Rivers of the United States

Meanderings '94 Rivers of the United States

©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville MEANDERINGS 94 Rivers of the United States, / A collection of writings by high school students whose teachers and school participated in the Rivers Curriculum Project from September 1993 until June 1994.

Funded by: National Science Foundation

Awarded to: Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville

Published by: Illinois Department of Energy and Natural Resources

Editor: Harlon E. Massey

Publication Coordinator: Cindy Bidlack

Layout Design: Harlon E. Massey Jay Timmermann

Cynthia Lee (Cindy) Bidlack Jan 15,1949 - Jan 28, 1995 Teacher at Jerseyville High School Rivers Project Coordinator 'You are Missed

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Rivers of the United States

A collection of writings by high school students whose teachers and school participated in the Rivers Curriculum Project from September 1993 until June 1994.

Funded by:

National Science Foundation

Awarded to:

Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville

Published by:

Illinois Department of Energy and Natural Resources

Editor: Harlon E. Massey

Publication Coordinator: Cindy Bidlack

Layout Design: Harlon E. Massey Jay Timmermann

CD CD C sJ CO

Educational Support: Sun Foundation Upper Mississippi River Basin Alliance Alliance for Environmental Education U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St Louis District American Rivers U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Chicago Academy of Science Water Environment Federation CleansWater Foundation Water Resources Center, Universeity of Illinois Conservation Federation of Missouri Water Watchers of Indiana Friends of the Chicago River Friends of the DesPlaines River Friends of the DuPage River GREEN Heartland Water Resources Council Financial Support: Illinois Department of Conservation Illinois Dept, of Energy and Natural Resources Ameritech Illinois Educational Service Centers (ESC's) Caterpiller, Inc. Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Central Illinois Light Company Illinois Natural History Survey Central Illinois Public Service Illinois State Museum IBM Illinois State Water Survey Illinois-American Water Company Lt. Govenor's Task Force, River Watch Program Illinois Dept, of Energy and Natural Resources Mercantile Library Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant Nature Conservancy Illinois Power Sierra Club Illinois State Board of Education, Title II, Soil and Water Conservation Districts Dwight D. Eisenhower Funds Soil and Water Conservation Society National Fish and Wildlife Foundation St. Joseph River Basin Association

We would like to extend a special thanks to all participating teach ers and students in the River Project. In addition, we would like to recognize and extend our gratitude to all of those very special people in each of the participating school and communities who aided teachers, students, and consultants with much needed resources and support.

WE EXTEND A SPECIAL THANKS:

FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE IN THE PUBLICATION OF THIS BOOK

Jay Tirtimermann, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville Maureen Shortal, Jersey Community High School, Jerseyville, Illinois Pat Wellen, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville T.J. Plaisted, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville Janette Johnson, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville

FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT

Nancy Belck, President, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville Gary Hull, Dean, School of Education, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville Bill Brinson, Photographer, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville Denise McDonald, Photographer, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville Tommye Walters, University News Service, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville Greg Myers, University Graphics, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville

FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE IN THE SHARING OF THIS BOOK

The Illinois State Library in Springfield, Illinois, houses copies and distributes them to all state universities in Illinois and other academic libraries including the Chicago Public Library. The Library of Congress and the British Library also receive copies of each issue.

TO THE STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND INTERESTED OTHERS WHO ATTENDED AND SHARED THEIR EXPERIENCES

Alton High School Harrison (Wm H.) High School Red Bud High School Bloomington High School Highland High School Riverdale High School Boyland Catholic High School Hononegah High School Rushville High School Buffalo Grove High School Jacksonville High School Savanna Jr/Sr H.S. Cartfihge High School Jersey Community High School Sherrard High School Chester High School Lawrenceville High School Spoon River High School Clark County R-l High School Marquette (Ottawa) High School St Edward High School Dupo High School Mater Dei High School Streamwood High School East Peoria High School Meridosia-Chambersburg H.S. Sumner Jr/Sr H.S. Eisenhower (Decatur) High School Metcalf Lab School Taylorville High School Fenger High School Midcounty High School Thomwood High School Francis Howell High School Minooka High School SIUE Upward Bound Galena High School Moline High School Truman College H.S. Gibault High School Peoria Notre Dame Hughg School Ursuline Academy H.S. Glenbrook South High School Pittsfield High School Westville High School Granite City High School Woodstock High School OTHERS WHO ASSISTED

Govenor Jim Edgar, State of Illinois Senator Paul Simon, Washington, D.C. Representative Bob Michael, Washington, D.C. Joan Sistack, Office of Mosley Braun, Washington, D.C. Dave Gross, Illinois State Geological Survey Tanner Girard, Illinois Pollution Control Board Glenn Stout, Water Resources Center, University of Illinois Gordon Johnson, Superintendent, East Peoria School District Jeannie Williamson, Principal, East Peoria High School Jim Maloof, Mayor, Peoria, Illinois Bill Beckman, Science Teacher, East Peoria High School (providing student sponsors) George Ann Siwicke, English Teacher, East Peoria High School (providing student sponsors) Tom Pilat, Science Teacher, Peoria Notre Dame High School (providing student sponsors) Katie Scharle, English Teacher, Peoria Notre Dame High School (providing student sponsors) Joel Cross, Water Division, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Harry Hendrickson, Department of Energy and Natural Resources Darla Follis, Department of Energy and Natural Resources Sid Slyman, IBM Central Illinois Light Company Dana Curtiss, Department of Energy and Natural Resources Mike Platt, Heartland Water Resource Allen Burbank, Science Teacher, Chester High School Doug Blodgett, Illinois Natural History Survey Don Rosenboom, Illinois Water Survey, Peoria A1 Grosboll, Environmental Advisor to Governor Edgar 4 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Foreword

December 1,1994

Dear Readers

Welcome to the Rivers Curriculum Projects Meanderings ’94. These publications are collec tions of student writings which address many topics and issues in a variety of methods. As you read you will notice and appreciate the variety of schools submitting articles. Three publications have been produced this year with a new format, but maintaining the original theme and purpose of Meanderings. One issue represents the schools along the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers including Flood issues. A second contains writings from schools along Mississippi tributaries in Illinois. The third issue holds the works of Project schools from throughout the United States.

While the summer of 1993 was flood time for many of the Projects schools, it was not until the spring of 1994 when we began to receive student writings that their awareness of the flood became apparent. The thoughts and observations of those students about the impact of the flooding are presented in the one addition. We hope that you enjoy this special window into the Great Flood of 93.

The Fourth Annual Student Congress was held again in Peoria. Over five hundred students from fifty schools attended and developed Milemarker Issue Position Statements listed under Chap ter Eight in this document. Each of the Issues was addressed by a group of interested students during the Sunday Forum. Finalized copies of the statements were developed by student leaders. The students were assisted in their discussions by volunteer leaders from state and federal agencies. The resulting position statements were presented in May to the Illinois Senate and General Assem bly. Before the presentation was made to the students gathered for a press conference in the Capitol Building. The presentation of these environmental positions by students was historical in that such a group had never before presented such issues to both legislative bodies. A real highlight was the appearance of Senator Paul Simon at the evening banquet. Senator Simon addressed the group encouraging them to continue these efforts on the behalf of rivers and water.

The Third Annual Summer Training session was held in late July. Two hundred eighteen teachers from 32 states gathered at Southern Illinois University and learned to integrate the study of rivers into their curricula. Sessions were held in the use of each curriculum unit and the integrating action of the river on curriculum was personally observed. The river field trip to the junction of the Illinois with the Mississippi introduced each to the grandeur of the two mighty rivers. Chemistry teachers tested river water; biologists studied the zebra mussel and benthic macroinvertebrates; geographers looked at old Alton and Grafton while observing barges move goods; earth science teachers looked at sediment loads and erosion issues; language arts teachers expressed the wonder of each and showed the science teachers how to record that feeling as everyone gathered at the banks of the Illinois for a barbecue. The river truly ran through this day and greatly impacted the people.

The year has been memorable. The Project has reached out in different ways to provide educational experiences to more students and teachers. You hold in your hands the product of some of this labor. The teachers have selected the writings, proofed the documents and forwarded them by disk and through Soiled Net or Internet. The Rivers Project continues to provide avenues for stu dents to communicate with the World. Enjoy the words you read.

3. Clemson University 2. Tavares High School 4. Wren High School 5. Camden High School Kentucky

6. Livingston Central High School 7. Daviess County High School 8. Logan County High School 9. Shawnee High School

North Carolina Tennessee

*11 *12 *13

11. Brentwood High School 12. Page High School 13. Spring Hill High School

Georgia

15. Johnson Health/Science/Engineering

ló.Fryeburg Academy 17. Leavitt Area High School Maryland

Massachusetts 18. Fairview Outdoor Educational Center

L Pennsylvania 19. Dedham High School

20. Noble & Greenough School— 2V *22

New York *23

21. University of Pittsburgh- Bradford 22. Port Allegany High School 23. West Greene High School

Vermont

Rode Island

26. Saint Michael's College 27. Whitcomb High School

30. Scottsbluff High School 28. Augustana College 31. Chadron High School 29. Yankton High School 32. Niobrara High School 33. Bellevue East high School

West Virginia

Virginia

34. West Springfield High School 36. St. Francis Central High School

West Humber Collegiate Institute

40*

41* *42 *43 44* *45

40. Highland High School 41. Clay County Community High School 42. Riley County High School 43. Junction City High School 44. Maize High School 46. Robert E. Lee High School 45. Wichita High School 47. Sidney Lanier High School 48. CERS/ Troy State University

Michigan

50,51,52,53

49. Newaygo High School 50. Muskegon Adult Educational Center 51. Muskegon Area Intermediate School District 52. Orchard View High School 53. Mona Shores High School 54. West Middle School 55. Holt High School 56. Mott Middle College High School 57. Brother Rice High School

Ohio

Arkansas

60. Mt. Vernon High School 61. Franklin Heights High School 58. Nettleton High School 62. Groveport Madison High School 59. Barton High School 63. Pickerington High School

66. San Lorenzo Valley High School 64. Lake Havasu High School 67. Esperanza High School 65. Mingus Union High School

Texas

Oklahoma

68. Haie High School 69. Rider High School 70. Travis High School

Utah

Washington

71. South Sevier High School

A. 73,74,75,76,77 B. 78,79,80,81 C. 82,83 D. 84,85 86,87,88

73. Dickinson Middle School 74. Edison Middle School 75. John Adams High School 76. Riley High School 77. Stanley Clark High School 78. Concord Community High School 79. Elkhart Central High School 80. Elkhart Memorial High School 81. Northside High School 82. Mishawauka High School 83. Penn High School 84. Bethany Christian High School 85. Fairfield Jr.-Sr. High School 86. Lakeland High School 87. Lakeland Jr. High School 88. Prairie Heights High School 89. West Noble High School 90. Fairfield High School (New Paris) 91. Farifield High School (Warsaw) 92. Columbia City High School 93. Village Woods Middle School 94. William Hemy Harrison High School 95. Kokomo High School 96. Northwestern High School 97. Eastern Elementary School 98. Silver Creek High School

Iowa

Wisconsin 101* 103* 104*

99. Lansing-Kee High School 100. MFL Community High School 101. Sumner High School 102. Bellevue Community High School 103. University of North Iowa 104. Grant Wood Area Education Agency 114. G-E-T High School 105. Clinton High School 115. Central High School 106. Pleasant Valley High School 116. University of Wisconsin 107. Mt. Pleasant Jr. High School 117. Onalaska High School 108. St. John's Elementary 118. Sparta High School 109. West Avenue Baptist High School 119. Dodgeland High School 110. West Burlington Arnold High School 111. West Burlington Middle School 112. Central Lee HS/JrHS/K-8 113. Fort Madison High School

Missouri

120. Little Falls Community High School 121. St. Cloud University 122. Sauk Rapids High School 123. Big Lake High School 124. Como Park Senior High School 125. Cretin Derham Hall High School 126. Johnson High School 127. Minneapolis North High School 128. Minneapolis Patrick Henry High School 129. Minneapolis South High School 142. Clark County R-l Schools 130. Blaine High School 143. Central High School 131. Coon Rapids High School 144. East Magnet High School 132. Anoka High School 145. Fort Osage High School 133. Champlin Park High School 146. Nowlin Middle School for Environmental 134. Eden Prairie High School Science 135. Minnetonka High School 147. Wentzville R-IV High School 136. Hastings High School 148. Fort Zumwalt North High School 137. Montevideo High School 149. Christian Brothers College High School 138. Belle Plaine Jr. High School 150. Hazelwood East High School 139. St. Peter High School 151. Ladue Horton Watkins High School 140. Winona State University 152. Stowe Middle School 141. LaCrescent High School 153. University of Missouri-St. Louis 154. Cross Keys Middle School 155. McCluer North High School 156. Francis Howell High School 157. Francis Howell North High School 158. Lafayette High School 159. Parkway South High School 160. Raymondville School 161. Farmington High School 162. South Iron R-l 163. Ozark Mountain Center for Environmental Education

1. RIPRAP A COLLECTION OF SCIENCE ARTICLES.

2. DRIFTWOOD A COLLECTION OF THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE RIVER AREA.

3. MAINSTREAMS A COLLECTION OF HISTORICAL ARTICLES

4. ISLANDS A SERIES OF PERSONAL INTERVIEWS AND EXPERIENCES

5. WATERWAYS A COLLECTION OF ARTICLES ON LIFE AND OCCUPATIONS ON THE RIVERS

6. EDDIES AND WHIRLPOOLS A COLLECTION OF POETRY AND SONGS

7. DEEP WATER A COLLECTION OF CREATIVE WRITINGS

8. MILE MARKERS A COLLECTION OF ISSUES AND POSITIONS ON WATER QUALITY

A COLLECTION OF SCIENCE ARTICLES

A small oval shaped beetle may very well Groundwater is water beneath the surface be our best hope for pest and pesticide control. of the Earth. It is the source of water for wells These very common insects, known as lady bugs and many springs. It is accumulated chiefly or ladybird beetles, have voracious appetites for from rain or melted snow that filters through the crop eating pests such as aphids. Also, if more soil. Groundwater provides 20% of fresh water farmers used these beetles as a form of control used in the United States. Some rural areas over pests, less toxic pesticide runoff would end depend heavily on ground water for their needs. up in our own Wildcat Creek and other water The level of groundwater, called the ways. With less pesticides in our waters, fish water table, drops when more water is with and other wildlife could flourish in an environ drawn than can be naturally replaced. Many ment without the harsh pesticide poisoning. regions of the world are using up the water Lady bugs are the most beneficial of faster than aquifers can replace it. beetles, with over four hundred and seventy five In 1987, Governor James Thompson species, only two of which are not beneficial to signed legislation for protection of Illinois humans. If we could develop a “lady bug” farm, groundwater from contamination. The Depart (if we haven’t already), then the lady bugs ment of Energy and Natural Resources was produced on these farms could be sold to crop responsible for developing a comprehensive farmers as a replacement for pesticides. Not only groundwater evaluation program. The plan would this cut down on pollution, but there includes data collection and automation, ground would be one more job that is on the market, it water quality monitoring and quality and quan would be kind of like bee keeping without the tity assessments. honey, but you still get your money. The Environmental Protection Agency Ladybugs also secrete a foul tasting conducted a synoptic analysis of water supply substance to drive away predators; this cuts wells. It was determined that the over all quality down on a loss of your biological control to of the United States’ groundwater is good. predators. However, 4.6% of the tested public wells had In conclusion, a lady bug was considered detectable levels of organic chemical contamina good luck in a pioneer home, maybe it could be tion. the same for our farm fields. The Illinois Ground Protection Act established a groundwater protection policy. A By Jennifer Lay key part of this policy involves wellhead protec Kokomo High School Downtown Campus tion program for public and private wells. It established minimum setback zones between Reference: water wells and potential sources or routes of contamination. It provided that communities 1. Simbeck, Rob “Love those Ladybugs”. can expand the area to maximum setback zones. Outdoor Indiana, July-August 1993, Pg. 18-19. (Several communities have already established these zones) The agency is conducting well site surveys for public water supply wells and preparing reports for community water supplies. Two basic approaches are shaping the debate on water quality - one emphasizing education and incentive programs, and the other, new regulations. Policy makers are considering taxes on fertilizers, pesticides, and even live

15 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville stock feeds - to pay for water clean up programs. If You Are What You Eat, Are You What You Regulatory approaches might require farmers to Drink Too? write farm plans that would dictate needs, rates, A Research Paper on Water Pollution timings and types of pesticides and fertilizer applications. Year after year, the rivers from which we During the flood of 1993, fanners found get our drinking water, become more and more out the hard way that surface water can flow polluted. This affects several types and kinds of directly into groundwater through sinkholes in pollution which affect the water we drink every the landscape. That is why run-off from crop day. These pollutants come from many different land and livestock facilities are being blamed for places. In case you haven’t noticed, the key contributing to water pollution. More than half words here are plural, such as “many” or “sev of rural water supplies in Monroe County, eral”. It seems that no matter how hard we try to Illinois is estimated to have been contaminated reduce pollution, our efforts never seem to be to some degree of bacteria and/or nitrates. effective enough. What’s the problem with the Farmers have begun to adopt practices water? And how does or will this affect you? that reduce nonpoint source pollution. These Water that is polluted can cause harmful include crop residue management, pesticide effects. It can kill off aquatic life, such as fish selection and filter strips and: a sinkhole stabili which are a source of nourishment for many zation technique that they helped design. people, especially the Native Americans, and In conclusion, it seems that everyone is others who live off of the river. Water pollution trying to maintain fresh groundwater for every can affect human health. When we drink water one else to enjoy. I just hope that there is that is not totally purified or eating aquatic enough for the human race to strive on for our animals that have lived in polluted water, we can existence. get diseases. It also affects the water in general, which in the end, is the main thing that affects By Jessica Grissom all of us. Francis Howell High School There are three main types of pollutants. They are halogenated hydrocarbons, agricultural Bibliography pesticides, and sediment toxins, Halogenated hydrocarbons are synthetic chemicals. They are 1. Illinois Ground-water Protection Gazette highly toxic, persistent, and bioaccumlative. April 1990. They are also chlorine based. Some halogenated hydrocarbons found in the Mississippi river are 2. “Water Quality Programs That Work” by poly vinyl chloride, chlorinated pesticides, John Walter Successful Farmer magazine, industrial solvents, cleaning agents, propellants, volume 91 pages 42-43. refrigerants, and fire retardants. Samples of agricultural pesticides are collected six times a 3. Associated Press article by Mario Fox year from the Mississippi river. Some agricul “Groundwater Protection Urged”. tural pesticides are dieldrin, DDT, chlordane, aldrin, and heptachlor. Some sediment toxins 4. World Book Encyclopedia volume 7. page are PBC’s, lead, zinc, and manganese. These 426. are all equally harmful to any aquatic environ ment. \ x There are two main categories of pollu tion and their sources. They are point and non point pollution. Some sources of non-point pollution are agricultural runoff, urban runoff,

