Every quarter, the AP Environmental Science classes have a big project that they have to do near the end of the quarter.

Last quarter the classes had to make bio-bottles, this time the classes have to sample the water in Leith Lake. This is the lake right behind BHS. The classes are doing this to see if the water is healthy or not healthy and what kind of organisms that lives around or in Leith Lake. To figure out if the water in the lake is healthy the kids had to do many testing’s to the water. During this though there were some surprises.

“Right when I took a step to get some dirt from the lake I sunk in and almost feel, luckily Mr. Rioux caught me,” junior Lilly Clevenger said.

With tests like pH, chlorine and nitrate proving what the water is like the class concluded that the water was relatively healthy. The PH test showed that the levels in the water were around 12 to 14 which is where it should be. There is not any chlorine in the water which is a good sign that the water is healthy. The nitrate levels were where they were supposed to be which again means the lake is healthy.

Another way to check if the water was healthy is a person could see what kind of organisms lived in or around the lake. Each partner pair in the classes had to get their waders and nets to be able to get into the lake and scoop out some dirt and muck. When they collected some of whatever was at the bottom of the shore line they put it into a container and went through it to find insects with tweezers. Every organism that was found was classified and written down.  These organisms consisted of backwards swimming beetles, larvae and snails. The students had to find other organisms too. All of the students had to walk around the lake and classify different types of plants and animals. Some of the types of animals that were found were painted turtles, swans and seagulls.

Even with all these tests the kids in the classes still do not advise for any students at BHS or from anywhere else to swim in it. Also people should not drink the water with all the garbage that is still floating around.

“Surprisingly we found after a few tests that the water was healthy even with all the garbage floating in it. I still do not feel comfortable swimming or drinking in the lake because it is still disgustingly dirty,” senior Tess Bradley said.

The A.P. Environmental classes thinks that BHS and anyone else that walks around Leith Lake Should try and keep it cleaner and pick up any garbage they see.