Go With The Flow: Observation
Know Before
The current of 12 Mile Creek carries nutrients to young brook trout fry, which eat small invertebrates drifting by. Moving water absorbs oxygen and carries away waste. It takes energy for fish to swim upstream, or to swim just enough to maintain their position in flowing water. They can save energy by sheltering in the slow areas behind rocks or debris. Learn more by observing the current in different parts of 12 Mile Creek.
Get Out The Door
Predict what will happen to an orange placed in the creek.
Select and mark an appropriate location where an orange can be dropped in the center of the stream.
Find and mark an accessible downstream endpoint beyond which the orange can be safely removed.
Gently drop the orange at the start. If it floats, follow its journey to the endpoint
Be ready to remove the orange once it has passed the endpoint. A long stick or net may help.
Take the orange back to that start and try it again.
Think Some More
If the orange starts floating in the same location, does it follow the same path in each trial?
Does depth make a difference to the movement of the orange?
How does the material on the bottom of the creek affect the orange’s movement?