16 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and deposition from the atmosphere. Soil Macroinvertebrates contaminated with fertilizers and pesticides are some examples of agricultural runoff. Oil and Macroinvertebrates are invertebrates that grease are some examples of urban runoff. Lead are invisible by the naked eye. They do not have and dioxins are some examples of disposition a backbone, but have either a shell or some kind form the atmosphere. Non-point pollution does of protective covering over their soft body. not enter the river from any single location. Macroinvertebrates are classified into There are six main sources of point pollution. three different groups referred to as taxa 1, taxa They áre municipal treatment plants, industrial 2 and taxa 3. Each macroinvertebrate belongs to waste water discharges, vessel leaks and spills, one of these taxa’s. The taxa’s stand for the drinking water disinfection, industrial produc pollution level of the water in which the tion facility emissions, and overflow from macroinvertebrates live. On a scale of zero to combined storm and sanitary sewer systems. An ten, with zero having the lowest tolerance level example of over flow is untreated human waste. and ten having the highest tolerance level, taxa 1 Since polluted water is such a large contains macroinvertebrates having the tolerance national problem, we need to find a solution or between zero and two, taxa 2 containing toler at least some ways to reduce it. One way is that ance levels of three to seven and taxa 3 contain we can tighten and improve the enforcement of ing tolerance levels of eight to ten. existing regulations. Another is to reduce the Macroinvertebrates in taxa 1 cannot volume and toxicity of industrial and municipal stand any pollution in the water. They might be waste entering the river. We can also reduce able to resist very little pollution, but if there is and eliminate production and use of halogenated too much, they will die. Macroinvertebrate in hydrocarbons. In this country we have a Clean taxa 2 can stand moderate pollution. They have Water Act. This emphasizes that toxic amounts a higher tolerance level than taxa 1 but lower of chemicals must be eliminated from the na than taxa 3. Macroinvertebrate in taxa 3 can tions waters. In 1988, the Illinois Pollution stand any kind of pollution. They are able to Control Board was formed. Their aim was to survive in very bad polluted waters. upgrade and revise Illinois water quality stan If you are taking samples of water and dards, to define protective conditions, and form want to know the pollution level of the water, the basis for regulating discharges and other check for the different macroinvertebrates in the pollution reduction programs. water. If there are macroinvertebrates from Clean water is essential for the survival taxal, you have really good clean water. If you of many species including us. It’s not a big joke find a lot of macroinvertebrates in taxa 2, you or something I made up because I couldn’t think have moderately polluted water and if you find a of anything else to write about. It’s something I lot of macroinvertebrates from taxa 3, the water believe in. It’s something that concerns you, is very bad and you shouldn’t go in it. me, and everyone. It’s time we did something Macroinvertebrates go through either about it, time to take a stand, time to take some complete or incomplete metamorphosis. Incom action, and that’s what the river project is all plete metamorphosis go through three stages: about. Don’t just sit there. You’ll never get egg, nymph and adult. Some examples of anything accomplished that way. Do something insects that go through incomplete metamorpho about it! sis is the grasshopper, the aphids and termites. The adult female lays her eggs and the nymph By Teresa Phillips hatches from the egg. The nymph resembles an Francis Howell High School adult. It is smaller and has underdeveloped reproductive organs. The nymph has no wings. Most species molt five times in the nymph stage

©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and with each molt, the nymph becomes more Dissolved oxygen (D.O.) like an adult. Most insects go through complete metamorphosis. Dissolved oxygen (D.O.) is simply the Complete metamorphosis has four amount of oxygen in water. D.O. is more stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Some ex abundant in cool water and less abundant in amples of insects that go through complete warm water. D.O. supplies aquatic life with metamorphosis are butterflies, moths and oxygen, so the more D.O. in the water the better. beetles. The egg hatches into segmented larva. D.O. can get into the water through white The larva rnay be called grubs or maggots. They water rapids. White water rapids are areas undergo several molts of the larval cuticles. where D.O. is being trapped and thrown into the Then in the pupa it is covered with a cocoon or a water. This process is called aeration. Aeration case. Cacaos are spun out of silk. A case is can also occur artificially. In hatcheries and fish made out of materials secreted by a larva but it farms, sprays are put into the water systems to is harder to make a case. In the case the tissues imitate the natural process of aeration. D.O. can are changing into adult tissues and when the also be put into the water by the photosynthesis case opens the adult insect emerges. of aquatic plants. In the White River, we found Aquatic animals use D.O. for respiration. macroinvertebrates that can live in taxa one and Aquatic plants use D.O. for small amount of taxa two waters. To collect the invertebrates, we respiration. used the seining process. We took a net that had D.O. can be measured by doing a simple two poles on each side so two people could hold D.O. test using a specialized D.O. test kit. it. The net went down into the water vertically. Various substances are combined with the water As the two people holding the net stood in the you are testing to determine the amount of D.O. river, a person got in front of the net, standing in in the water. the direction the current was flowing, and turned Last fall our biology class did a research rocks over and brushed them off. Tiny bugs and project involving the White River. We collected fish came into the net. We scooped the net up data on macro invertebrate populations to deter and put all the creatures we collected into a bowl mine water quality, temperature, contour of the that had some water in it. We observed the river, fish populations and D.O. tests, the creatures and identified them. average measurement of D.O. we took in the river was 9.0 ppm — which is veiy good for a By Crystal Campbell river. Life in the river would be able to survive Whitcomb High School very successfully in the conditions we found.

By Faith Burch Kylie Daniels Barbara Smith Whitcomb High School

SCUD or SIDESWIMMER (Phylum Arthropoda, Class Crustacea, Order Amphipoda, Family Grammaridae and Talitridae)

18 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Water Pollution water contaminants. Efforts to remove these more- resistant pollutants involve wells that pump out Our project is based on water pollution. polluted ground water. But cleanup crews can not Water pollution is the introduction into land or ocean flush out polluted ground water until they find it, and waters of chemical, physical, or biological material locating contaminants proves very difficult. that degrades the quality of the water. Many people Dozens of factors influence where ground don’t believe toxic dumping can effect their home, water flows, and these variables can change instanta but those people are wrong. Water pollution effects neously and over tiny distances. everybody. Chemicals that have been washed, In some cases, pollutants adhere to soil spilled, or leaked into underground reservoirs can above the water table despite flushing with clean come pouring back through our water faucets. More water. A process similar to water flushing, pumping than half the population uses drinking water coming air into the ground above the water table can remove mainly from underground wells. This is the water hydrocarbon pollutants trapped in the soil. Air than can contain the most dangerous substances. In venting and other involving methods, along with a the upcoming years many Americans will be affected better understanding of the physics and chemistry of by the polluted ground water. ground water, will help regulators decide which sites The main pollution problems will be around pose the greatest threats to human safety and the until at least the year 2003, even if we stop all of the environment and thus deserve high cleanup priority. polluting by the year 2000. Hydrocarbons, such as In some cases the best decisions may involve less crude oil, gasoline and creosote, leak from storage action. tanks or spilled from vehicles, have polluted more of The cost of pollution control—resulting from the U. S. ground water drinking supply by volume capital, maintenance, and labor costs, as well as from than has any other class of chemicals. Cleanup the cost of additional residual disposals—generally efforts are still failing to keep up with the toxic waste go up rapidly as a greater percentage of residuals is problems. The major influences on the success of removed from the waste stream. This cost increase is these cleanup strategies are very poorly understood. putting off some of the nation’s important cleanup However, prospects for cleansing the nation’s ground efforts. water of pollutants appear brighter. The reason? Scientists have invented a new computer program By Amy Browning which predicts how effectively cleanup techniques Crystal Tiepelman will work in certain areas. These computer programs Wentzville High School still need perfections, but they could reduce the effects of chemical contaminations. Without human BIBLIOGRAPHY interaction, microorganisms typically degrade only about one percent (1%) of the hydrocarbon pollution 1. Magazine article from:SCIENCE NEWS VOL flowing past. To help metabolize the hydrocarbons 134 #23 Dec 3,1988 p 362-365 more quickly under these anaerobic conditions microbes need a higher amount of nitrogen and 2. Information from: Academic American Encyclope phosphorus than naturally exist below ground. They dia VOL 15 p 411-416 also require a higher amount of oxygen as well. If humans supply enough of these appetite- whetters, the microbes can eat “pounds of pollutants” quickly enough to restore the quality of water before it steps beyond their reach. They hope the estimates will help make many cleanup efforts more cost- efficient and thorough. The observations indicate the daily rate actually averaged about one and one fourth percent (1.25%). The pollutant levels at the site are rapidly approaching concentrations not hazardous to human heath. The microbes do not break down all ground

The Wildcat Creek is a water system that flows through much of central Indiana. It then eventually connects to the Mississippi River. This creek provides a home for many plants and animals. One animal in particular is the screech owl. This owl is well known throughout much of the United States. I would like to present some information that will increase the knowl edge about the common screech owl. The screech owl can be found in almost any type of environment. It can live in desert heat, northern cold, eastern humidity, and the dryness of Death Valley. The only place where this bird cannot be found is in the grass-covered plains in the west.(4) The bird’s size is that of an average small size owl, but the screech owl’s call makes it very distinguishable. It is about seven to ten inches in length(4), with a wingspread of eigh teen to twenty four inches(3). The screech owl weighs about four to eight ounces. (3) This owl is a small, mottled owl that has prominent ear tufts and yellow eyes. It goes through two color phases, rufous and gray, and also has a brownish intermediate phase.(2) In the west the screech owl’s call is a series of hollow hoo’s running into a tremolo at the end, while in the east it is a rising and falling wail that sounds like the whinny of a horse.(3) Screech owls are omnivores except for vegetable matter. (3) These birds are mighty hunters. Since they are nocturnal they gather their food at night. During the night the average number of visits to the nest with food is 46, with a low of 14 visits, and a high of 75 visits.(4) Once A.K. Fisher examined 225 screech owl stomachs and found 1 with poultry, 38 with other birds, 91 with mice, 11 with other mammals (pack rats, flying squirrels, and chipmunks), 2 with lizards, 4 with batrachians, 1 with fish, 100 with insects, 5 with spiders, 9 with crawfish, 2 with scorpions, 2 with earthworms, and 43 empty.(4) Although screech owls will eat almost anything, they prefer insects and rodents.(4) The nest sights of screech owls vary. They will nest in open deciduous woods, wood lots, suburban areas, lake shores, or in old orchards. (2) In these places they might enlarge the homes of woodpeckers in order to fit their needs or they might nest in a nest box.(4) Though they live in these places, they are usually situated in the hollow of a tree. (4) The screech owl breeds like many other birds. First, a male and a female find a place to

©201520 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville build a nest. Then when the time to mate comes the female starts laying eggs in a cavity in a tree without a nest lining. (2) The number of eggs vary from 3 to 8. The eggs are a white color. (2) The egg sizes vaiy, but are usually about 1.40 x 1.17 inches. (4) Most always if the eggs hatch and the owls grow to be a couple of months old, the The muskrat is a large rodent with glossy young’will grow to be adults.(3) fur, small ears, nearly hairless, a scaly, laterally This is just some basic information about flattened tail, and partly webbed hind feet. “ A screech owls. It is one of the many interesting swimming muskrat might be mistaken for a species in the Wildcat Creek area. small beaver.”(l) Muskrats have houses in marshes and leave channels in mud. these By: Andrea Menges animals do not like rapid rocky streams and Kokomo High School-Downtown Campus rivers. The muskrat is active at any time. I uses .Bibliography; its hind feet and tail when swimming. Their 1.Brown, Fern G. Owls. N.Y.: Franklin Watts, houses are usually two to three feet above water. 1991 The muskrat is mainly a vegetarian and eats stems and fleshy parts of plants, like cattails. 2.Bull, J. and Farrand, J. Field Guide to North They also eat freshwater mussels.” When a American Birds. N.Y.: Alfred A. Knopf, 1977 marsh becomes too overcrowded, there is much fighting.”(l) 3.Tyler, Hamilton A. Owls by Day and Night. The litter size of a muskrat is one to Happy Camp, CA: Naturegraph, 1978. eleven, each about five to seven inches. Babies are bom in a house or a lined chamber in the 4.Walker, Lewis W. The Book of Owls. N.Y.: earth. The gestation period is about 29-30 days. Alfred A. Knopf, 1990 Muskrats are very important in the fur trade. It’s also a good meat source

By Angie Butler Kokomo High School-Downtown Campus

SOURCES

1. Palmer, Ralph S. Garden City, NY: Doubleday and co. 1954

2. Rue HI, Leonard Lee. Pictoral Guide to the Mammals of North America. Thomas and Crowell Company: NY 1967

3. Walker, Ernest. Mammals of the World. 3rd Ed. Vol. II

4. John Hopkins University Press: Baltimore and London 1975

21 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Franklin Heights High School of Columbus, Ohio Since 1939 Big Darby Creek has been seined Discovers an Endangered species in Darby Creek... annually for Tippecanoe Darters, however its yearly numbers fluctuated greatly. Only a few individuals TIPPECANOE DARTER. were taken in those years following an October in which few or no young could be captured, but 50- On October 15,1993 the students of Natural 100 could be taken in those years following an Resources II class went to Darby Creek to collect October in which dozens of young were captured. water samples and were seining to determine the There were no years such as 1943 and 1948, when water quality of Darby Creek. One of the four the population was so great that 50-100 could be seining samplings we collected a small fish that is taken in a few hours. considered a state endangered species as designated The largest numbers of Tippecanoe Darters by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources - were found on those portions of riffles having a Division of Natural Areas and Preserves. The fish rather slow or moderate current and a bottom of belongs to the perch family and is called a clean gravel and sand. Throughout the spawning Tippecanoe Darter (Etheostoma tippecanoe). Big season groups of 2-18 males were observed guarding and Little Darby Creeks have recently been desig their territories and eggs, in water between 3-18 (7.6- nated One of the Last Great Places in North America 46 cm) in depth; these territories were usually at the by the Nature Conservancy. One of the characteris heads or tails of riffles or along their eggs, in water tics is that it has a high diversity of fish and mussel between their edges where the gravel free from species. It is a very special place. clayey silt. The males usually deserted their territo The specifics of a Tippecanoe Darter are, ries whenever storms caused the water to become belly behind pelvics normally scaleless. The naked turbid, and siltation over the sandy gravel was rapid. strip extending part, or all the way to the anus. Two It was interesting to note that some turbid waters anal spines. No groove between tip of upper jaw and which caused the Tippecanoe Darter species which snout. Snout rather pointed. Eye small. Snout length inhabited waters that flowed too rapidly to allow silt equal to, or longer than diameter of eye. Head to accumulate on their territories. It is possible that moderately compressed laterally and rounded desertion of territory and egg guarding by the ventrally. Gill covers slightly connected across Tippecanoe Darter was a major factor in producing isthmus with membrane. Cheeks scaleless. Opercles the great fluctuations in annual numbers. In winter scaled. Posterior edge of tail straight or emarginated. the species usually retired into waters where the Dorsal spines usually 12-13 . Extremes 11-14. current was very sluggish and the depth between 2-5 Pored scales in the lateral series ending beneath soft (0.6-1.5 m). dorsal; usually 44-49 scales in lateral series, rarely as The Tippecanoe Darter is definitely in many as 52. Two light or orange spots on caudal trouble! While the Snail Darter became famous for base encircled with dusky; these spots often very stopping a dam in the 1970s the sharphead and prominent. The golden colored male is most distinc trispot darters have been lost due to reservoirs. tive. The length of the young is 0.8-1.1 (2.0-2.8 By David Mattox cm) long, adult, usually 1.0-1.6 (2.5-4.1 cm). Larg Franklin Heights High School est specimen 1.8 (4.4 cm) long. In the spring, darters form spawning schools. The courtship behavior is characterized by much following and display behavior; finally the female burrows into the gravel and lays several groups of eggs, while the male holds firmly to the female with its pectoral, anal, and caudal fins, and the male releases his sperm. The eggs are then covered with gravel or sand. The Tippecanoe Darters feed chiefly on insect larvae and primative crustaceans. Darters are part of the perch family, percidae.

22 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville The Pollution of Our Seas by Sewage Since then many coastal areas have improved greatly, but there flaws in the plan. We all have heard that out oceans and Some of the nation’s biggest cities have never coastal waters are suffering from pollutants, but complied with the act. Boston is a prime ex how is this happening? The primary cause of ample. Some magazines call Boston Harbor pollution is sewage. “One of the greatest cesspools of the nation.” The sewage plants simply release excess There, sewer sludge is separated from waste sewage into the oceans, believing that in time water and then both are dumped into the water. the oce'an will take care of the problem on its There are three million people that live within a own. What they fail to see is that tons of sewage twenty-five mile radius of the harbor and nearly is dumped every year, and the ocean cannot take all of the human and industrial waste of the care of it. It causes major ecological problems. metropolitan area ends up in its harbor. Better First, it affects our marine life greatly. enforcement of this act is needed greatly. New At any given time, one-third of America’s York is another example. They release eight oyster, clam and other shellfish beds are closed million tons of sewer sludge yearly into the because of this kind of contamination. One half Atlantic Ocean. Although since 1981 they have of the shellfish beds in Galveston Bay are off- taken the waste by 325-foot sludge boats and limits to fisherman. Nutrients that are released dump the waste 106 miles off-shore just off the into the oceans by pollution feed algae blooms. continental shelf and in the heart of some of the This algae forms a dense layer of vegetation that nation’s richest fishing grounds. replaces other plants. As the Algae die and People have finally realized that this is a decay it depletes the area of oxygen. It forms a problem and one of great importance. Although “Dead Zone” where no fish or plants can live there are laws to help prevent these problems, because there is no oxygen. the problem now is enforcing the laws. We need Second, sewage pollution affects us also. to find a way to get people to stop this dumping Many people love the hobby of SCUBA-diving. so that our oceans and marine life can recover Some SCUBA divers talk of swimming through from what we have done to it. clouds of toilet paper and half dissolved feces. They swim through bay bottoms covered by a By De Anna Harvey foul combination of sediment, sewage, and petrochemical waste. People do not see that these wastes they are dumping are coming right back to them in The Distruction of a Once the fish that they are eating. Also, the beaches Beautiful Land that we enjoy in the summer are being closed because sewage sludge is starting to be found on South Florida, one of the most beautiful the shoreline. lands on the planet, is dying, and not from This problem is a very old one that natural causes. Over 39 million people vaca people are just starting to do something about. tioned there in 1989, roughly 365,000 people, Federal laws have been passed trying to ban the 1000 a day, come to stay each year. {Each new dumping of the sewage. In fact, Congress resident uses 200 gallons of fresh water a day, passed the Clean Water Act in 1977. Federal, which means that an extra 200,000 gallons must State, and local agencies have spent over one- be found each day to meet with the increased hundred billion dollars improving the nation’s demand. During the hunt for fresh water some sewer systems to a “secondary level,” which of the most heroic engineering feats ever are means ninety percent of all solid waste is re becoming environmental disasters. moved from sewage effluent

23 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville The environmental onslaught started of the lake that contains phosphorous and nitro shortly after the Civil War with the arrival of gen from fertilizers and the disintegrating muck. northern investors. Hamilton Disston undertook On dairy farms to the north, 45,000 cows to drain the Everglades by connecting it to the each produce raw waste equal to that of twenty- coast with a boat canal, lowering the level of two people. These 2295 tons of waste contribute Lake Okeechobee. Henry Flagler brought hotels to the one and one-half tons of phosphorous that and railroads to the east coast. After the turn of flows into the lake each day. the century, governor Napoleon Bonaparte Algal blooms are spreading throughout Broward promised to drain the Everglades once the formerly crystal clear lake choking out life and for all. A huge network of locks, dams, and as they go. Estimated costs of fixing Lake hundreds of miles of canals further lowered the Okeechobee alone are expected to cost at mini level of Lake Okeechobee. Farmers discovered mum $200 million and the team of engineers that the exposed muck was producing excellent cautioned that predicting the lake’s response was yields, but burned like tinder or dried to a fine “not an exact science.” powder and blew into surrounding canals. In 1947, when president Harry Truman Terrible hurricanes in 1926 and 1928 dedicated 1.4 million acres of the Everglades as ruptured low earthen levees that surround the a national park he did it to “protect hundreds of lake. The resulting flood caused the death of kinds of wildlife which might otherwise soon be more than 2000 people. The state asked Con extinct.” Now due to one of the worst environ gress for help and the U.S. Army Corps of mental screw-ups in history, this may have Engineers started construction on the massive damaged one of the most beautiful areas in the Herbert Hoover Dike, that now surrounds Lake world beyond repair. There may still be time, Okeechobee, constricting the heart of the water but there is a chance that President Truman’s system. After another hurricane in 1947 the work may be all for naught. corps embarked on another massive project, changing the wilderness forever. By 1980 1400 By Jason Kaus miles of canals and levees had been carved into Wentzville High School the South Florida Water Management District. A special project was devised for the Kissimee BIBLIOGRAPHY: River. A 300 foot wide canal transformed the once looping, one hundred mile long river into a 1. Duplaix, Nicole. “South Florida Water: fifty-two mile long canal simply known as C38. Paying the Price,” National Geographic. These projects had a price tag of around $208 July 1990, p. 88-113. million and took over two decades to complete. Now engineers are faced with an even more 2. Toner, Mike. “Fixing a Broken River,” challenging task; reversing the environmental National Wildlife. April/May 1991, p. damage done by this manipulation. This will not 18-20. be easy or inexpensive with expected costs to exceed $1 billion and even then there is no 3. Reiss, Spencer. “What’s a Bay Without guarantee that it will work. More than five feet Water?” Newsweek. November 2,1992, of soil have been lost to erosion of the oxidized p. 83. muck. It is predicted that within twenty-five years some places will see the surface reach 4. Stover, Dawn. “Engineering the Everglades,” bedrock. Popular Science. July 1992, p. 46-9+. Another dangerous threat to the water system is nutrient laden runoff from vegetable 5. Carney, James, “Last Gasp for the Ever fields in the Everglades Agricultural Area, south glades,” Time. September 25,1989, p. 26-27.

