RACC Interns at Saint Michael's College: Storm Chasers: Effects of Storms on Suspended Sediments in Streams

RACC interns Jaleeza, Natalie, and Jack spent the summer working on the Saint Michael's College campus working with Laboratory Technician Katie Chang and Dr. Declan McCabe (Biology Department) collecting, analyzing, and evaluating in the Missisquoi and Winooski watersheds.

Interns regularly visited established field sites to collect samples from automated water quality equipment, ultimately helping RACC researchers to understand the transport of nutrients and sediment 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.

Jaleeza, Natalie, and Jack spent the summer answering important questions regarding how storms impact sites with differing land use and size, how nutrients and TSS changes during storms, and how nutrients and sediment are transported over a watershed during spring runoff and in other seasons.