The Earth and Environmental Science class partnered with the Ocean First Institute (OFI) in Boulder to do a study on water quality. Scientists from OFI came to Oakes four times to work with our students, beginning with a lesson on the effects of microplastics in waterways. Students then sampled water and sediment from Plum Creek, located less than a mile from the Oakes campus. Those samples were tested by students using professional grade equipment for salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, and microplastics. After analyzing the data, the class prepared a report for the Douglas County Conservation District, and on Friday, February 17th, six of the Earth and Environmental Science students did a tremendous job of presenting their findings of the water quality of Plum Creek at the Ocean First Institute Microplastics Summit!