©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville River’s Curriculum animals will die. It, shows that the water is polluted. To check the D.O. it entails many I thought that the River’s Curriculum steps that need to be taken in or see if it is was both educational and fun. You learned how polluted or getting enough oxygen. You need to get right into the water and use your hands to to do this test in a small, but fairly decent part do most of it. Otherwise, you just got to keep of a stream with very little movement. track of all the information your group collected. Along with getting right into the water to We also, bought a journal for the whole do the work we also did some out of the river. freshman class to keep our thoughts and our data The freshman class went to the Missouri River in it. and did some sampling on the banks. In doing We have four stations that we need to do this we looked for dead, and alive trees, tracks of every time that we go out to the water, which animals, and if we saw any animals around us. are: We did this surveying in three small parts of the a. Kicknetting - is when you need about five banks per each group. people to help you with this. Two of these I hope that by the classes that are study are holding onto the poles while, the other ing the rivers and the banks that we will get three are rubbing rocks, and doing a dance to more and more people involved in what we are make sure that all the little organisms are doing. getting onto the net, then you separate all the debris and start to identify the organisms and By Angela F. Trusty putting them into groups. You need to do all Highland High School this in a riffle area. Also, you need to put Kansas rocks in the bottom of the net to make sure that none of them escape. b. Seine - you need to have at least three people to do this one. Two of them is mov ing along the bottom of the water, while the other two help do a dance in front of it to have all the organisms go into the net. In order to do this you need to go up stream. c. D-Net - you need to be by a bank. This only uses one net per person. You need to hold onto the top and bottom part of the D- Net, then you scoop it along the bottom part of the water and lift it up and out against the side of the bank, then you can see what you caught, and how many. Along with the D- Net, you also, check the clarity of the water by using a secchi disk. To do this you put it all the way into the water, then you lift it up, put it in again, and as you lift it up a second time you look for it till you can just barely see it, you mark it, then you see how far it was from the mark on the string to the top of the secchi disk. d. D.O. - stands for dissolved oxygen in the water. If there is enough oxygen then all the

A COLLECTION OF THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE RIVER AREA

" If we sell you our land, you must remember and teach your children that the rivers are our brothers and you must henceforth give the rivers the kindness you would give any brother."

Chief Seattle

©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville The Belted Kingfisher southern part of the state to find open water. The Belted Kingfisher is an interesting Migrant kingfishers retreat to northern Indiana bird that captures many people’s attention. It can in late March and early April. The Belted be seen hanging around the Wildcat Creek or Kingfisher is the only member of the kingfisher along other rivers and streams in Indiana. If one family to be found in Indiana. ever gets the chance, they should try to seethis The Belted Kingfisher has a distinct way interesting bird. it catches its prey or food. First, the kingfisher " The Belted Kingfisher has characteristics will fly along a stream because this is the course tfrat distinguish it from other birds. It is a short, for its flight. Next, it will find a snag or dead chunky bird with a short neck and tail, but it has limb that it perches on overlooking a stream, a large head that is accented by a prominent lake, etc, Then it scans the water for its prey. It erectle crest. Some are said to be a bluish gray may do this while hovering in one spot above color, while others have patches of a dull red the water. It can hover twenty to thirty feet in and white on them and are spotted. Most around the air almost upright. After it spot its prey, the Indiana are bluish gray. The head, wings, and Kingfisher dives downward to or in the water if back of the kingfisher are blue, while the throat necessary to catch their prey. At this point, its and belly are white. The male kingfisher has a long beak is very important. The kingfisher eats blue neck band and the female is identical crustaceans, reptiles, amphibians, and other except that she has a chestnut colored band aquatic insects, but its principal food is small across her chest and down her sides. The beak of minnows. Small fish make up more than ninety this bird is usually very strong and narrow. It’s percent of its diet. also pointed and long in size. The beak is a very The kingfisher has a certain way of distinct characteristic in the way the kingfisher nesting its young. First, it uses its jointed front catches its food. It also has short legs and very toes to scoop up the earth when building nesting small weak feet. The front toes are said to make burrows. The nests are placed at the end of the up more than one third of their length. burrows dug into vertical banks of clay, sand, or The Belted Kingfisher has another very gravel and are some distance from water. Por distinct characteristic that sets it apart from tions of food not digested are regurgitated as other birds. It has a very loud, penetrating sharp pellets and accumulate in the nests. The nests rattling call. The rattle of a kingfisher is often are placed sometimes inland as much as ten referred to in Literature. One piece of literature feet into the earth. If the nests are not destroyed, explained the rattle of the bird to be very unique they are used more than once. The nests are not because it had qualities that would imply a love lined with protection, but they are padded with of wilderness, a feeling of appreciation for fish bones, scales, and crayfish carapaces. Both freedom, and a sense of confidence. The succes parents incubate and feed the young. About sions of harsh rattles are also compared to the five to seven eggs are usually laid in the nest. whirring of a New Year’s noisemaker. After the young hatch, the parents take care of The kingfisher is a fairly recent bird on them for a month. Then they are on their own. Earth. Its fossil record goes back only to the Ice According to Greek mythology, king Age. Most kingfishers are not found in polar fishers built their nests on the water. The myth regions. They are found frequently in any water says that the daughter of Aeolus, god of winds, area containing small fish. They also dwell grieved over her dead husband so much, she along freshwater streams and lakes. The visit was turned into a kingfisher. Thereafter, Aeolus salt and brackish waters in the fall and winter. quieted the waves for a period each year so that Each month of the year the Belted Kingfisher is his daughter could build her nest upon the in Indiana. In the winter it might retreat to the water.

27 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville As one can see, the Belted Kingfisher is The Long-Eared Owl is nocturnal, quite a bird to study. It nests around the Wildcat meaning they spend the majority of their time in Creek and other habitats all over Indiana. the dark, and quiet during the day. They tend to roost near the trunk of the tree. Since they have By Casandra Liggin camouflage feathers, they blend right in with the Kokomo High School-Downtown Campus trees, and predators cannot easily see them. The camouflage also makes the Long-Eared Owl Biblography invisible to the prey that they are after. Some of these include rodents, reptiles, fish, insects and 1. Austin, L. Oliver, Birds of the Wild. New rarely amphibians. York: Golden Press., 1961. The Long-Eared Owl is a bird that is important in the environment, and should be 2. Cruckshanth,D. Allan, Birds of America. considered that way also. Canada: Dover Publications Inc., 1977 By Cyndi Williams 3. Keller E. Charles and Mumford E. Russell, Kokomo High School-Downtown Campus The Birds of Indiana. Indiana: University Press., 1984. Bibliography:

4. Starling, Alfred, Enjoying Indiana Birds. 1. Bull and Farrand, John, Jr. Audubon Society London: University Press., 1978. Field Guide to North American Birds; Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1977.

The Long-Eared Owl

The Long-Eared owl is a member of the Strigidae, or True Owls. It is a creature of the evergreen deciduous forest. In the case of the Wildcat Creek, they live in the trees along the creek. The Long-Eared Owl is about 15" long and about 39 inch width (including wing span). The owl is heavily mottled brown, with long ear tufts close together, and chestnut facial disks. It has a soft low hoot. It also whistles, whines, shrieks, and has cat-like meows. Most of which are not used except for breeding time. During the breeding time of the Long-Eared Owl, four to five eggs are laid in an of the trees. The courtship of the Long-Eared owl is when the male flies in erratic zigzags with slow wing beats, occasionally gliding and clapping wings together beneath the body. During the time of incubation of the eggs, the female sits on the egg while the male goes out and gather food to feed the mother, so she never has to leave the eggs open to predators.

28 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Crayfish Crayfish are nocturnal animals- taking in food and becoming active only at night. In some Crayfish, of the order Decapoda, are cases, like on cloudy days or in shady streams, freshwater crustaceans that include about 160 crayfish will come out in daylight, however. species. All crayfish belong to one of three Crayfish often construct burrows to live in that families: Astacidae, Austroastrae, or differ in complexity and range of size. The size Parasticidae. Crayfish are generally omnivorous of these burrows can be a few inches in length to predators and scavengers whose diet consists of more than 8-10 feet (Klots 160). The excess soil snails, insect larvae, worms, small fish, and from burrows is piled up around the entrance to many types of vegetation. This type of crusta form a chimney that can also reach a great cean is also a food source for frogs, turtles, fish, height. The mating season of the crayfish is wading birds, otter, mink, many types of fish, varied-some species mate throughout the year and raccoons. A crayfish can also be the host to while others mate only in fall. The fertilization many parasites- protozoa and algae grow upon of the female’s eggs is external and she often the crayfish and live in its gills and gill cham produces between 10 and 800 young (Caduto bers. Some crayfish are also an intermediate host 101), which she carries on abdominal append to, the lung fluke. The habitats of the crayfish ages for two to eighteen weeks. Crayfish young are generally freshwater ponds, streams, creeks, remain with their mothers until after completing lakes, and slow rivers where the water is less 2-3 molts, though most do not survive past their than five feet deep (Klots 160). Crayfish can, first year. however, also inhabit muddy ditches and banks Crayfish have a great economic and until winter or dry weather arrive; at that time ecological impact throughout the world. In the they burrow into the ground. United States- especially in the southern states The crayfish, being an invertebrate, has and the Mississippi basin- crayfish are con an exoskeleton, the color of which can range sumed as food and are vital to the crayfish from the usual greenish-brown to blue, pink, industry. Europeans also are fond of eating white, red, orange-red, black, or translucent. crayfish. Recreational fishers often bait their Many exoskeletons are often mottled. The lines with live crayfish. Crayfish however can exoskeleton of the crayfish has an obvious cause some problems. In the South, crayfish cervical groove across the carapace. The cara destroy sugar cane, grain, and cotton, and their pace is dorsally fused and the thoracic segments burrows clog machinery and interfere with dikes are fused to the carapace- forming the spined and dams. Their role in industry and the rostrum. Crayfish have stalked eyes for vision economy, however important, still does not and two antennae for the detection of odors. The compare to the importance of the crayfish to length of a crayfish is about 2 to 40 centimeters freshwater bodies like the Wildcat Creek, where (Grolier 321). Crayfish have ten legs which, if they consume decaying plant and animal materi lost, can regenerate after a succession of molts. als and are a source of food for higher organ The prominent front claws of the crayfish are isms. used for capturing prey or other food items. The gills needed for respiration in the crayfish are By Erin Elkins located on the ventral side. Crayfish are capable Kokomo High School- Downtown Campus of moving sideways, forward, and backward and can walk, swim, or climb. When threatened, crayfish swim with a vigorous downward tail stroke to allow for a fast escape.

Muskrats are just one type of animal that lives on the Wildcat Creek. The name Muskrats come from two words: rat and musk. The word rat describes what the animal looks like. The other word musk comes from the odor they give off during the breeding season and when mark ing their territory. Muskrats are furry North American animals that are good swimmers and builders. They build many different types of structures. Two of these Beavers include special ice huts in the winter and float ing dining rooms in the summer. When making The Wildcat creek spans for one-hundred these structures they often damage dikes and and eight miles across northern Indiana. This levees as they dig. water provides a nice home for beavers. Since Muskrats are the prey of many animals. beavers do inhabit the Wildcat creek people can These include; minks, raccoons, owls, hawks, benefit from knowing more about them. alligators, and many more. Diseases, too, kill The beaver is a rodent with a wide, flat great numbers of muskrats. The muskrat is able tail that looks like a paddle. It is known for its to survive due to its adaptability and the fact that skills at cutting down trees. The beaver then it reproduces faster and in greater numbers than uses the logs to build dams and lodges. It even other fur animals. uses the bark of the trees for food. Not only is muskrat fur important to The beaver’s size and feet separate it man; man also uses the scent glands and the from other rodents. North American beavers are meat of these animals. In the American perfume three to four feet long and can weigh up to industry the scent glands are used to make ninety-five pounds. This makes them the second perfumes and colognes. Muskrat meat is sold largest rodent in the world. The capybara from under the name “marsh rabbit” instead of musk South America is the largest. The beavers feet rat meat. The meat is used as a food source for are what allows them to swim so well. The front people. paws of a beaver end in five toes with long, thick claws used to dig up roots and bushes for By Kristin Frazer food. While swimming the beaver makes these Kokomo High School-Downtown Campus paws into fists and hold them against their chests. The back feet are what actually do the Biblography work while swimming. The beaver’s back feet are longer than the front ones and can be seven 1. Barker, W. Favorite Animals of North feet long. The toes of a beaver are webbed and America, N.Y.: Croun Publishers, 1987 work like flippers to help the animal swim and dive. 2. Dingwell, Laima. Muskrats: Grolier Educa After the beaver cuts the tree down it tion Corp., 1986 gnaws off the branches and then pushes the log in the water. Beavers hide some of the branches 3. Grzimek. Grzimek’s Animal Life Encyclope in the water to be used as food during the winter. dia, N.Y.: Jan Nostrand Reinhold, 1975 Other branches are used to build or repair dams. People who study beavers believe that cutting down trees is instinctive. They have

30 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville seen beavers cut down trees when there is plenty known as the Bugle Mouth Bass), and Long of food and no place to build a lodge. Whole nosed Sucker at about 12 to 20 inches. The families of beavers join together to build their smaller of the more common fish are the Long lodges. The beavers lodges and dams are built nosed Dace, Blacknosed Dace and Slimy of logs, branches and rocks. They use mud to Sculpin, all under 5 inches. The Longnosed hold all these things together to form their dams Dace and Blacknosed Dace are both minnow and lodges. like fish while the Slimy Sculpin is a voracious A female beaver carries her young for feeder of other fish. In the White River the three months before giving birth. The female Atlantic Salmon is currently under a restoration beaver only produces two to four young at a program and can only be found at up to 8 inches time. Most young beavers, or kits, are bom because the first generation of adult have not in April or May and are about fifteen inches long returned to spawn yet. It was killed off from the at birth. A kit stays with its family for about two White River in the 1800’s because of the many years before it is driven from the family group. dams that were built and it could not pass them. These are just a few facts about beavers. Now most dams are equipped with fish ladders Along the Wildcat Creek there are many other or other fish passage devices. interesting plants and animals to learn about. The Atlantic Salmon completes a very Knowing about these species make the creek a difficult journey during its life cycle. A female lot more fun. Salmon will lay around 500 to 900 eggs per pound of their body weight in a nest called a By Meredith Neidlinger redd. The female digs these redds with her tail. Kokomo High School-Downtown Campus Once the young salmon hatch they stay and feed in the river for about 3 years. After that they Biblography will swim out to sea and north toward Greenland. Once there, they will feed and a few 1. Long, Charles A. The World Book Encyclo years later they will return to the river in which pedia. Chicago. World Book., 1991. they were bom to spawn. This is what puzzles many people, how do the Salmon find their way 2. Parker, S. Mammal. N.Y. Knopf., 1989. back to where they were bom? The salmon may follow the stars or use the electrical impulses of 3. Tanner, Ogden. Beavers and Other Pond the Earth’s magnetic field as guidance. Ocean Dwellers. United States. Time-Life Films., 1968. currents and chemical memory may also be used to help navigate. To complete this project, many things The White River were done. Last year each student in our class wrote to different hatcheries or dams in different The White River is the home to many parts of New England. We received a great deal different fish, some of the most common are the: of information from their replies. Earlier this Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, year, while at the river, we also accidentally Atlantic Salmon, White Sucker, Longnosed caught a small fish with a net. We also went to Sucker, Slimy Sculpin, Longnosed Dace and the Bethel Fish Hatchery and received informa Blacknosed Dace. tion from the people working there. Information The largest of these fish is the Rainbow was also received from the Fish-Game center in Trout, it can grow to as large as three feet long. Rochester. About the same size as the Rainbow Trout is the Brook Trout and the Brown Trout. Slightly By Romko Stanchak smaller than these are the White Sucker (also Whitcomb High School

The Green-backed Heron is a bird that can be found near the Wildcat Creek. It is one of the many organisms that live near it. Those living near the creek would benefit by knowing more about this psychologically important bird. The Green-backed Heron is a crow-sized bird.Jts main habitats are lake margins, streams, ponds, and marshes. In these areas, the bird can be found nesting in bushes or in the brush on the ground. The Green-backed Heron can be distin guished form other birds by its size and coloring. As was said, it is a crow-sized bird. It is a small, dark heron with bright orange or yellowish legs. Its head and neck are chestnut and its crown is black with a small crest. Also, the Green-backed Heron’s back and wings are a dark green-grey. This heron is generally a carnivore. Its main diet consists of fish in the late summer Wildcat Creek. There are lots of other plants and with insects, both aquatic and terrestrial inverte animals that share this habitat Knowing about brates, and lower invertebrates supplementing these animals cart make it more exciting to this during other times. Most of its hunting is watch. done with a stalking and jabbing-type method. Nest sites for the Green-backed Heron By Torie Rothschild are varied. Nests are often found in trees about Kokomo High School-Downtown Campus 10 to 20 feet from the ground. Nests are also seen in different shrubs and large clumps of grass called tussocks. The nests are concealed and made of flat interwoven sticks in a platform style. Breeding in Green-backed Herons isn’t that different form that of other birds. Pairs are monogamous or they have the same partners through out life. The clutch size usually contains two to four eggs, although numbers up to seven have been found. The eggs are a light greenish color to a light green-blue and are about one and a half inches in length. Both parents incubate the eggs for a period of about 21 to 25 days. After hatching, the parents tend the young for another 34 to 35 days after which the chicks leave the nest, but are still dependent on the parents for a minimal amount of food. This is just some information about one of the species of birds that lives around the

