RACC Intern Research in the Water Quality Lab at Saint Michael's College

RACC interns Mohamed Fofana, Kaylee Jackson, and Mariah Witas spent the summer working on the Saint Michael's College campus with Laboratory Technician Janel Roberge and Dr. Declan McCabe (Biology Department) collecting, analyzing, and evaluating water samples from the Missisquoi and Winooski watersheds.

Interns regularly visited established field sites to collect samples from ISCO automated water samplers, take grab samples, and service equipment. The data collected will ultimately help RACC researchers understand the transport of nutrients and sediments over the watersheds. Interns learned laboratory procedures, safety, and water quality assays including suspended sediment analysis and acid washing. Interns also assisted in the training of high school students and participated in middle school outreach events.

Mohamed, Kaylee, and Mariah spent the summer investigating important questions about how nutrient and sediment runoff differs depending on land use, and how nutrients and TSS change during storms.