Fresh Discovery

The Great Lakes contain 95 percent of the U.S. supply of  fresh water.  Jim Tingey reported on his last visit to HPHS that new sources of freshwater have been discovered -- of all places -- under the sea.    For more info on this fresh discovery click here.

Fun Fact:   Spread evenly across the continental U.S., the Great Lakes would submerge the country under about 9.5 feet of water (Great Lakes Information Network)

What Do You Want to Know?

Tiny Plastics a Threat to Great Lakes

Think twice when you wash your face!  Tiny plastic beads included in many products for "exfoliation" are turning up in large numbers in Lakes Erie and Ontario.  The New York Times reports:

"In recent months, major cosmetics companies including Johnson & Johnson, Unilever, and Procter & Gamble have pledged to phase out the use of the beads in favor of natural alternatives, though they say the shift could take two years or more.  The Johnson & Johnson statement says, in part, "Our goal is to give consumers peace of mind that our products are gentle on people and gentle on the environment."

Alternatives are already on the market.  Maybe one of YOU can build awareness of this issue with your year end project!

Read the complete article here.

Swimming Large

Jim Tingey visited the classrooms last week to introduce your awesome research projects!

Students let the trout fry out of the (nest) boxes to swim in the big tank.  Next, you will get a chance to test the waters, just like they did~

Read here to learn more about the Nitrogen Cycle in the trout tank.