32 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville The Wildcat Valley The first written history of Indiana was recorded by French Jesuit missionaries whose The Wildcat Valley is a meandering corridor mission it was to establish a Christian Indian nation of forest, water, and agricultural land, stretching from the tribes around the Great Lake area, including through Howard,Clinton, Carroll, and Tippecanoe the Shawnees, Miamis, Potowatamies, Delawares, counties, to the Wabash River at Lafayette. The and others. north, middle, and south forks of the Wildcat Creek The Wea and Shawnee Indian tribes had drain some 805 square miles of flat to gently rolling settlements near the Wildcat Creek, especially in the glacial plain. The region was formed as a result of Lafayette area. The Shawnees, one of the fiercest glacial advances and retreats; giaciers from Kansas, Indian tribes in the territory were continuously at war Illinois, and Wisconsin. These prehistoric glaciers against the Americans and the date back to nearly 750,000 years ago. British. Perhaps the best known historical event The vegetation of the Wildcat carries many along the Wildcat was the second battle of species of trees. Trees such as, silver maple, sy Tippecanoe, or Spur’s Defeat, in which 60 soldiers camore, cottonwood, redbud, willow, green and were lured into an ambush by the Indians. After the white ash, red oak, American elm, and the tulip war of 1812, the Shawnees sold their land to the poplar. Oaks beeches, maples, walnuts, and dog government and were moved west of the Mississippi woods are found on the upper ridges of the valley. River. The Wildcat Valley next became a part of the The lower ridges of the valley are comprised with “Big Reserve” which was held by the Miamis and wild raspberry, bladdemut, mulberry, and other included a Wea reservation. various species. Wildflowers also cover the banks of The Wildcat valley experienced French the Wildcat. Some flowers are bluebells, dutchman’s influence from the courier de bois (French or half- breeches, hepatica, bloodroot, trilliums, spring breed trapper) of Canada, who lived and traded with beauty, and violets. the local Indian tribes. Cabins and trails grew into Great blue herons, green herons, wood towns and roadways as trade increased in the Wildcat ducks, mallards, barred and great homed owls, red Creek area. Between 1829 and 1877 at least 12 mills tailed hawks, kestrels, and turkey buzzards are were built on the Wildcat forks, with some remaining different types of wildlife that exist in the creek’s today. Agriculture became the major industry of the valley. Mammals found along the Wildcat Creek valley and remains so today. include the fox, porcupine, beaver, mink, deer, woodchuck, muskrat, raccoon, and many other small By Aimee Patmore species. Different fish include bass, catfish, panfish, Kokomo High School-Downtown Campus and other game are found in the Wildcat waters. Humans entered the area after the retreat of Biblosraphy the glaciers about 10,000 to 15,000 years ago. These humans probably hunted ice-age mammals such as 1. Beckwith, H.,Knopf, 1975 the giant ground sloth, mastodons, and mammoths. The warm, dry climate of the Archaic period stimu 2. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources lated the advance of the pine forests and prairie December 1978 grasslands.

In the past few years, the Wildcat creek has become more and more polluted. “Do not eat fish” and “Danger — PCB’s” are popping up at an alarming rate. The reasons behind the pollu tion are because of carelessness, lack of respect, and just plain stupidity. On October 27,1987, a concerned citizen reported a “strange film” on the Wildcat Creek. After reporting it to the Kokomo Fire Department (KFD), he found out it was oil. To take care of the problem, the firemen laid thick absorbent pillows across the damaged area. Now former Fire chief Joe Granson had “ no idea where it came from”. Apparently, an unidentified person had been dumping the wastes in the creek. As a matter of fact, another man was caught dumping in the creek. The creek shore also serves as a mini-junkyard. People have adorned it with old tires, bicycles, old beds, shopping carts and plastic bags galore and even old vehicles. In many places, one can see the infamous “Do Not Eat Fish” signs. In 1991, The Kokomo and Wildcat creeks were on the contaminated fish list. The Indiana Health, Natural Resource keep our Indiana creeks clean and beautiful. and the Environment Management agencies advised not to eat the fish until more tests had By AnnaKaushal been run. Later it was found out that the fish Kokomo High School-Downtown Campus had been contaminated by PCB’s (polychlori nated biphenyls).The Indiana State Board of Bibligraphy Health recommends not to eat fish from Kokomo or Wildcat creeks, although the creeks 1. Wiethrop, Dave. “Local Creeks on Do Not are still safe for recreational uses. David Eat Fish List”. Kokomo Tribune; Indiana, McCarty said the PCB levels “are as high as we volume 140 No. 235 have found anywhere else in the state.” Before being banned in 1978, PCB’s 2. Wiethrop, Dave. “PCB’s Contaminate Local were used as coolants. They caused cancer in Fish”. Kokomo Tribune; Indiana, volume 139 laboratory animals and are linked to several No.35 human health problems. Once again, no one has any idea of where they had come from. 3. Bray, Dawn. “DNR Investigating Dumping in The newspapers have been filled with Creek.” Kokomo Tribune; Indiana, volume 140 these horror stories more and more. High levels No. 130 of DDT, PCB’s, not to mention junk adorn the creek shores. The only cure for this problem is 4. Reynolds Bryan. “Oil Seeping Into Wildcat”. people should start caring and make the effort to Kokomo Tribune volume 138 No.55

A COLLECTION OF HISTORICAL ARTICLES

"The River itself has no beginning or end. In its beginning, it is not yet the River: in its end, it is no longer the River. What we call the headwaters is only a selection from among the innumerable sources which flow together to compose it. At what point in its course does the Mississippi become what the Mississippi means?"

©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville A Historical View of Kokomo The Miami Indians called the river “Pi- je-wah-mo-ti,’’meaning “belly of the Wildcat.” Wildcat Creek, an 81 mile-long river that The French translated the name literally into flows through three counties in north central “Panse au Pichou,” sometimes calling it “Riviere Indiana actually doesn’t live up to its name. If Panse” or “a la Panse” on their early maps. you are walking along its banks you will not see Americans later rolled their tongues around any “Indiana bobcats” roaming its banks today, those unfamiliar French words and came out it is a slow stream for the most part, with a slope with “Ponceau Pichou,” then later simply “Wild from head to mouth of only a little less than four Cat Creek.” It was first written as two words, feet per mile, an average creditable for any now it is one. One local authority surmises that Indiana river. Winding through a region in the name might be connected with the famed history, however, its name is woven into the Miami chief John Richardville, who was also memories of many Hoosiers. known as “Peshewa,” or “The Wildcat.” The main branch of Wildcat Creek Howard County’s first log cabin was begins just north of West Liberty in southern built on the Wildcat ten miles west of Kokomo. Howard County, with the river assuming its own A flowing well still marks its location. The identity through the junction of Grassyfork history of the Kokomo is tied to the Wildcat. Creek and Middle Fork Ditch. The city’s first settler, David Foster, brought his It runs across the width of Howard family up the Wildcat to the high ground just County - skirting Greentown wandering through north of the river in 1842. Foster built a two Kokomo in a southwesterly direction, and room log cabin 200 feet below what is now the entering, Carrol County near Bloomington. intersection of Main and Superior streets, using Geologists say that much of the Wildcat’s course one room as a trading post and the other for his lies through thick deposits of gravel laid down family. He later donated 40 acres of land to by three successiveglaciers. In past times it Howard County, and built a log courthouse on probably flowed much more rapidly- there are the river bank. still several places over wide beds of limestone. Chief Kokomoko, of the Miami Indians Mound building Indians probably trav that the city is named after, is believed to have eled up the Wabash and the head waters of the been buried in an Indian cemetery on the north Wildcat where they established colonies in what bank of the Wildcat Creek, between Buckeye are now Howard and Tipton counties. Artifacts and Washington streets. in museums in this part of the state testify to Elwood Haynes’ famous automobile was their presence- articles such as the stone pestle built on the banks of the Wildcat in the old in the Howard County Museum at Kokomo, Riverside machine shop. The Apperson Auto which was found in southeastern Howard mobile factory was built on this site, home of the County. Apperson Jack Rabbits. The building is now With a stretch of good Hoosier immigration occupied by the Northern Indiana Supply Com it is easy to picture the French voyagers, Indians pany. and American soldiers who explored its banks in Kokomo’s Highland Park contains two the 1700’s and 1800’s. West of Burlington it objects connected with the history of the Wild runs through the rather sparsely inhabited, still cat. The covered bridge in the park originally heavily wooded territory. The early French spanned the river northeast of the city. The site found this ground more marshy, with thicker is now the reservoir dam. The old sycamore undergrowth and steeper bluffs, but there is still stump, believed to be the largest sycamore a quiet beauty along the Wildcat that suggests stump in the country, is from a tree that grew on earlier times. the north bank of the Wildcat on the New Lon don Road, southwest of Kokomo.

36 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville In conclusion, Kokomo has had its share The Indians knew of the great chief as of visitors from far off lands. The day that David ’’Wild Cat” that was given land in the area that is Foster decided to settle here he set forth a chain now known as Howard County that is the way of reactions that would eventually lead to the that they say that they got the name for the great forming of modem Kokomo. creek that ran through the Miami Indian Re serve. By Brian Ednie Kokomo High School-Downtown Campus By Bryan Snyder Kokomo High School-Downtown Campus Biblography Biblography 1. Leiter, Carl L. “Several Stories of Naming the Wildcat Creek Reviewed.” Kokomo Tribune. 1. Leiter, Carl “Wildcat Creek: More stories than October 15,1954 names for this historic waterway,” The Town

2. Leiter, Carl L. “Wildcat Creek: More stories 2. Leiter, Carl “Several Stories of Naming of than names for this historical waterway,” The Wildcat Creek Reviewed,” Kokomo Tribune: Town Crier: January 1966 p.4 October 1954.

3. Lane, Betty J. “Where the Wildcat wonders,” 3. Lane, Betty J. “Where the Wildcat Wanders,” Indianapolis Star, October 1964. Indianapolis Star: October 1964

4. Felkey, Lenard B...... 1990 How Did the Wildcat Get Its Name?

The name that is used today for the creek that runs through Howard County is the Wildcat Creek. This creek does not actually live up to its name though because you can’t actually see any “Indiana Bobcats” roaming the banks of the Wildcat. The most generally excepted version of how the Wildcat got its name is that wildcats frequented this area when the first settlers arrived in this area. Another widely accepted story about the way that the creek got its name is that it was named after the principal chief of the Miami Indians, John B. Richardville whose Indian name was Pe-che-wa meaning wildcat These Indians were predominant in this area at the beginning of the move west when settlers moved into Indiana. It has also been called the “River Pouextipecheaux”, “Pauceoupichoux”, and the “Pouceauichoux River.” It is thought that these were early attempts by early French writers and map makers to copy the name of the Miami Indian chief Pe-che-wah.

37 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville How the Wildcat got its Name white man as cruelly as the Miami were brave. In early Indian wars, the Miami were There are many different myths and enemies of the English and friends of the stories on how the Wildcat Creek got its name. French. Because the Indians disliked the White The most widely accepted version comes from man, they often murdered the defenseless pio the early settlers when they began to see Wild neer without regard to age, sex, or condition cats in the region they inhabited. Therefore, the with the most brutal and shocking savagery. Not settlers named the creek the Wildcat. only men, but helpless women and children were The French, who held reservations at the burned to death, or even cut to pieces in the most mouth of Wildcat, near Lafayette called the painful manner. stream “ River Powertupecheaux.” The Wildcat Rules followed in battle were quite odd. Creek has also been called the River St. Johns. One man never had absolute command of the Another story, a likely story, claims the Wildcat army. A council of officers made many of the was named after the principal chief of the Miami decisions. The ambush was a well known tribe, John B. Richardville, whose Indian name, method used by the Miami in battle. They went Pe-che-wa,was an Indian term meaning Wildcat. into battle stripped to the skin except for hip The Miami Indian tribe inhabited the area coverings and with their bodies painted with around the Wildcat for many years and had a horrible stripes of vermilion. They were disci great influence on the creek. plined to form a circle to surround their enemies. The Miami Indians were a powerful The Miami had special rules within the branch of the Algonquin tribe. John B. family. Infidelity of the wife, was punished by Richardville was the principal chief of the the clipping of the nose. The mother was the Miami tribe. Other famous leaders among the head of the family instead of the father, and she tribe were Francis LaFountaine, Chief Little passed her name on to her children. Polygamy Turtle, and Chief Francis Godfroy. Chief Little was practiced little, but some husbands had Turtle was known for his wise and constant more than one wife. The council women of each advise to his people. He was honored by the clan had their own way of painting their faces, president of the United States, George Washing and wore their own badge. All the planting and ton. Chief John Baptiste Richardville was also a harvesting was done by the women. Also, the well known and respected Miami leader. He was wigwam and everything in it belonged to the so well known that Richardville County was woman and when she died everything went to named after him her eldest daughter. The Miami was the most powerful The religion of the Miami was expressed confederacy in the West surpassing the Iroquois. in different ways. They worshipped the sun and They numbered at least three thousand. The thunder. They also believed in the Great Spirit, people of the Miami tribe were said to have a and the Master of Life, who made the world. very distinct look about them. The Miami men They had three different forms of burial. One were described as being of medium height, well- was the ordinary ground burial. The second was built, swift on foot, rather agreeable, and they a surface burial in a hollow log. The third was a had round heads. The men hardly wore any surface burial where in the body was covered coverings and had tattoos all over their bodies, with a small pen of logs, laid as in a log cabin. while the women were generally well covered in They had two principal totems, the elk and the deerskin. French explorers described them as crane, some even had the bear. They also cel being distinguished for polite manners, mild, ebrated six annual Thanksgivings. The first was affable, and sedate in character. Although the flowing of the maple sap, planting, the explorers said this about the Indians, the Miami ripening of the berries, when the green com were said to be fierce in battle. They treated the was ready for eating, at harvest, and at New

38 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Year. Life after death required the Miami to have weapons and a favorite dog buried with them for use in what they called “ the happy hunting grounds.” The Miami are an interesting Indian tribe with many unique customs and traditions. These people had a huge effect on the regions they inhabited, especially the Wildcat Creek. The Miami Indians were such a popular tribe, they deserved to have a river named after them.

By Casandra Liggin Kokomo High School-Downtown Campus

Biblography

1. Blanchard, Charles. “ Miami Indians 1883.” History of Howardand Tipton Counties: 1976. p.5-8.

2. Fawbush, A. Wilma. “ Miami Indians.” Indians in Howard County, V.4: July 26, 1968.

3. Leiter, C.R. “ Several Stories of Naming of Wildcat Creek Reviewed.” Kokomo Tribune: Oct. 14,1954.

4. Leiter, C.R. Wildcat Creek “ More Stories Than Names For This Historic Waterway.” Town Crier: Jan. 7,1966.

5. Miller, Charlotte; Settle, Carolyn; Kar, Charlone; Morris,Gail. “ Miami Indians.” A Study of Kokomo, V.l: June 21,1965.

6. Mooney, James; Thomas,Cyrus.” The Miami Indians.” Bureau of American Ethnology: Dec. 1951 ......

©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville the gathering of some foods, such as wild rice, and the hunting of buffalo, elk, bear, deer, and beaver supplemented their diet (Quimby 154). In food gathering, labor was divided among the sexes-women farmed and harvested the squash, beans, and com and gathered while the men cleared the land and hunted. Unified leadership of the Miami as a tribe did not occur, instead, individual chiefs led bands of Miami. However, even in the absence of a unified government, the Miami became one of the largest and most influential tribes of the 18th century Ohio Valley. The religion of the Miami consisted of the worship of many gods with the most dominant being the sun god. The religious system of the Miami also included a unique belief in the potential for good and evil in all objects- a tenet not found in other faiths in the area. The summer villages of the Miami were The Native American Cultures made up of groups of wigwams. These dwell of the Wildcat Creek ings were mat-covered and of a sapling frame. The winter camps consisted of temporary tents. The Wildcat Creek has been home to Both Miami men and women wore clothing vast multitudes of plant and animal life and has woven from dyed buffalo hair and plant fibers. seen the passing of the peoples and cultures who Both sexes wore moccasins, leggings, and robes once inhabited it. Three of these such people of buffalo or elk in the winter. Men’s summer were Native Americans- the Miami, the clothing included breechcloths and women’s Potawatomi, and the Delaware. Prior to the skirts and dresses made of elk or buffalo. Miami European discovery of the Wildcat, these Native clothing was often ornamented with shell pen Americans interacted with and depended upon dants, beads, feathers and down. the Creek on a daily basis. Their rich history and Transportation of the Miami was mainly importance to the past and future of the Wildcat done by foot- with women carrying the burdens. Creek is their greatest legacy. Dugout canoes were used on some occasions, The Miami, or Twatwa, were an but eventually proved too primitive in the days Algonquin speaking people who originated in of fur trading and were abandoned in favor of northern Indiana and Illinois (Grolier 432). The the birch bark canoes of the Potawatomi. Miami eventually migrated to southeastern The variations and complexities of the Wisconsin, southwestern Michigan and parts of utensils implemented by the Miami were indica Ohio as a result of Iroquois attacks (Quimby tive of the high level of their culture. To grind 46); it was not until the early 1700’s that they com into meal, women used stone mortars and returned to Indiana and Illinois (Grolier432). pestles. Ladles and spoons for the cooking of The life-style of the Miami was semi- food were made from mussel shells. Other bowls sedentary with summers spent in large, settled and containers were made from rawhide or villages and winters in hunting camps (Quimby wood. Weapons used by men in hunting in 46). A horticultural people, their sustenance cluded spears, wooden clubs, and bows and consisted primarily of summer yields, however, arrows

