Watershed lesson in Haiti

While in Haiti for a scientific lake and stream expedition, I had the opportunity to teach a group of students that I had taught in 2012 (ornithology seminars) and 2013 (an ecology class) - the agronomy students at Institut Professionnel et de Formation Technique en Agronomie (IPFTA) in Les Cayes Haiti.  The previous week the students helped my boss and me survey the watersheds of Etang Douat and Etang Lachaux.  Then Don and I held a 2-afternoon class to teach more about the watersheds, using Project Based Learning which focuses on learning while doing a project rather than straight lecture.  The project was to draw watersheds, immediately after a 1 hr discussion by Don about what we observed in the lake watersheds, and again at the end of the 2nd day after learning what factors in the watershed cause contaminated drinking water.  The final watersheds were much more detailed than the first ones, and students demonstrated that they understood what land-use practices improve and degrade water quality.  Thank you teacher Decossard for translating!

Biodiversity of Riviere Glace

Riviere Glace is a beautiful river than runs near the village of Duchity, a town about an hour's drive north of Les Cayes Haiti.  Along the river the highway is being widened and paved, and right before Duchity there is a new bridge.  Stop at this bridge and hike upstream along and through the river about 100 m and at a bend in the river you will come to a series of clear cool pools perfect for swimming on a hot day.  Unfortunately the road construction along this stretch threatens this pristine river.  Here are some photos of what the area looked like on 22 March 2015.

Epilobocera haytensis Rathbun, 1893

Deep pool at the bend (note the gabion) and riffles upstream (no gabion).

Gabion at the bridge.

Mayfly larvae on a rock in the river.

The deep pool at the bend in the river.

Two tadpoles and a damselfly larvae.

The view upstream from the pool.  Road-side bank is on the left and has no gabion.

View walking upstream from the bridge.  Note the calf (and cow) by the river!

Great workshop at AUC

We had a great 2-day workshop for the sophomores at AUC.  The first day was in the classroom, where Dr. Donald Huggins and I discussed the biological, chemical, and physical components of watersheds and water quality.  Students asked a lot of thoughtful questions.  The second day we all went to a river crossing in Simon where we applied all the classroom concepts by filling out a stream evaluation form and measuring the in situ chemistry of the stream.  Dr. Huggins even found a dragonfly nymph to demonstrate how they catch prey.  Thanks to the University of Kansas for helping with funding and to AUC for hosting us!

Aquatic Ecology workshop for AUC students

Here is the schedule for the Aquatic Ecology workshop that Dr. Donald Huggins and I are presenting at the American University of the Caribbean in Les Cayes Haiti.  This is for the SOPHOMORE class at AUC, since they took Tropical Ecology last fall but we never got to go in the field.  There is room for 30 students.  Other students may come if there is space, but no more than 30 total may be in the workshop. 

Tuesday May 7th
9am - 12:30pm Classroom lecture about water quality and importance of watersheds

Wednesday May 8th
8:30 - 10:00 am Half the class will meet to learn about equipment and how to evaluate the stream behind campus.
10:15 - 11:45am The other half of the class with meet to repeat this.

3:00pm  Dr. Huggins will give a talk to everyone at AUC about environmental engineering.

Thursday May 9th
 8:30 - 10:00 am Half the class will meet at AUC to walk to the canal near SEED to learn how to evaluate it.
10:15 - 11:45am The other half of the class with meet to repeat this.

Dr. Huggins will also speak at the Botanical Garden at 4pm on Friday May 3 about why we need to protect Haiti's watersheds.  Dr. Huggins is a scientist in the aquatic ecology unit at the Kansas Biological Survey in the USA. 

Thanks to the University of Kansas for contributing travel funding for this trip!

Water quality education

This blog will serve as a place to keep track of water quality teaching and testing resources geared toward Haiti. I will teach adult ecology conferences this November. If you have any suggestions please leave a comment!

Watersheds

I would like a portable watershed model (can fit in my backpack) to demonstrate water running downhill, washing away soil if there is no ground cover, etc. Something like these large models: http://www.enviroscapes.com/. Let me know if you know of a place to purchase these, or if you are creative and want to make and donate one. A poster would also serve the purpose of illustrating what to consider in the watershed (riparian veg, cows in the stream, erosion, etc.)

I made this out of a foam modeling clay from the craft store. It’s not waterproof though, but metal beads get the point across about water flowing to the lowest points. One half is a forested watershed, and half is deforested.

Water quality

It was during a water quality lesson at my first conference in 2009 that I realized how much understanding science empowers people. As I was describing how the high pH of laundry soap changes the pH of the river water the women wash in which could kill the fish, a man announced he thought it was voodoo causing their environmental oppression, and he was excited to learn there is a reason that they can do something about. Here I’ll compile resources for teaching about water quality.

World Water Monitoring Day kits – very simple kits to teach and test temperature, DO, pH, and turbidity. http://www.worldwatermonitoringday.org/ See my previous post about this kit.

Portable Microbiology Laboratory (PML) – I’ll try this out for the first time in Nov. http://solarcooking.wikia.com/wiki/Portable_Microbiology_Laboratory

Related materials from the developer of the PML.

http://www.unhabitat.org/pmss/listItemDetails.aspx?publicationID=3056

http://imageevent.com/bobmetcalf

Water quality groups or resources in Haiti – I’ll keep adding to this list as I come across groups or resources

CARE - We place special focus on working alongside poor women because, equipped with the proper resources, women have the power to help whole families and entire communities escape poverty.

Haiti Outreach - Our work to date has been in the three major areas of clean water, education, and economic development.

Heifer International - also offers youth and adult workshops at their US ranches.

Living Water International - They also offer training in the US in hygiene and well drilling - http://www.water.cc/take-action/training/

Pure Water for the World - is a non-profit (501c3) that works to prevent children from suffering from water-borne diseases that cause pain as a result of improper hygiene habits and consuming contaminated water.

Samaritan's Purse - For over 40 years, Samaritan's Purse has done our utmost to follow Christ's command by going to the aid of the world's poor, sick, and suffering.

SOIL - Sanitation and latrines. Sustainable Organic Integrated Livelihoods (SOIL) is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting soil resources, empowering communities and transforming wastes into resources in Haiti.

Water Missions International - uses low-maintenance, appropriate water technologies for drinking water treatment and distribution, wastewater management, and storm water control.

water.org - Water.org is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization committed to providing safe drinking water and sanitation to people in developing countries.

Clorination options - Five options for household chlorination are available in Haiti: Gadyen Dlo, Dlo Lavi, Klorfasil, Aquatabs, and household bleach.

Potters for Peace - is not directly involved in relief efforts on the ground in Haiti because we have not been approached by any Haitian organizations. What we are doing is working on a project with a local organization (I.D.E.A.C.) in the Dominican Republic that is helping a local filter producer to re-tool and increase production. Through these efforts they will soon be able to expand their distribution to Haiti.