Up a creek - and loving it Neighbors/Sacramento Bee; April 10, 1999
Mira Loma High pupils study, care for stream
By M.S. Enkoji
Bee Staff Writer
It used to be just something to drive over, a watery vein through their neighborhood that mattered little to busy teenagers. But now, Arcade Creek is a vibrant presence, teeming with fascinating science quandaries to tackle with hip waders and rubber gloves.
"We’re good friends," said Kelly Grady, 18, of the creek that meanders through North Sacramento.
About 125 students in advanced science classes at Mira Loma High School have embraced Arcade Creek as a year long project, cataloging its every aspect, from the birds that flit about its banks to the amount of pool water neighbors empty into it.
For their efforts, the Sacramento Urban Creeks Council honored the students with its annual Creek Steward Award on Friday. The students already felt rewarded.
"I thought this was going to be more work for a high school student who already has too much to do," said Amber Mahone, 18. "The creek is so much more beautiful than I expected it to be."
The Urban Creeks Council gives the award to help kick off Creek Week, an annual series of free educational events that promote the importance of the more than 50 creeks that lace Sacramento County. From horseback rides to nature walks and the secrets of successful fishing, the week of events ends with a cleanup of county creeks next Saturday.
At Arcade Creek, the students already have a proprietary sense about the stream. They regularly fan out to five different spots on the creek to fill test tubes, scramble through depths ranging from ankle deep to chest high – and pick up sunflower-seed bags and soda cans left by those less than environmentally sensitive.
The information gathered this year will be measured against future data that will eventually tell the scientific story about the Arcade Creek: Is it being slowly destroyed by indifferent human neighbors? How does it ebb and flow during the seasons? Are there rare, minuscule species in its depths?
It’s the only class that requires dexterity in hip waders, and Kent Law, 15, has that down. "It’s good for high school students to get out of the classroom and get their feet wet," he said.
The fresh-air learning environment proved so popular, the school may extend it to all science students, said Cindy Suchanek, one of the Mira Loma teachers.
For information about Creek Week events and to volunteer for the cleanup, call (916) 454-4544.
The Sacramento Bee
Saturday April 10, 1999