40 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with chipped flint points. For sewing, weaving, Michigan to dominate the Chicago and southern and preparing hides, women used bone needles Michigan areas (Clifton 25). The motivation for and awls, weaving tools of bone, flint drills, and this movement was the attacks of the knives. Fire-making utensils were wooden drills Potawatomi by the Iroquois; the movement which, when rubbed, resulted in the friction resulted in the formation of two Potawatomi necessary for fire. Another object used by the groups- those who moved to the Illinois prairie Miami for religious purposes was the sacred and those who remained in Michigan and Wis medicine bundles possessed by families and consin. This migration eventually allowed the certain Individuals. These bundles contained Potawatomi to gain power and increase in fossils, shells, quartz crystals, bird feathers, numbers. charms, amulets, and carvings. As a result of the Potawatomi’s move In religious ceremonies, the Miami often ment away from their homeland, they came in used musical instruments. Such instruments contact with more advanced cultures. From their included flutes, rattles, drums, whistles, and neighbors, the Potawatomi learned a technique rasps. The Miami burial of the dead was often that drastically altered their life-styles- agricul complex and involved, burying the dead in ture. Prior to this discovery, the Potawatomi had shallow graves lined with bark or canoe pieces. a hunting/gathering society in which men hunted Tools, utensils, food, weapons, ornaments, and bear, elk, and buffalo and the women gathered tobacco were often included in the grave. berries, nuts, etc. Farming, done by the women, After contact with European settlers, the created food surpluses that increased the wealth Miami continued to play an important part in the of the Potawatomi and allowed for the adoption Ohio Valley until the end of the War of 1812 of a stable, non-nomadic life-styles. Village size (Grolier 236). At that time, the United States grew and new social structures then emerged. government gained control of Miami holdings, With this change, the Potawatomi became a tribe which forced the Miami to migrate to Kansas with a dozen permanent settlements and regu and, after 1840, to Oklahoma. The few thousand larly occurring activities. The leadership of the remaining Miami live in Oklahoma and Indiana tribe was then given to the Wkamek, or council today (Grolier 236). of elders, who equally represented a village or The Miami culture and the Miami them clan. selves played an important role in the history of The social structure of the Potawatomi Kokomo, where a Miami village was once was dependent upon numerous clans and located. Kokomo’s namesake, Chief Kokomo, a kinships that played an important role in Miami Indian, lived along the Wildcat Creek Potawatomi politics and life. Marriages in and reportedly spent the majority of his time Potawatomi cultures were arranged by fathers fishing there (Blanchard 13). and polygamy was common. One of the most The Potawatomi, like the Miami, were important facets of the Potawatomi religion was also an Algonquin speaking people. The the individual’s acquirement of amanito or Potawatomi, who, prior to 1500 AD, resided guardian. This was obtained through dreaming north of Lakes Superior and Huron, had a and fasting. Religion also centered on a “Great culture, language, and social structure that Spirit”, a god of the sun, fire, sea, four direc closely resembled that of the Ottawa. The tions, and supernatural powers. Celebrations of migration of the Potawatomi from Michigan religion and of the manito’s powers were shown into, eventually, northern Indiana has been well- by sacred clan bundles, medicine bundles, recorded. It is known that, by 1634, tiie society bags, charms, ceremonies, rituals involv Potawatomi had moved into northeastern Wis ing dancing to rattles, drums, and whistles, and consin; by 1700, the Potawatomi had moved the eating of specially-bred dogs (Quimby 131). southward along the Wisconsin side of Lake Clothing of the Potawatomi men and

41 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville women was made from tanned animal furs and fired on the Potawatomi and, by the end of the skins. Men generally wore leggings, breech- 1640’s, they had been forced to leave their cloths, garters, shirts, belts, feathers, and hats villages in southern Michigan for northeastern while women wore shirts, skirts, and leggings. Wisconsin. By 1812, with the aid of European Before contact with Europeans, clothing was horses, the Potawatomi had expanded into embroidered with dyed moose hair and porcu Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. In pine quills. the 1830’s, the tribes were divided when the Potawatomi villages were located near or United States took control of the Great Lakes adjacent to waterways. Dwellings were dome region. With their land taken, the Potawatomi shaped wigwams constructed of mat-covered separated and moved northward into Michigan, saplings. Other forms included bark-covered Wisconsin, and Ontario, while others moved houses similar to those of the Huron. In these westward into Kansas, Oklahoma, and Iowa. By dwellings, woven mats served as beds and 1989 estimates, the Potawatomi number 6,350 chairs. Utensils included wooden pestles and today (Grolier 155). mortars for grinding com, woven bags, wooden The Delaware, or the Lenni Lenape, ladles and bowls, pottery jars made from tem were a tribe of the Algonquin family who origi pered clay, and trunks and boxes of rawhide, as nated in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, well as numerous baskets. Fish were caught with and Delaware and eventually expanded to settle nets, spears, and hook and line. Tools were flint the White River (Blanchard 22). The Delaware, scrapers and knives, bone needles, drills, flesh who are known as the “grandfathers” of the ing tools, weaving instruments and wooden fire Algonquin language (Red Record 30), were making drills. divided into three major groups: the Unami, the The summer transportation of the Unalachtigo, and the Mumsee. Potawatomi was by intricate birch bark canoes The Lenni Lenape- “the People”- lived in that eventually gave them advantage over neigh a confederation of villages and towns. The boring tribes in the fur trade. In winter, tobog Delaware stayed in permanent settlements in the gans and snowshoes were implemented. summer and hunted buffalo on the prairie in Potawatomi games included cup and pin, hoop winter. A horticultural people with some hunt and dart, dice and bowl, cat’s cradle, lacrosse, ing/gathering aspects, the division of labor archery, and straw games. among the sexes was equal. Women planted, The burial of the Potawatomi dead protected and harvested crops of beans, com, involved ceremonies that occurred after the body squash and tobacco, tended fields, and owned had been left on a scaffold for an extended household products. Men generally hunted and period of time; in some instances the dead were cleared fields. The life of the Lenni Lenape was cremated. affected by the seasons. In spring fish and fruits The Potawatomi’s first contact with were gathered, and bear and deer were hunted. Europeans came in 1634 when a French trader/ In summer, the Delaware gathered sea food and diplomat happened upon them near Green Bay, shells for food while garden plots were prepared Wisconsin (Clifton 20). For many years, the and crops planted. Hunting, trading, and visiting tribe had no further contact with the French or also occurred at this time. In the fall, group others. Their next involvement came when the hunts, gatherings and harvesting occurred. In Potawatomi, with the aid of their birch bark winter, the Lenni Lenape stayed indoors, made canoes, skillfully adapted to the fur trade with clothing, and listened to the stories of their early settlers. The Potawatomi went on to nego elders. tiate more treaties with the Americans and the The government of the Lenni Lenape British than any other Native American tribe was democratic and made up of councils and (Grolier 155). However, the treaties often back chiefs. Clan and village chiefs also were repre-

42 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville sented. The dwellings of the Delaware were It Will Survive wigwams covered with woven reed mats. Men’s summer clothing consisted of breechcloths and “If it has strong roots, it will survive.” My moccasins; in winter buffalo robes, and deer or pappy always told me that about the big Sy elk skin shirts were added. Women wore mocca camore tree in my backyard. I grew up on a sins, leggings, and elk skin or deerskin dresses large farm on the Wildcat Creek in New London in winter and moccasins and skirts in summer. near a large Sycamore tree. The tree was very The robes and clothing were decorated with sacred to my family. Every evening we had painted designs, embroidery, beads, and quills. family meetings under its tall, welcoming For transportation, there was a limited branches. My favorite memory of the tree was use of dugout canoes by the Delaware, but with my older brother. He always used to beat walking was the dominant mode. In Delaware me up as a kid. I don’t know if it was jealousy or politics, influential family ties were often a pure hatred, but on that late September evening, determining factor in decision making. Lineage my animosity for Bubby dissipated, and I truly and family ties were passed through the maternal believe that it was the magnificent and over line. In religious celebrations, the Delaware’s whelming power of the tree that brought us central holiday was the Gamwing ceremony. In together. this ritual, dancing and other activities were Early one spring, there was a severe done in order to, as they believed, maintain the storm. The rolling thunder was boisterous and heavens. Also, thanksgiving prayers, visions, scary, and I curled up in a comer with my and dream-sharing were also experienced. This tattered baby blanket cozily wrapped around my event took place in a special lodge where the small body. As the sky was lit with conglomera connection between earth and sky was repre tions of electricity and I quietly whimpered, my sented. pappy approached. By 1682, the majority of Delaware lands “What’s a matter, punkin?” Pappy had been colonized by the Iroquois and by 1720, inquired. the Iroquois League controlled their remaining As I looked out the window at the old homelands (Grolier 67)- forcing the Delaware tree, I replied, “Looky, Pappy. That storm’s westward into Ohio. There the Lenni Lenape gonna bust up my tree!” allied themselves with the Shawnee and “Naw,” Pappy answered. ‘That there Wyandot to resist European expansion until storm’s just a testing that tree’s strength. Now again forced to cede their Ohio holdings to the you listen up, and stop yore cryin’. That tree’s United States in 1795 under the Treaty of got strong roots, and it will survive.” Greenville (Grolier 67). From there, the Lenni I wanted to believe Pappy so badly that I Lenape scattered in groups across Missouri, could feel my heart beat in each nostril. I loved Arkansas, Texas, Ontario, and Ohio. In the that tree with all of my heart, soul, and mind. 1980’s the affiliated bands of the Delaware And at the ripe age of five years, that’s a lot of numbered 11,000 (Grolier Encyclopedia 67). love! In conclusion, the Native American As they did each Easter Season, my people and cultures who once lived upon the Pappy’s family visited our family. The tradition Wildcat were diverse and add an important facet was that all of the kids collected and saved eggs to the overall history and importance of the all through the spring, and come time for Easter Wildcat Creek. morning, everyone gathered around my big Sycamore tree and roasted eggs. It was the time By Erin Elkins for a great celebration. But, there was one flaw Kokomo High School-Downtown Campus in our occasion that year. My pappy and uncles were careless and didn’t get the fire smothered.

43 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville We had left home for three days to see my It is said that the Old Sycamore Tree stood family off, and when we returned, I found that almost 100 feet high! How was that estimation there was a huge, ferocious fire in my tree! uncovered? It probably happened something like A few days passed and the fire was this extinguished. After careful inspection of my “Say Zeke, that’s a right smart-sized tree, I asked Pappy what was going to happen to sycamore back there on the crick. How tall y’ my tree. think she be?” Pappy said, “That tree has strong roots “Don’t rightly know, Zeb. Reckon she be and it wiirsurvive.” Boy was I relieved. a 100 feet.” Years passed and I still went out back to The tree was fifty-one feet in diameter visit my tree often. It knew everything about me. and the lowest branch was eight feet in diameter. My first day of school, my first boyfriend, my There are different approximations of how old first date, my first kiss... the tree was. Some experts say that it was 1500 As time went on, my tree became years old while others say it was only 800 or less everyone’s tree! It was the largest of its kind. years old. The reasons for the discrepancies is What used to be our family meeting place was that it is difficult to measure how many inches now famous. Of course, my tree wasn’t much of per year the diameter of the sycamore of the tree a tree anymore. It was very weak, and the next grows. If the tree grew at an annual rate of 1/2 storm after the fire, it tumbled to a stump. And inch per year, then the tree’s diameter of 217 when they took my tree away, I cried. But I inches would prove that the tree was 434 years remembered what my pappy used to say, “That old. But, because the top of the tree was de tree has strong roots, and it will survive. “ Only stroyed, the growth rate decreased for about the from my pappy’s words was I able to let my tree last 150 years of growth. Therefore the tree go. Now it sits at Highland Park, and I still go would be over 500 years old .Moreover, if the there as much as I can to see my tree survive. annual growth rate was less than 1/2 inch per year, the tree would be over 800 years old. By Jennifer L. Heronemus In 1915, a catastrophic storm destroyed Kokomo High School Downtown Campus the upper portion on the tree. And the 100 foot tree became a 12 foot stump. (4) Ordinarily, the Biblography stumps were a problem to the pioneer farmers. They usually tried to grub the smaller stumps 1. Armstrong, Charlotte. Kokomo History, 1971. and bum out the larger ones. However, those p. 25-27. farmers knew a “prize stump when they saw one. When they came upon this stump, their conversation probably went something like this: Sycamore “Glory, what a stump! This must be the largest stump in Indiana! Lets save it!” And they The sycamore tree, also known as the did. “American Plaintree,” is very prominent along It was Jacob Bergman who first sug stream banks and edges of lakes. The tree is gested bringing the stump to Highland Park as a noted for its bright green, oval-shaped, 3-5 lobed relic of the past. He hired Henry and Ed Ortman leaves, and especially for its green-brown bark to conquer the task of removing the stump and that peels off in rectangular strips. It bears the transporting it to Highland Park at its highest fruit of a nubby brown ball, one inch in. diam point. The tree stood so close to the creek that eter. The sycamore tree grows to be between 60 the men assigned to the job of sawing off the and 80 feet tall. However, there is always an stump had to stand in water several inches deep. exception to the rules. To accomplish the removal of the stump, a man

44 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville was hoisted to the top of a fifteen foot snag and Indiana. Later it was learned that a “broadleafed lowered into the huge hollow. A small whole sycamore” claimed to be the largest in the world. was knocked through the side, a cross cut saw Since Howard County’s sycamore was at least inserted, and the shell was diligently cut through five feet bigger in circumference, it was then at the water’s edge. decided that it must be the largest in the world. June 18,1916 was the big moving day. The stump was so large it almost entirely By Jennifer Lynn Heronemus blocked the road. Because of its size, a route had Kokomo High School Downtown Campus to be planned with no obstruction to the stump’s width or height. It was Jacob Bergman who outlined the route that was to be brought in on the Jefferson Street Pike to the first road west of How Exactly Did The Wildcat Get Its Name? the “new boulevard,” the south to the Sycamore Road which would be taken east to the There have been many questions con “Conwell” Road, since the County Superinten cerning the naming of the Wildcat Creek. dent of Highways would not allow the tractor Though people do know that the Wildcat Creek engine on the new boulevard. At the Conwell was an accepted name by 1826 because “Scott’s Road the movers would go south, crossing Gazetteer of Indiana,” published in 1826, refers Wildcat Creek at the Chaffin Bridge, a concrete to the stream as the Wildcat. arch with no super-structure to interfere with the The most commonly accepted version is that fifteen foot high stump. At the Junction School, many wildcats inhabited this area, when setters they were to turn east and enter the park by ways first came into the region, therefore the name of “Alto Pike.” Next, they came directly east on “Wildcat” was given to the stream. Jefferson Road to the Wallace School comer and Another story is that the stream was then into the park. named after John B. Richardville, chief of the Of course, a job like this couldn’t have Miami tribe, or known as Pe-che- wa, which is been done without its moments. Once, while the the Indian term meaning wildcat. Both the towns 21 ton load was being pulled by the Ortman Russiaville and Howard County were once boys’ 35 horsepower Rumley engine, the huge named “Richardville” in his honor, so it was chain that was tackled to the stump snapped, and only considerate to name the stream after him, the load wavered for a moment At the time, it but later both towns changed their names. appeared that the stump would careen down the There is ,though, some evidence that bluff and into the Wildcat. This event halted the proves both these stories could be false. It is work until the next day. known that the waterway was given the name Upon arrival to the park on Monday, “Wildcat” many years before any setters had June 19,1916, the stump was placed on the hunted in the area, and as much as twenty years cement slab that was pre-prepared for its new before the towns had been named after the old inhabitant on what was said to be the highest Indian chief, who was prominent more between point in Kokomo where it stayed for quite some 1840 and 1845 rather than the time the creek time. received its name. During the depression, the WPA in There are still some more possibilities to stalled a facility in the stump for small animals. how the Wildcat Creek got its name. One story Following that, visitors were permitted to see the ,in an early Muncie newspaper, explained that great wonder. However, after a spell, it began to the general contour of the stream resembled the look more like a totem pole than a stump. soft underbelly of the wildcat. The sycamore stump was first pro Another possibility for the naming of the claimed to be the biggest tree of its kind in stream came about through many legends of the

45 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Miami tribe. Some old account books were Schoolcraft found dating back to the 1830’s and in them was an interview with Peter Godfroy, chief of the The Mississippi River travels more tribe at the time, who said,” Wah-pee-seath, this degrees in latitude than any other river in is Chief Wild Cat He had a section of land in America. The beginning of this mighty river was Huntington, granted by the general government. discovered by Henry R. Schoolcraft, a writer and The Wild Cat Creek through Kokomo, is named mineralogist. He named this source Lake Itasca, for him.” from the Latin words Veritas and Caput, mean Thè Wildcat has also been known by ing truth and head. He got these words from one different names in the past Half-breeds of of his many traveling companions, Rev. William French and Indian extraction, who held reserva Boutwell. tions at the mouth of the Wildcat near Lafayette, One of Schoolcraft’s most important referred to the stream as the “River expeditions was with Lewis Cass, a Governor Pouextirpecheaux.” The Saint Mary’s Treaty of from Michigan Territory. Cass’s travels began in 1818 refers to the stream as a river called 1820 and were to lead to the source of the “Pauceoupichoux.” These may be English Mississippi River. The body of water they attempts at the French term meaning wildcat found, later to be named Lake Cassina, was These are some of the many stories thought to have been the source, but Schoolcraft behind the naming of the Wildcat Creek. But thought otherwise. He soon discovered he was you can take your pick which story to believe right from Indians at Lake Cassina who told him for we may never know for sure how the name the true source was Lac La Biche. came to be. Schoolcraft was so influenced by his expeditions with Cass that he later traveled on By Kara Minor his own. His original mission in 1832 was to Kokomo High School-Downtown Campus make peace with the Indians in the Mississippi River Valley, 12 years after his journey with Biblography Cass. He started on June 7th in a city called Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, with a Chippewa 1. Leiter, C.R. “Several Stories of Naming of Indian named Ozawindib. Together they made Wildcat Creek the long trip to the source. They arrived at Lake Itasca on July 2. Reviewed.” Kokomo Tribune: October 14, 13,1832. Schoolcraft’s reaction to seeing his 1954. goal was, “...we got the first glimpse of the glittering nymph we had been pursuing.” The outlet of the source was 10 to 12 feet broad and only 12 to 18 inches deep. This great source is 1500 feet above sea level and flows 2348 miles to the gulf of Mexico. Although they spent only a couple of hours there, Schoolcraft and Ozawindib erected a flag to commemorate this big discovery. Schoolcraft’s journey home began on July 16,1832, as he headed for Cassina Lake and Fort Snelling. It was here that he announced that Lake Itasca could be put on the Minnesota map. Schoolcraft’s first document of this discovery was published in 1834 and was called Narrative

46 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville of an Expedition Through the Upper Mississippi sippi. East Lansing: Michigan State University to Itasca Lake. It was through this book that the Press, 1958. world read details on Lake Itasca. The first state park at Lake Itasca was 10. Parfit, Michael. “Water” National Geo purchased in 1889 to protect the surrounding graphic Special Edition: Water November 1993: area. It is here where the source is preserved to 5-119. look much like it did when Schoolcraft landed his canoe over a century and a half ago. So as 11. Schoolcraft, H.R. Travels Through the you can see, this small body of water amounted Northwestern Regions of the United States. Ann to a huge discovery. Arbor University Microfilms Inc., 1966.

By Ann DeLarco and Jessica Noller 12. Swenson, Sarah. Personal Interview, 27 Anoka High School December, 1993.

Bibliography:

1. Blegen, T.C. Minnesota a History of the State. Canada: Bums and MacEachem Limited, Don Mills, Ontario, 1963.

2. Davenport, Don. Fodor’s the Upper Great Lakes Region. New York: Fodor’s Travel Publications Inc., 1991.

3. Dobie, John. The Itasca Story. Minneapolis: Ross and Haines Inc., 1959.

4. Folwell, W.W. A History of Minnesota Volume 1. St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Soci ety, 1956.

5. Folwell, W.W. A History of Minnesota Volume 4. St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Soci ety, 1969.

6. Heilbron, B.L. The Thirty-second State. St. Paul- Minnesota Historical Society, 1966.

7. Holmquist, J.D. Minnesota’s Major Historic Sites. A Guide . St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society, 1963.

