Science Class Has Special Presentation

On February 12, 2009 Pawnee 5th and 6th grade students were given a special presentation by Beth Ann Almaraz, a Water Quality Specialist with the Nueces River Authority.  Beth brought a huge scale model of the Nueces River Watershed.  Students learned how pollution enters the watershed through careless human activity.  They participated in a hands-on demonstration utilizing the model to demonstrate how rainfall runoff and percolation carries pollutants into groundwater, streams, and rivers which eventually connect to the bays.  Students saw how riparian areas along the waterways help filter the pollutants out of the water supply.  The value of wetland areas was also stressed.  Students came away with a fresh perspective on the importance of being educated about how to take care of our precious fresh water supply, the estuary system, bays, and the ocean.