing at Alpha I and II, explained why citizen science is so valuable.
“Sometimes, spotting a dirty river can be as easy as looking and seeing that it looks ‘yucky’ or turbid, but other times it can be more difficult to tell. A high E. coli count in and of itself will not largely change the color or smell of a river, so without frequent testing or results posted to a public forum, the common folk would not know there was an issue. This could lead to fishing or swimming in contaminated water and being disappointed for not seeing much wildlife or being disappointed that you got sick for the simple act of playing in the river,” Reed said.
Beyond science, the discovery gave students an unforgettable lesson in stewardship.
“I love that it’s a citizen science project. We’re measuring real data and contributing to a database, which means we get to be real scientists. And I love that,” Gardner said.
Although there hasn’t been any immediate action taken by authorities over the E. coli levels found in the river, Gardner plans to continue monitoring and reporting her findings to the WVDEP Save Our Streams Program.
“Water is public health. It is the center of all we do; it is life,” Reed added.
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an/09/16/25
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