8. Lass, W.E. Minnesota A History. New York: W.W. Norton and Co. Inc. 1977

9. Mason, P.P. Schoolcraft’s Expedition to Lake Itasca the Discovery of the Source of the Missis-

47 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Mississippi Bridges operation. The cost was five cents for foot passengers and the average toll collection per Imagine life in today’s society without day was fifty dollars. After twenty years of hard bridges. Just to travel from Anoka, Minnesota, use by the people, the bridge needed to be in a car over the river, a person would have to replaced. The First Suspension Bridge on the travel all the way up to the Headwaters, Lake Mississippi has been replaced and rebuilt three Itasca, around Lake Itasca, and back down again times in the past one hundred and fifty years and along the Mississippi River. The same was true is presently called the Hennepin Avenue Sus a hundred and fifty years ago. Crossing the river pension Bridge. was avery difficult task day after day before a Moving north about twenty miles along bridge was built. But in the mid-1800’s bridges the river, another major bridge was built in began being built. One of the beginning places Anoka. The first bridge to cross the Mississippi for bridges was on the Mississippi River, in the in Anoka was the Swing Bridge in 1884. This Minneapolis and St. Paul area. Bridges are bridge has a middle section that swung open to some of the more spectacular pieces of architec let boat traffic through on the river. This Swing ture on the river. Some examples are the First Bridge served its purpose during the late 1800’s Suspension Bridge and the Anoka-Champlin and early 1900’s, but it could not stand the test Bridge. of time. Being built with wood planks, the About a hundred and fifty years ago in Swing Bridge eventually needed to be replaced. Minneapolis, Minnesota, a major historic event In 1929 a new bridge was built in the old occurred on the Mississippi River. It was the Swing Bridge’s place. The Anoka-Champlin opening of the First Suspension Bridge to span Bridge, which is nine-hundred feet long and across the Mississippi River. A suspension forty feet wide, was built by the Minneapolis bridge is one that has all of its support from the Bridge Company. The new bridge was terrific banks of the river and the bridge is suspended for the people because it was wider and more over the river water. people could commute over the river water The owner of the most shares in the faster. Mr. Louis Laundry, who was the first bridge was the entrepreneur, Franklin Steele, a man to cross the old bridge of 1884, was also the frontier business man who came to Minnesota in first man to cross the new bridge in 1929 1837. Franklin Steele appointed engineer, Since the boundary line for the land Thomas M. Griffith, who built and designed the between Hennepin and Anoka County was right First Suspension Bridge. The builders believed down the middle of the river, half of the bridge that a suspension bridge would be the best was owned by Hennepin County while the other bridge to build over the river because a bridge half was owned by Anoka County. The only with piers to support it could not stand against problem with this was the lighting. The the millions of logs that came floating down the Hennepin County side was in utter darkness and river each spring for the logging industry. the only light was from the moon. The two The First Suspension Bridge opened counties finally decided the light bill would be January 23,1855 with a grand celebration. The split fifty-fifty, but the Hennepin County side first to cross the bridge were ‘“the gentlemen of had no money, so Anoka County only kept half the press and their ladies.’” The people of the of the bridge lit. town joined in a parade with a big brass band The historic Anoka-Champlin Bridge and a cannon boomed as they marched across gave the community a great sense of pride and the bridge to Minneapolis. provides a vital link between the two growing The First Suspension Bridge once was an cities. operating toll bridge. Its toll-keeper, Captain Today many commuters of the river do John Trapper, used to run the old ferry boat not even realize they are crossing a bridge. In

48 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville fact, one historian states, Bridges are some of 8. Svendsen, Gustav Rolf. Hennepin County the more expensive necessities in a community, History. Minneapolis Hennepin County His but they go largely unnoticed, except during torical Society, 1976. times of construction and dedication. However, back in the 1850’s the bridge was the symbol of 9. Thurston, Harlan. Life in Anoka. Anoka: importance which gave the people of the city a Anoka Historical Society, 1972. great sense of pride in their own community. It announced to newcomers, Hey, we are a good 10. Wiggins, David. Personal interview. 23 town and our community has made progress by December 1993. building a bridge! The First Suspension Bridge and the Anoka-Champlin Bridge not only helped to bring separate communities together as one but also gave the commuters who cross the river an appreciation for bridges, especially those The Amphitheatre crossing the mighty Mississippi. Once upon a time there was this little By Beth Anderson boy who was skipping across the Anoka walking Anoka High School bridge with a huge lollypop in his hand. When he got to the edge of the bridge he noticed References: something he had never seen before. It was a large stone structure that resembled a wide 1. Anoka Champlin Bridge. [Anoka Historical staircase. The structure was very distorted, but Society]: n.p., 1936. something about it seemed powerful, even magical. The boy looked in on this structure 2. Before the Bridges Were Built.o Editorial. with renewed anticipation for knowledge of its Blaine-Spring Lake Park Life 25 June 1976, sec. past. 6: 2. It all began with a man named Thaddeus Giddings. Thaddeus was a composer who lived 3. Chandler, D.C. Champlin on the Mississippi. next to where the corroded amphitheatre now Minneapolis: Champlin Bicentennial Historical stands. He regarded the natural slope of the land Projects Inc., 1979. to be a perfect site for an amphitheatre. Thaddeus wanted a place to play his music. So, 4. Daugherty, Patrik. Saint Anthony Falls in 1914 he started to build the amphitheatre. He Rediscovered. Minneapolis: Minneapolis convinced some of his friends to help fund the Riverfront Development Coordination Board, operation which made it possible to build. 1980. The amphitheatre was designed by William Purcell. William took a trip to Rome to 5. First Suspension Bridge. [Minneapolis Public take a look at the amphitheatres they had built Library]: n..p., n.d. and to take a look at the architecture of the Coliseum. Purcell designed the amphitheatre the 6. Hennepin Avenues Bridge Over the Missis same way the Greeks had designed the Coli sippi River. Preliminaiy Case Report. Minne seum. sota: Hennepin County Department of Trans With the construction of the portation, 1982. amphitheatre complete, the city of Anoka de cided to appoint a park board to establish and 7. Ruby, Homer. Telephone interview. 14 maintain city parks. The amphitheatre became December 1993. part of the first park in Anoka. They called it

49 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Windego Park. A “Windego” is an Indian Spirit ment on the Rum River makes it even more that would hop across the tree tops. special. It shouldn’t be wasted. There were many uses for the amphitheatre. They used it for amateur plays, By Derek Baarsch and Joel Dehn pageants, operettas, community meetings, Anoka High School bazaars, bake sales, outdoor moving picture shows, community sing-a-longs, rural high Biblography school graduations, and even weddings. Windego park had become the place to go on a 1. “Anoka amphitheater status under debate.” Friday night until the invention of television. By Star Tribune 25 August 1983. the mid 40’s the crowds were totally gone and the amphitheatre forgotten. In 1952 a flood 2. “City wants amphitheatre off list.” Anoka knocked out the walk bridge across the Rum County Union 11 November 1983. River. With the loss of the walk bridge, they weren’t able to book performers anymore. 3. “City wants amphitheatre report.” Anoka The amphitheatre was under great debate County Union 6 June 1980. by the city in the 70’s and 80’s. In 1978 the Park and Recreation Director deemed the 4. Courtesy of Anoka Historical Society. amphitheatre to be hazardous and put a chain link fence around it. In 1979 the city council 5. Thanks to Paul Pierce the Third. wanted the amphitheatre off the National His toric Register. This decision was overruled by both state and local Historic Societies. In 1980 Paul Pierce the Third attracted more than 150 people to clean up the James J. Hill Stone Arch Bridge amphitheatre. Paul Pierce is an Anokan with considerable interest in the amphitheatre. En Have you ever thought about how hard it couraged by the interest, Paul started to draft a was to cross the Mississippi River 150 years renovation plan to restore the amphitheatre. Paul ago, even though most people do it every day? got in contact with a vo-tech concrete school. People had to drive through the river on their The vo-tech school said that they would be more weak wagons and risk losing supplies, or even than happy to work on the amphitheatre for lives! The Stone Arch Bridge helped develop practice. Paul then brought his proposal to the bridges in Minnesota and elsewhere, unlike any city council. The council turned down his pro other place on the River. posal. In 1983 the city made plans for the new One of the most famous bridges that rests foot bridge to be built. Two months later the upon the Mississippi River is the James J. Hill amphitheatre was removed from the National Stone Arch Bridge. An arch bridge is the type Register of Historic Sites. that pushes hard against its ends and requires a After being forgotten since the early firm foundation for proper support. Arch 80’s, the amphitheatre has become a home for bridges usually work best for railroad bridges, beer cans and shrubs. There is still a flicker of which was what the Stone Arch Bridge origi hope to the campaign for the restoration of the nally was. amphitheatre. When we interviewed Paul Pierce The Minneapolis Union Railway Com the Third he said, “I’m still feeling young. I may pany was formed to construct a down town start something again. Who knows?” We hope railroad depot and a pathway link from Minne that “Something” will start because the apolis to St. Paul. A man who was already a amphitheatre is a great structure and its place well known Minnesota figure and heavily

50 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville involved in the railroad industry was elected was part of the “city beautiful movement,” president. His name was James J. Hill. The which was a period where Minneapolis and St. chief engineer was Colonel Charles Smith, and a Paul turned the city more stylish instead of so contract was made with Edward Darragh and industrial. Michael Haviland to construct the bridge. The City officials and citizens now hope to bridge would be located just beyond St. Anthony turn the bridge into a pedestrian walkway and let Falls and about “500 feet downstream from the people share in its history and beauty for many Hennepin Avenue Bridge.” To construct it, generations to come. James Hill had to buy the surrounding land . He bought St. Anthony Water Power Company and By Maia Sheie Famahm and Lovejoy Sawmill Company. The Anoka High School bridge building began in January of 1882, and in a few weeks, had accumulated the help of 600 Biblography men. Hard work continued on the bridge and 1. Watson, Wilbur J. and Sara Ruth. Bridges in by the spring of 1882,22 of 23 foundations were History and Legend. Cleveland: Jay, 1937. complete. 100,000 tons of limestone, granite, and marble was needed for the bridge’s con 2. Condit, Carl W. American Building Art. New struction and design. The arches of the bridge York: Oxford University Press, 1960. were designed to be of varying sizes, ranging from 40 to 100 feet. When the bridge was 3. Lux, Donald G. World of Construction. finished, it was 2,100 feet long, 76 feet high, 27 Bloomington: McKnight,1982. feet wide and had 23 arches. The curve of the bridge was made so that the train passengers 4. Jackson, David. The Wonderful World of could see its beauty. The bridge was also so Engineering. New York: Doubleday, 1969. strong that a train could “achieve top speeds” when crossing the bridge, which was unusual for 5. Jarchow, Merrill E. Minnesota History. that time. It was said that the large stone walls St.Paul: Minnesota Historical Society, 1948. were so massive, that in the event of derailment, trains could neither jump over nor crash through 6. Hess, Jeffery A. The Riddle of the Land. St them. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society, 1979 The bridge built in 1883 is “as solid today as on the day it was completed.” The 7. Wiggins, David. Personal Interview. 23 bridge helped develop the railway systems in December 1993. Minneapolis. It is also said to be the oldest structure in Minneapolis and probably the oldest 8. Ruby, Homer. Personal Interview. 14 De bridge over the Mississippi. The Stone Arch cember 1993. Bridge might be “one of the most remarkable pieces of nineteenth century architecture still in 9. “ Stone Arch Bridge is Now a National existence in Hennepin County.” Hill’s bridge Landmark. “ Editorial. Minneapolis Post. 2 was also said to be “built for centuries and the January 1975. pride and joy of the downtown Minneapolis community.” The Stone Arch Bridge was 10. Nelson, Constance. “ Spanning Time and a recently named a National Civil Engineering River. “ Minneapolis Star Tribune. 28 January Landmark. Landmarks that are recognized 1993 : IB. “represent significant contributing to the devel opment of America.” The Stone Arch Bridge 11. Lowry, Ray. “ Hill’s Folly : The Building of

51 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville the Stone Arch Bridge. “ Hennepin County lis area. History. 19 February 1987 : 18-26. Another industry which helped Minne apolis grow and prosper was the grain industry. 12. Loveillo, Pierre. Structures. Alexandria : The first mills were small and the milling pro Time Life Books, 1991. cess was simple. This industry was to grow also. John Pillsbury started his career in Minne 13. Gies, Joseph. Bridges and Men. New York apolis. C.C. Washburn and John Crosby, who : Doubleday, 1963. formed the Washburn Crosby Mills, which mills Gold Medal Flour, also started their business in 14. Svendsen, Gustav Rolf. Hennepin County Minneapolis. Milling was very important to the History. Minneapolis : Hennepin County His growth of Minneapolis. The grain business torical Society, 1976. prospered and Minneapolis benefited because of it by becoming a terminal grain market, a place where grain could be priced and shipped else where. By becoming a terminal grain market The Influence of the Mississippi River on Minneapolis became an important financial Minneapolis/St. Paul center with more banking and manufacturing firms. What do Gold Medal, Pillsbury Flour In addition to having the lumber and and Pig’s Eye Beer have in common with the grain businesses, Minneapolis was home to Twin Cities? They were all developed because dozens of foundries and machine shops. These of the Mississippi River. Pillsbury and Gold shops made steam engines, saw and flour mill Medal flour were first milled in Minneapolis a ing equipment, farm implements, and ornamen hundred years ago and the companies are still tal irons. By the end of the 1950’s, Minneapolis located there today. Pig’s Eye, the original had 1400 manufacturing plants which were name for St. Paul, is remembered by a having highly developed. With the rise in manufactur beer named after it. Over the years, the Missis ing plants, a surge of well trained professionals sippi River’s influence on the Twin Cities has came to Minneapolis, such as bankers, doctors, been great and everlasting. lawyers, teachers, merchants and millwrights to From the beginning, the Mississippi service the people. River had an impact on the Twin Cities. For While the Mississippi River brought example, St. Anthony Falls is responsible for the many industries to Minneapolis, it also gave the location of Minneapolis. St. Anthony Fall’s city a valuable resource, hydroelectric power. power first was used by soldiers to saw lumber The first hydroelectric power plant in the nation to build Fort Snelling. was built at the base of the St Anthony Falls. The Mississippi River has been good to This power was used to light homes and facto Minneapolis from the early years because of the ries as well as to propel the railroads. industries it brought to the region. One of the The Mississippi River was an obvious most important industries was lumber. Franklin choice for transportation of goods. In 1925 and Steele was the first to build a sawmill in Minne 1927 when the Upper Mississippi Barge Line apolis in 1848. Steele is often called the and the Inland Waterway Corporation showed a “Founder of Minneapolis.” By 1851 there were viable business interest in the river. Any busi four sawmills near the falls. This number was to ness interest in the river was stopped short grow and with the power provided by St. An because of poor river conditions and the diffi thony Falls, Minneapolis led the world in lumber culty of navigating the river. This was to change production in 1890. The lumber industry in 1930’s when Minneapolis started to build brought more people and jobs to the Minneapo locks, dams, and terminals on the river. Thus,

52 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville major barge traffic began. out of the bluffs. Sand for making glass was In 1908 the Minneapolis Journal declared mined by Ford Motor Company, and gravel was the Mississippi the “ backbone of Minneapolis, excavated. The 1930’s began to change the next to her character, is her great water power.” face of St. Paul and remake its waterfront. St. Just as the Mississippi River’s effect on Paul soon became the number one brewing Minneapolis’ growth was substantial, it was center in the state partly because of the caves in equally as great on the development of St. Paul. the river bluffs. The Yoreg Brewing Company A group of squatters who had settled in the was the first brewery established in Minnesota; shelter"of Fort Snelling were forcibly evicted by it began operation in 1848. The breweries were soldiers in 1840. The refugees fled beyond the lured by the cool natural springs and by the reservation limits and established a new settle natural caves in the bluffs along the river. The ment on the east bank of the Mississippi, down caves were readily available for underground stream from the fort. They called it Pig’s Eye, refrigeration which was cheaper than building an the nickname of Pierre Parrant, a squint-eyed above-ground structure. But jobs on the river whisky seller. A year after Pig’s Eye was itself were few with the coming of the railroads settled, Father Lucien Galtier built the chapel of and the industrialization of St. Paul. Workers St. Paul nearby. This was the beginning of St. found their livelihoods in the nearby shops and Paul, Minnesota’s capitol City. factories rather than actually on the river. River trade was a key factor in St. Paul’s By the early 1920’s the state health early growth. In its very earliest years, St. Paul department had labeled the Mississippi River at was dependent entirely upon the river. During St. Paul a health hazard. A brief attempt to the warm months it delivered settlers and sup revive river transportation was made by hauling plies. St. Paul soon became the head of naviga coal upriver during World War One. With its tion on the Mississippi. Tributaries flowing into failure, shipping dwindled and was almost the river formed a network first used by the nonexistent. Efforts to make the river more French, then by the British and American fur useful were concentrated on the land along the traders and their Indian partners to transport furs river’s edge. The most dramatic reinvention of downstream to be shipped east and to Europe. the river came as part of a Depression-Era But steamboat traffic into St. Paul was uncertain project underwritten by the federal government. and occasional until 1847 when the Galena This was the dredging of a nine-foot channel and Packet Company established a regular line of the building of the twenty-six locks and dams boats that made weekly trips from Galena. After along the upper Mississippi that made it possible this St. Paul into an explosive period of growth for the new huge diesel towboats and their and became known as the gateway to the North strings of barges to navigate the river. The west. The city’s image as a river town stems building and dredging was underway by the from this period when steamboats lined the early 1930’s. The nation was sinking into the levees. The Minnesota Pioneer remarked in Great Depression and jobs were desperately 1850 that the very heart of the town leaped for needed. The project provided jobs for hundreds joy” at the arrival of the first steamboat of the of men. The barge traffic this enormous project season. helped boost far surpassed the volume of ship The industries that clustered around the ping and river traffic. But the Mississippi’s river were fruitful sources of jobs for the work commercial importance to St. Paul declined and ing men and women of St. Paul. Until the era of sputtered out after the rise of the railroads. Yet electric refrigeration, ice was harvested from the river retained its special role as a recreational along the river. The chunks were cut and stored resource. in ice houses to be used in the ice boxes of the The Mississippi River has had a tremen city. Until around 1950, clay for bricks was dug dous impact on Minneapolis and St. Paul, from

53 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville the very earliest years of the two cities. When Biblography the Twin Cities were young, they depended entirely upon the river for many, many things. 1. Blegen, Theodore C. Minnesota: A History of They became what they are because of the river. the State. Minneapolis: University of Minne We continue to use it today, although these days, sota, 1975. our livelihood doesn’t depend quite so heavily on the Mississippi. We still use the river for 2. Kane, Lucile M. The Falls of St. Anthony: industry, but also for a wide variety of recre The Waterfall that Built Minneapolis. St. Paul: ational activities. One of these activities in Minnesota Historical Society Press, 1983. volved the history of the Twin Cities. In Minne apolis, there exist walking tours of the St. An 3. Kane, Lucile M. and Alan Ominsky. Twin thony Falls area that let tourists and Minnesotans Cities: A Pictorial History of St. Paul Minne alike experience the real reason that Minneapolis apolis. St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society and St. Paul are here today. In the words of Press, 1983. Dave Wiggins, “The Twin Cities would not exist today if it weren’t for the Mississippi River. “ 4. Kunz, Virginia. St. Paul: The First 150 Years. St. Paul: The St Paul Foundation, Inc., 1991. By Jenna Tschida and Sarah Mehrer Anoka High School 5. The Mississippi and St. Paul. St.Paul: Ramsey County Historical Society Press, 1987.

