Mr. DeWolf’s high school Oceanography students are working on an incredible project to study flood risks in our community!
Students are participating in Resilient Waters, a project that studies how climate change may affect flood risks. Resilient Waters is led by a group of professors at Central Michigan University’s School of Engineering and Technology. Using tools developed by these professors, Mr. DeWolf’s students are recording local precipitation data, as well as analyzing soil infiltration and runoff. Students are also participating in site visits to locations along the Chippewa River to conduct flood risk assessments. Learn more about the Resilient Waters project here: https://resilientwaters3e.org/
The Oceanography class placed a new rain gauge for this project at the High School for the Community Collaborative Rain, Snow and Hail Network (CoCoRaHS). Sites across the country participate in this network and report daily precipitation received. You can find the class data and track precipitation received at the high school here: https://dex.cocorahs.org/ Just search for our Station Name, Mecosta 5.1 NE, or Station Number MI-ME-15.
The class recently took a field trip to stops within the Chippewa River watershed where they measured the current river stage and flood record levels at those points. Using topography, students drew those flood levels onto maps and compared them with flood risk insurance maps to evaluate risk for flooding in the community. By the end of the trimester, the class will develop a community action project with a goal of mitigating flood risk.
Mr. DeWolf’s students have a significant opportunity to make a difference, as Resilient Waters works to empower students to take action to improve their community by connecting with their local environment.
This work is supported by a Great Lakes Bay Watershed Education and Training grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to Central Michigan University.