6. Lass, William E. Minnesota: A History. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, Inc., 1977.

7. Waters, Thomas F. The Streams and Rivers of Minnesota. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1977.

8. Wiggins, Dave. Personal Interview. Decem ber 18,1993.

9. Williams, J. Fletcher. A History of the City of St. Paul to 1875. St. Paul: Minnesota His torical Society Press, 1983.

A SERIES OF PERSONAL INTERVIEWS AND EXPERIENCES.

... I went to see a panorama of the Mississippi, and as I worked my way up the river in the light of to-day, and saw the steamboats wooding up, counted the rising cities , gazed on the fresh ruins of Nauvoo, beheld the Indians moving west across the stream and , as before I looked up the Moselle now looked up the Ohio and the Missouri and heard the legends of Dubuque and of Wenona's Cliff,-still thinking more of the future than of the past or present,-I saw that this was a Rhine stream of a different kind; that the foundations of casdes were yet to be laid, and the famous bridges were yet to be thrown over the river; and I felt that this was the heroic age itself \ though we know it not for the hero is commonly the simplest and obscurest of men

©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Cleaning the Polluted Environment maybe the next time I come back and sit in this exact spot things will look even more beautiful. Today is Thursday October, 14. I am sitting on a hillside looking down at a little lake. By Becky Wilson The ducks hardly make any noise. The Missis Blaine High School sippi River runs behind me and the dam in Coon Rapids Regional Park drowns out the sound of anything else. All day my Biology class has Meanderings been testing the water in the river. The testing consists of many different tests. The only test I Sitting here on the shore, I sense the see that hasn’t been carried through is the test of sheer power of this great river we call the Mis humans. Everywhere I look there is garbage. sissippi. The musty smell rushes into my nose. It’s hard to imagine how people don’t care I hear the crashing of the water as it dumps over enough that they don’t even think twice when the dam in the far distance. The leaves tremble throwing trash in the river or on the ground. Big in the cold autumn breeze. Siting here on the companies dump waste and sewage in the river shore is peaceful. Life’s problems seem to be daily. People drink this water, but looking at it washed away with the river. The river is very now it’s hard to see how. fickle. In some spots it’s rushing down stream Before today I hadn’t ever really stopped and in others it’s flowing up stream. As if it to think about the amount of work it would take missed something the first time. As I look down to keep something this big clean and beautiful. stream I see the dead carcasses of trees that have Each person that helps does make a difference fallen due to heavy storms far upstream. The yet no one person can do it alone. The park is river as I see it, so powerful and free, and yet so still beautiful, and it isn’t too late. People just weak and helpless, needs us to help. As we’ve need to make the decision to make it work. seen this summer man cannot stop the river. But Pollution happens everywhere, but to help clean the river also cannot stop man. it up we need to make a start somewhere. This looks like a good place to start to me. This is By Ryan Woodman natural beauty and if we start by cleaning up Blaine High School natural beauty it will give us a start at cleaning everything. Since I’ve been sitting here for the past hour I’ve realized that the park in general is still What a Wonderful Creation very beautiful. There are many ways that I can think to help clean the environment. The river Gray geese swim on the water’s surface. isn’t the only thing that needs cleaning. The air Sea gulls fly just above. The sun glistens on the is very polluted too. By car pooling and using water and feels warm on my face. What a won public transportation we could cut down on the derful creation! The leaves on the trees turn pollution caused by burning gasoline. If we browns and yellows and fall to the ground. A could stop burning so many fossil fuels all cool breeze breathes upon my cheek. The sea together it would be a start. Programs could be gulls fly around in circles as if they want my started to help keep the parks clean or each attention. They call out to me, though I don’t person could put his/her own trash where it know how to answer them. What a wonderful belongs. These are only a few ways to start, but creation! The water is very still. Only a ripple a start is anywhere and when one person starts appears here and there because of the movement others will too. If people start caring and stop of the animals. Ducks quack. The geese swim trashing the beautiful world around them then away. What a wonderful creation. A person

56 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville walks by obstructing my one view of the world bodies back to our wagons and headed home, around me. They break the pleasant silence that away from the open prairies, to be with our surrounds me. Polluted water, cut down trees, friends and family to tell them about the adven driving many animals away from the place they tures we had been through. call home. People are ruining the once flawless, beautiful creation. A car drives by leaving By Michael Smith behind a trail of carbon monoxide fumes. What Franklin Heights High School is happening to God’s wonderful creation?

By Tamara K. Mewhorter Blaine High School Wetlands

On August 9,1991, President Bush The Darby Plains advocated a “comprehensive plan” for protecting Franklin Heights Natural Resources the nation’s wetlands. The plan, he said, would Department include a policy of “no net loss” and encourage wetlands expansion and restoration. He pro As my woodland friends and I go onto an posed to resequence priorities and streamline the offroad course, we experience many things. We permitting process under section 404 of the step onto the ground and we get our moccasins Clean Water Act. The plan would also include a damp from the morning dew lying on the grass. market-oriented system to provide incentives for We look into the trees to notice the leaves private action. The president’s announcements changing color and falling off the branches one were followed five days later by the release of a by one. We look at eye level and notice, for draft revision of the 1989 Federal Manual for many acres, these gigantic fields of weeds and Delineating Wetlands. The draft manual sug bright colored flowers. We went searching gests three criteria-hydrology, hydrophilic through the prairies looking at all these new vegetation, and hydric soils-to be applied in types of plants that we have never taken much specified ways in demarcating wetlands for thought about before purposes of the Clean Water Act and the Food As we smelled the soft, cool air of the Security Act of 1985. The revisions allegedly morning, we smelled many refreshing fragrances were intended to make it easier to explain the of the great prairies. wetlands designation process to landowners, After a while, we took an adventurous many of whom, including developers, are escapade through the thick fields of green and pleased with the revisions. Changes along yellow forbes of the prairie. We got caught by similar lines had already been incorporated in many thorns and rough leaves of the tall grasses. bills before committees of the U.S. House of We felt like a fly trying to get out of a spider’s Representatives. web. The Association of State Wetland Man When we revived ourselves from the agers, representing a wide array of scientists, thickets, we took a look at where we had been engineers, environmentalists, and administrators, and then where we wanted to be. We were has raised serious questions about the draft explorers of a new breed. We braved what manual. There are doubts about its workability, many would simply pass by. its scientific validity, and the wisdom of the Night was falling upon us quickly as the altered policies. Some observers have estimated time had just flown by. We knew that we had to that using such a manual could reduce the area be getting back soon so we loaded our tired of land classified as wetland by roughly forty

57 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville percent. The association vigorously suggested a different course of action: The specified 60 day review period for the new manual should be extended to 365 days to permit preparation of a more understandable and scientifically sound version. Also, an independent scientific panel should be created to review the problem of wetland delineation, including the question of relative wetness and regional differences. Wetlands around the world are endan gered and could be lost. Wetlands provide many people not only with recreation, but also they provide some with a way of life. Tradition has Students Testing the Wildcat been passed from one generation to the next with a cultural heritage that would be preserved The freshman students at Kokomo High along with the Wetlands. Wetlands provide School are testing the water of the Wildcat abundant supply of life that are important to the Creek. Some of the tests that they are doing are ecosystem. The water life found in wetlands also pH to determine the acid or alkaline content in provide many people with the luxury of their the water, Turbidity to determine the clarity of food. Wetlands need to preserved and need to be the water, DO to determine the amount of acknowledged. We can make a difference. dissolved oxygen in the water, BOD to see how much oxygen the water uses at a constant tem By Austin Coose perature, Temperature, and Total Solids. These Kokomo High School-Downtown Campus test were performed from two locations near the schools and in four locations around the county. The four locations around the county were tested by the members of Mr. Parsons KEY (Kokomo Enrichment of Youth) Biology class and some of the members of the Outdoor Club. The students took a day off of school to go to the four sights around the county. The rest of the students in Biology at Kokomo High School are testing at the sights near the school. They are doing their test every two weeks or so depending on the weather. These students are doing the same test as the KEY class did on their test that they did around the county. The testing is teaching the students how to watch out for pollution that may be endanger ing their environment. This will lead to the student making less pollution in the future and will help to teach us new ways to clean it up.

By Bryan Snyder Kokomo High School-Downtown Campus

58 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville My Trip rounded by this dense growth of trees and algae. He and I both knew this new, yet familiar, world I remember way back when my father we had entered. and I would go fishing at our favorite fishing The sweet smell of pine drifted through hole. These fond memories will stay with me, our nasal passages, the low hum of the trolling probably, throughout my life. motor broke the silence in an almost peaceful At first, we would find the perfect week way. We’d bait up on fresh worms and cast out. end, no clouds, no possible way for rain to ruin We’d talk about whatever was on our minds and our day. Then on Friday night we would gather didn’t have to worry about everyday things. all our stuff- poles, bait, seatcovers, trolling Though our words were but whispers so not to motor, nets, etc., and go to bed around nine scare the fish, they rang out clearly against the o’clock as thoughts of eight pound bass floated silent background. in our heads About six o’clock the animals would The next morning we would rise at about awaken. Squirrels would chatter, birds would four A.M. and throw on our clothes. We would call out their morning songs, and the silent brush climb into the already crowded four-door and be of the wings of the Sandhill Crane would on our way. We’d always stop at a local donut awaken me. While the sun came out and shop to eat breakfast and talk to the local police brushed away the fog my father and I would force about anything and everything that’s going struggle to stay awake for the warmth of the sun on in the world. Then he and I would arrive at acted almost like a blanket, trying to tuck us in. the little pond we always fish at. We’d fish until the sun set, and then end The pond used to be a gravel pit; after all our day bringing in all two of our fish that were the salvageable material was removed it was big enough to take home. We’d stroll into the filled in and four houses were built around it. house, not noticing our odor, with our beautiful One of my Dad’s best friends from high school prize. Then we would fry them up for supper to bought one of the houses and, he would allow show everyone what great fishermen we were. my father and I to fish there and to use his row The rest of the evening we’d spend talking about boat. the big, granddaddy of all fish that was to wise We’d pile all of our stuff and ourselves too be caught never mentioning the peacefulness in the boat and shove off into the foggy and that was the real prize of our trip. insect infested waters. All the clamor from loading the boat instantly disappeared when we By Matthew Long left the shore. We would be instantly sur Kokomo High School-Downtown Campus

59 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville A Part of Me got to me when we would have family get- togethers and our relatives would bring their When I was eight years old I moved with fishing gear, even if it was just for sport. I my family for the first time to a house out in the suppose it was just as bad as catching them and boonies of Howard County. It was a big house keeping some poor unsuspecting soul captive for on a five acre plot with a stream and pond in the a while. back yard that I’d later discover was one of the My sister and I spent so many hours tributaries to the Wildcat Creek. It was fed by a cleaning up the years of trash and junk from the drainage ditch from the cow pasture across the yard and pond. There was an old field plow road and the only other possible source was a rusting on one side of the pond that looked like natural spring. it had been there for decades. We left it there as The people who had lived in the house a platform to get in and out of the pond. We before us had carved out the middle section of found and entire knit baby blanket and a pair of the stream in the yard to form a pond. Although underwear. We didn’t think much about how it man-made, the pond and stream were full of life. all had gotten there. We just felt good about The pond hosted several dozen carp, a few cleaning it up. catfish, minnows, tadpoles and frogs, turtles, I can remember endless summer nights slugs and muscles, and crawdads. While living of sitting in the dark after a long day of work on there we had encounters with muskrats, ground the yard and listening to the noise of the frogs hogs, and foxes. Rabbits and raccoons were not and crickets. The air was cool and clear sky strangers to the home grown vegetables in our revealed billions of stars above. I’ve moved a garden. few times since then but no matter where I go, it My sister and I, still being young and just isn’t home to me. That house is now an adventurous, spent many hot summer days intake center for troubled youth. I couldn’t help exploring every nook and cranny of the pond. but wonder what they’d do to the place after we We caught and tormented various wildlife and left. To my disappointment my mom told me late in the afternoon, in the shade of the giant they’ve cleared out the woods in the yard and willow trees, observed the fish feeding at the cut down a lot of the trees among other things. I surface along the banks. We had a golden loved that place. It was my childhood. They retriever who would retreat to the cool pond don’t know it, but when they cut down that water during the heat of midsummer, but she wildlife, they cut down a part of me. wasn’t the only one. Despite the “no trespass ing” signs we often had uninvited visitors jump By Tamara Healton the fence and take a dip or go fishing. It really Kokomo High School-Downtown Campus

©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Everybody’s Dream he took it off the hook and tossed it back into the water. We sat for about two more hours. The Wildcat Creek runs along our back I’m going in,” Ben said. “All that we are yard. My brother, Ben, and I decided to go catchin’ out here is trash, goop and sticks.” fishing down there. We had just arrived at the We put our fishing pole and stuff up, creek with all of our gear, when my brother said, and Ben headed for the house and I plopped “Hey Tiff, I dare you to walk in that dirty water down on the hammock. I lay back and exam down to your knees.” ined the water. I wondered how those poor little "Well, I never was one to turn down a fish could live in that filthy water. I slipped into daie. I took off my sandals and entered the a light sleep where I began dreaming of a water. It felt so disgusting. The water was cleaner place. My dream began walking from muddy, not to mention how it stunk. my house, down to a clear, clean creek. You “This is gross,” I said as I walked back could see the fish and other life and diversity in on the land. I went to the garden hose and the water. A place where the water glittered in washed off my legs, then put my shoes back on. the sun. A place where you could swim and After that we started cast our poles out and catch healthy fish. began fishing. After about five minutes I reeled I was rudely awakened from my dream. I my line in. Along with my worm came a bunch opened my eyes and found myself lying on the of goop. I cleaned it off and cast into a different ground. I looked up and saw my hammock spot. No sooner had I sat down, I saw my line spinning around and there stood my brother, move. I grabbed my pole and jerked. Finally I laughing hysterically. had caught a fish. I reeled it in and my brother “Very funny,” I said. He told me that my and I examined it. mom wanted me to come in. I picked myself up My brother said, “It’s a catfish.” and walked toward the house. Too bad that my “I know, but it doesn’t look so good,” I dream wasn’t reality. said. Ben suggested that we throw it back, so By Tiffany Kline Kokomo High School-Downtown Campus

61 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville woman’s, echoed throughout the forest. It was not a woman though, it was a screech owl. I stood trembling in fear, praying for the owl to remain quiet until I was able to move my legs fast enough to get away. It didn’t work. Not even two minutes later, I saw the creature fly to a fallen tree, perch, and scream again. That was it. My life was over. Bad luck and misfortune were right in my face. I was getting ready to burst into tears when I noticed something. The tiny owl had a broken wing. I wasn’t sure what to do. Then, after seeing that the poor thing was miserable, I took off my extra sweatshirt and quickly slipped it over the owl. Having it trapped, I carried my bad luck owl back to camp. No one was back yet, so I took out the first aid kit and bandaged the wing and put it in a splint by myself. I felt very proud having accom plished this, and I was grateful that I paid atten tion at our first aid meetings.

The Call Of The Screech Owl By Tish Bolton Kokomo High School-Downtown Campus They say the call of the screech owl is an ominous sign if it is heard in one place and then in another by the same owl. Of course, it is only superstition. How could one tiny owl’s screech Untitled bring about bad luck? When I was eleven, I found out that it I never liked the St. Joseph River, I guess couldn’t. I had lived with my grandmother for because it was polluted. All the trash, sewage two years. My parents had died in a car accident and all the other things that harmed the water. I when they swerved off a bridge into the Wildcat never thought anyone would ever go in that Creek. My grandmother was a very superstitious water, but I did go in it. I went to the jet ski woman. So naturally, I was too. And my favorite place on the St. Joe and rented one. I did not story to hear is one about the time my grand know that I would be in the water, but I did go mother heard the screech owl twice and immedi into the water. It was fun, but I never really did ately after, fell out of a tree and broke her arm. get to see the beauty of it, only the harmful That is why I was scared to death the substances. night that my Girl Scout troop decided to camp out in Bradley’s Woods. We set up camp at five By Erin Burcham o’clock and went out to hunt for firewood. I Penn High School decided to search alone, for I knew the woods well and didn’t mind as long as it was still day light out. I had just found a large pile of dried branches when I heard the most frightening sound ever to touch my ears. A high-pitched scream, very much like a teirified young

62 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Untitled I was also dismayed to find that this bird is threatened. Every year, the Oriole migrates to My name is Tish Bolton. I live in Central America. When it arrives, there is a Kokomo, Indiana, a city north of Indianapolis. great possibility that it will find its habitat Nearly every weekend, my friends and I travel to destroyed. The destruction of the rain forests a place in Burlington, Indiana called Adam’s leave this creature homeless when it migrates. Mill. It is a mill that was established in 1838 to However, the Oriole is getting “kicked grind meal. Today, it is a beautiful sanctuary for out” twice. Not only is its Central American many forms of wildlife. home destroyed, but its home in North America My best friend and I visited the mill is being wiped out also for farm fields. The again just recently and had a wonderful experi Oriole has nearly no place left to go. If some ence. We were walking down the dirt road that thing is not done soon, the possibility of it leads to a covered bridge when a magnificent becoming an endangered species is high. orange color caught my eye. We stopped and Something must be done. The Oriole can saw a bird that is growing more and more rare be saved, along with many other species of every day. animals, if everyone does their part to help. So, The Baltimore Oriole is a very interest you ask, “ What can I do ? “ Here’s your answer ing creature. This particular one glanced at us -HELP CONSERVE THE RAIN FORESTS. from its perch, then flew off. I was intrigued by Start a fund raiser to get people to help you. its beautiful coloring, and after some research, I HELP CONSERVE THE WOODLANDS IN came to admire the little fellow even more. YOUR AREA !! Baltimore Orioles live in deciduous If everyone would do just a little, it woodlands and shade trees. The female usually would help A LOT!! So, get up and DO SOME lays four to six grayish eggs that are spotted and THING ABOUT IT !!!! scrawled with dark brown and black. These eggs are laid in nests that hang from the tips of tree By Tish Bolton branches and are usually made of plant fibers, Kokomo High School-Downtown Campus bark, and string.

During the spring, Baugo Creek floods Can you imagine living in the world and it’s a good place for reptiles and amphib without water? I can’t. I don’t think I could ians. Baugo Creek got its name from a seed that even live a single day without water. You have grew by the creek. Baugo Creek used to be a to take a shower, brush your teeth, drink it and a dumpster, and as the water flowed, the junk sank whole lot more. But, there are too many people and dug under the ground. When it rains, the wasting water everyday. junk metal'comes back up. When I was down People think that water is an unlimited by the"creek, I saw some of this trash. It was not source. The fresh or usable water source is pretty and it did not make it look good. limited. If we keep wasting and polluting the water source like this, we will face some big By Rhonda Reinholtz problems. Penn High School People do a good job of polluting the water sources, too. They dump everything in the river, endangering the aquatic animals. I like to Untitled go fishing and water skiing, but it makes me sick to look at the river. Nature and I have something in common People should realize and stop wasting with our personalities. Sometimes nature can be and polluting the water source. Use less water, quiet and sometimes I can be too. I know that it fewer detergents and stop throwing stuff away in hard to believe! But yes, sometimes I can be. I the river. Think about the next generation. You think if you want to be or do something then you don’t want to jeopardize your kids do you? can do it or be it. Then THINK ABOUT IT!

By Stacy Humphrey By Ho Son Penn High School Pleasant Valley High School

Water The Great Unknown Water—the substance that has an unlim Many people pass by the great bodies of ited number of uses. As I store it in the bottom water everyday and just take it for granted. of my big white Hardee’s cup, I think about all What I want to do in this paper is to explain how of its possibilities. I would see the world without water. It’s sure fun to use. In my cup, I can Our planet would be dry, over run with blow waves across it which remind me of the desert. Dry, barren soil, blowing in the world, lake and fishing. Those little fish that swim blowing away. The trees are gone, the dead, across the endless miles of the lake, swimming decaying animals and people are laying around playfully in and out of the pillars of seaweed. I without anyone to tend to them. The smell is wonder if they ever think about what it would be more than most humans can bear. Our world like outside of their submerged wonderland or has become a wasteland. what it would be like to be that stupid fisherman This is how I see our world without dangling his worm in the water. water. I believe water is the soul of our world Then I think about swim practice. The and all its inhabitants. boredom is great enough to kill any of those fish, probably the fisherman too. Do the other By Dawn Wade Pleasant Valley High School

©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville guys see all the chunks in the wonderful pool? As I sit here on this wonderful fall day, I What are those chunks anyway? It’s amazing think about what the river will be like 40 years how those chunks and the water take my mind from now. Will High School students still be off the pain of the workout I wonder what kind able to enjoy the scenery, and watch the spar of chemicals are in that pool, because it sure kling blue water? Or will the banks of the river does make my skin itch. I’d like to do a water be off limits due to unsafe conditions? It sad quality assessment test on it and find out exactly dens me to think that one day all of this will be what is eating at my skin. gone. "Naw—that testing would take up too Whether it takes raising the conscious much time. I think I’ll just go take a shower in ness of others, or putting more regulations on that cold water and get back to my cup of water. what is being dumped into the river; we must do all we can to preserve the “landmark” wecall the By Scott Hove Mississippi. I am glad I have had this chance to Pleasant Valley High School enjoy the Mississippi in all its beauty today. The Native Americans were probably also grateful for all the river did for them many years ago. Will future generations be able to say the same? Lets hope so. The Mighty River By Amy Christopherson As I sit here watching the “Mighty Blaine High School Mississippi”, I think of all the things it means to me, to those before me, and to those yet to come. It is not only a beautiful place to come on pic nics, or a means of transporting goods to cities River’s Curriculum along the river. The Mississippi could almost be considered a landmark. During the first semester of this year we In my life the Mississippi has played a have been working on a project called the pretty minor role. It has been a fun place to River’s Curriculum Project. We have done come to on field trips, such as the one we’re on various tests at different streams and rivers. We right now, and a nice place to spend the day with have also learned about many new my family on a picnic. I think of the park we are macroinvertabrates, insects, and animals. at today, and what a shame it would be if it had I have learned allot about the quality of rivers never been built to preserve the natural beauty of and streams that I did not know before this year. this area. I am also better acquainted with the macroin The Native Americans that were here vertabrates around the areas we have been. I long before I entered the world, depended a was glad that we could all get involved with great deal more on this great river. For them it each project and no one was ever left out. was a means of transportation, a place to catch I think that all students in high schools food, and along its banks, a place to set up around the United States should have a chance temporary camps. The Native Americans could to leam about their local rivers and help to keep never have known what lay ahead for the river them clean, unpolluted, and free of environmen they most likely were very thankful for. Back in tal hazards. those days there wasn’t the wide spread pollu tion that there is in this day and age. Just one By Bridget less thing the Indians had to worry about. Highland High School Kansas

The new way of learning is great. The rivers unit is the first unit I have ever experi enced with so much field work. This unit was terrific. Instead of reading it in a book and taking a test; it was hands on. We also calcu lated our own data. It actually turned out use ful. I feel like we actually helped make a differ ence. I loved getting in the water and using the equipment. These things helped me to learn the material. The combination of math and science taught us real-life skills. I have hardly any complaints. The few that I have are minor. I would have liked to test more areas. This would have given us a better perspective of the county’s waters. Also I would have liked to spend more time at each site. I usually had to stop before I used all the stations. I think that the schools here should start If there was more time we could probably do a getting involved in the River’s Curriculum more thorough job. I have no complaints on the because you get to go out to the river and seine material itself. for fish and other living creatures. With the D- To conclude I would like to say the unit net you can find little organisms along the side was great. I can not wait until spring to start of the rock banks. The kick net will help you testing again. find living macroinverterbrate organisms on the bottom of the rocks and in the algae in the riffle By Bobby Hopkins areas. There is also the DO (Dissolved Oxygen) Highland High School test which measures how deep the sunlight Kansas penetration is in some places. I think that by bringing math and English classes in to the River’s Curriculum is a really neat idea, because you are not just learning science, your getting math by measuring out sections of land or how deep the river is. En glish you can get involved by writing what you observed, touched, smelled, and heard. I person ally think that the River’s Curriculum is a great idea, because you are doing hands-on stuff. So in conclusion, I think that the River’s Curriculum should be introduced into every school.

By Brooke Gibson Highland High School Kansas

66 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville The Stream Trip less creates the mood. To hear the water flowing over the smooth rocks is really soothing to the soul. I had to do it. I had to forget about my discussion I guess sight is the only sense that comes into play, on becoming a surgeon or environmental engineer but the other senses make the experience worth and concentrate on one thing... the field trip to while. Calloway Creek. While on the bus, I discussed The water in the stream was as cool as ice. I various topics with various people at various times, don’t quite understand how an animal could live in but in the back of my mind I was thinking about one an environment like that, but how could an animal thing... getting in that creek and testing water quality live in an environment like that of human beings? In through the use of aquatic organisms. all honesty, their method of living is far superior to The bus ride was nice. The leaves, once ours. From the organisms we found, we discovered green and lush, were beginning to turn into the fall how clean the water really was. This was the purest colors of gold, orange, yellow, and red. The rolling of the natural waters running through the state of hillsides were covered with the stunning colors and Missouri. The environment that we humans live in is textures. The sad thing is, is that this beauty will nothing but pollution. It’s sad when you actually only last for a couple of weeks, and then it’s gone have to travel somewhere to find purity in your into the deadly grasp of winter. The brilliant colors surroundings. You have to travel now-a-days to feel of the hillsides brightened the blue sky to impel one a cool, clean creek flow over your feet, or to smell of the most beautiful pictures I have ever seen. The the freshness of air that the country provides. Just planet earth is like a new bom baby. At certain being out in nature instills these thoughts in my head. times, it is the most precious thing a person has to They are just basic thoughts about basic things in look forward to. nature. Nothing more. After a short trip on the bus, we arrived at our The whole trip was a great experience for the final destination. It wasn’t quite what I had ex mind. To get down to a more basic level of thinking pected. The creek appeared to be only a small trickle and to realize the simpleness of nature is good. It of water compared to the mighty rivers of Missouri. let’s us realize how important some of the more It ran right under a road where it broke into an active insignificant factors of life are. Everything has it’s dance of riffles and rushing water. Once I got off the purpose; Being out there let me realize this. The trip bus, I noticed the smell of cleanness in the air. The was great. Just to be able to get out and hear the aroma of fall leaves and clean, clear creek water hit birds sing like a church choir or to smell the crisp air me instantly to make me feel much more at ease with is a good enough experience for me. To feel the cool my surroundings. The sounds of rushing creek water water and tiny animals in my hand was also a great rang through the area reminding me of its presence experience. Many people will never be able to do while I stood there. There were also birds chirping this. I am lucky. To me, life is an adventure, and to in the trees all around. That, with the wind gently live this adventure one must feel what it is like to blowing, made for a memorable experience of the understand such simple pleasures. If we didn’t, we’d senses. This was an opportunity many people do not merely be living a destination. To do that would rob ever get to experience. I am a very lucky person. us of what life has to offer. That’s the wrong thing While searching through the water for the organ to do. isms, many senses come into play. We had to constantly search with sharp eyes for any signs on By Chris Curry life. Most of the life in the creek seems so insignifi Francis Howell High School cant to the human race, but in all actuality, every thing is interlinked in an important web. That web is the web of life. So delicate it is, that any one organ ism that is missing could eventually lead to the death of other organisms, eventually leading to the end of the world (theoretically). Before, I stray any further, I better get back on the topic. Not only does acute vision come in, but so does the sound. The sound is more of an indirect sense in finding them. It more or

I think it is a very educational and fun experience that will pay off in the long run. Our rivers and other water resources are neglected and polluted and are also worse than ever plus they are not getting any better. They need to start educating people as young as they can. Eventually it will be up to my age of people to clean-up and take care of our rivers. If we start now like we are it will become allot easier for use to take care of them. Also if it comes down to where it depends of us we’ll have experience using the chemicals and equipment we’ll need to use. I think its fun using the equipment and chemicals. For later years I think it might be better to go to different sampling places. If you do have more than two sampling places rotate them each week. I’m glad to take part in this RIVERS CLASS and I hope future years do too. I thought that our rivers class was very By Jeff Butrick educational and that all schools should be Highland High School involved to learn. Kansas Actually, having a hands on experience in test BOD, and working with other people so that you can get things done and cooperate. When working at the dissolved oxygen station it had to take everybody to get it done and we had fun while being educated. Even though we were working in water that was 45 degrees that was kind of cold your body adjusted to the water so that it wasn’t so bad after a while. I believe that if all the schools in the nation start to recycle that we could clean up a lot of the rivers and streams so that all the pollution will not kill all or even most of the fish and it would be that we would have more drink able water. I conclude that if we all work together we can make this world a better place so that our children and our children’s children will have a better place to live in.

By Clint Windmeyer Highland High School Kansas

I am going to give a summary about what we did at the river and a little about the River Program. Every Tuesday morning the General Science class would go to a river and do some different types of tests. We would get in the water and do four different types of tests. One of these tests include seining. In seining, you take a net (2 people) and go up and back in the water. You would then take it out slowly and see what all you had. You count those things and write them down. "Another one of the tests are Kick-net. In kick-netting, you take a smaller net and hold it in tlie water while other people rub rocks. After a while, you bring out the net to see what all you have. You count the different organisms and write them down with your other information. The third test that we did was a combination between a D-net and a setchy disk. If we use a D-net, then you take a small triangle net and run it along the shore of river. In a setchy disk you lower a small disk into the water and lower it until you cannot see it. You then slowly bring it out until you can barely see it. Mark it and then record the answer with your other information. Our fourth and final test we would do a Dissolved Oxygen (DO) test. In this test, you take a small bottle and fill it up with river water. You put in a Tablet #1 and a Tablet #2. Shake the bottle about twelve to thirteen times. Let it dissolve to the line and shake it again, when it has dissolved the second time, you add a Tablet #3. Repeat the steps again. After this, you take a little tube and pour the water into it. You then take a little container with a dropper in it and add the dropper until it becomes clear. You count how many drops you put in and then record it with your other informa tion. There you have it, all the steps that we did. In conclusion, I think that going to the river was a wonderful experience for all of us and I wish all students could do the same thing. I think that everyone enjoyed themselves and I really enjoyed the part of not having to use text books. I also feel that this program was a big success.

By Mandy Brock Highland High School Kansas

Science

My feelings on the Rivers Curriculum at the Highland High School are that it is teaching us more about team work and more about the environment. Since we have started doing this activity, I’ve started to care a lot more for our environment. I used to litter a bunch, but I’ve been working on trying to not do it any more. I’ve also learned a lot about the environment that I never knew before. I feel we’ve also learned a lot about team work because this is giving us an opportunity to work with people that we hardly ever get to work with. I think it’s preparing us to be able to work with many different types of people, and in these kind of projects you have to communicate and trust every member of your group to make this project work. I also realize these kind of projects really couldn’t work without us gaining the trust of the teachers so they can actually take us to the rivers and streams and trust us to get what needs to be done, done.

By Kristi Highland High School Kansas ______. ^

On the trips we took to the rivers and I thought the rivers class was very using the equipment, I feel we have learned a educational. We learned a lot about the rivers, lot. It has helped me see the rivers and streams and organisms I never heard of. The tools we in a different perspective. It’s amazing how used were cool, especially the seine. Everyone much you think you know about the river and had a blast. you don’t. I never knew about dissolved oxygen I was fascinated when we did the Kick- until we had to sample the river and Mr. net arid D-net. I didn’t realize there were so Hutchcraft showed us what to do. The only many organisms living underwater. Taking DO thing I didn’t like about the project was the tests were very interesting. It showed me that water was really cold at times. temperature and the amount of riffle areas can I also liked it because we were helping determine what kinds of organisms to look for. make the environment cleaner and the animals When we went on the Quiver trip, I saw and plants more plentiful. And make the world things I thought were very educational. All sorts a better place for our children and their children of different birds and birds that fly all around the and so on. world or animals that are almost extinct. Be I liked the tools we used. Like using the sides being educational, it was a lot of fun and D-net to catch organisms along the banks. And entertaining. You got to work with other people using the kick net to catch macroinvertabrates you might think are hard to work with or never and other small organisms. And using the seine get to work with. Many other students feel the to catch small fish and crayfish. They all were same way and would be glad to do it again. used to determine the quality of the water. If students and people around the world I think more schools should get into this don’t start caring for our land, these beautiful so we can clean up the environment. nature sights will be gone. Pollution plays a big role in destroying natural habitats. I think more By Shane Smith students should be able to do what we did so Highland High School they will be aware and concerned for the rivers Kansas and streams quality. What I mean by this is that when your involved and are actually do experi River’s Class ments you are able learn more and keep it in your mind more easily than if you are lectured It is a fun class to be in. You go to the and take notes. river and look at organisms and you can see I hope this can continue and spread many of them you get to know the rivers around throughout schools so we can stop pollution and you a lot. You get to work together catch fish improve the world’s environment for future check DO. generations to come. I think that students who You learn math science and language all get to experience what we’ve got to will feel just at once you get to know how to use the d-net the way I do. kick net seine. You get to walk in the water and you can have a lot of fun. By Rachael Jeschke You can learn about the environment trees, Highland High School plants, animals, insects, micro organisms. It’s a Kansas fun class.

The River’s Curriculum, I think, was a good idea. It was a good idea because it gets us to do better on the tests by letting the students get outside and into the streams doing the project rather than having it demonstrated to the class. "Testing the stream was fun, but I think it sfiould have been planned during warmer months. Yet, I still learned how healthy some Science Report streams around here are. And I learned about what microorganisms and organisms live in our I really enjoyed the Rivers Curriculum streams. Project this year. I have never had so much fun This River’s Curriculum gave us students and learned so much in science class in a long the knowledge about life in the streams in time. I learned a lot of things about rivers that I Kansas. And that it gives us the skill to make did not know before. I like it the most, because sure that our streams will always stay clean. we got to get in the water and it was a real hands The River’s Curriculum may also give a student on experience. We did the sampling for a job in the future. macroinvertebrates with kick-nets and the D- nets. I did not know what a macroinvertebrate By Will S was until this year. The seine was used to Highland High School capture fish, turtles, and other things so that we Kansas could take them to the school and observe them in the aquariums. River’s Curriculum In the fourth group, we tested the water to figure out the dissolved oxygen content in the River’s Curriculum is a very good water, and found out the water and air tempera program to have in every school. At first I ture. The dissolved oxygen group was the most thought that River’s Curriculum was stupid and difficult but I thought it was very interesting. that we wouldn’t get anything out of it, but I was After we got back to the classroom, we gathered wrong. River’s Curriculum shows us a lot of our data with our group members and we did our things like: we should respect our rivers and worksheets to find the total dissolved oxygen streams and keep them beautiful like nature content in the river. intended them to be. Also it teaches us how to From that we could tell if the water take a water quality test, and for the upper quality of the water was excellent, good, fair or classmen how to do a BOD (biological oxygen poor. Every time we went to the river, we demand) test. It also teaches us what kind and recorded the water and air temperatures, the how many microorganisms and microorganisms weather, the time and date, and at what river we there are in the rivers today. I think that River’s were. The two rivers that we sampled were the Curriculum is a wonderful experience for all Wolf River and Cold Springs. I really liked the students as well as teachers to learn about the rivers curriculum and I hope we can continue river and its surroundings. doing it.

By Crystal Mellenbruch Unknown Highland High School Highland High School Kansas Kansas

A COLLECTION OF ARTICLES ON LIFE AND OCCUPATIONS ON THER RIVER.

The river brought everything to us, and took everything away. All our supplies for the house came from the steamboats; and in the fall the cot ton and sugar were loaded aboard and carried to New Orleans. The river was our means of transportation-except for horses and carriages, of course-and the river and things pertaining to it furnished the topic for nearly all of our conversation.

©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville The Wildcat Guardians Moving Right Along; Transportation OnThe Mississippi The Wildcat Creek stretches through Howard, Clinton, Carroll, and Tippecanoe If you were thinking of going on a trip, counties in Indiana, to the Wabash River in you would probably think of using an airplane or Lafayette. This creek has created a heavily a train, but the people in Illinois have counted on vegetated valley that cuts through the existing the Mississippi for many of their transportation till and bedrock, also in other areas the level needs. Today there are many ways to travel the agricultural lands are planted near the edge of waters of the Mississippi River. Some of these the creek. The Wildcat Guardians are people ways are cargo ships (barges), steamboats, and who have joined together to protect the creek. recreational boats. This group was named the Conservation Organi Cargo ships, also known as barges, are zation in 1992 for their work that had been used mostly used to transport goods and manu accomplished. factured products. Some of these products are The Wildcat Guardians were formed in packaged goods and limited amounts of grain, 1990 and have done a tremendous job in clean ore, and liquids like latex and edible oils. These ing up the creek. The Wildcat Guardians have ships are also used for carrying waste and waste had many clean-ups and have done a great job products. Utilized cargo, which is a number of with them. The Wildcat Guardians were honored items consolidated into one large shipping unit in 1992 for their river stewardship activities. for easier handling, is also carried. The pollution is so bad on parts of the Steamboats and riverboats are also used, creek that it is not wise to put your feet in the though not as much. These boats are usually water. The creek needs attention and The Wild used by people who want to get out on the river cat Guardians are the volunteers for the job. to see the towns. Recently, they have also been Many viewers join while watching the group in used for gambling and dinner boats. They also action and also people join just by viewing the act as berry boats. condition of the creek. We need to get involved Recreational boats are another type of or nothing will ever get done. river transport. Some of these are used for The Guardians are a good group that skiing and racing. There are also special boats deserve a lot of attention and need people to help for fishing and just for pleasure. For example, along with their tremendous efforts. The Guard many of the wealthier people on the water own ians do a good job in getting the interest of yachts and cruisers. people and once they are hooked these people There are several ways to use the river as are sure to help. The polluted waters of the your way of transportation. Cargo ships, steam Wildcat Creek need special attention and the boats, and recreational boats are only a few ways work of the community to help keep the creek’s to go. So the next time you think of going on a waters clean. trip, think of the Mississippi River. The Wildcat Guardians are a fantastic group of people who work really hard to pre By Christine Borgongo serve our creek. They deserve our respect and Francis Howell High School our interest. Next time you think about throwing trash into a creek, please think twice. Biblography

By Sarah Woodford 1. Steve, Huntley. U.S. News & World Report; Kokomo High School-Downtown Campus The Mississippi: A Nation’s Blocked Artery; March 2, 1981; p. 57-58. References: 1. Kokomo Tribune 5-2-93 and 8-23-93.

73 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 2. Outdoor Highlights; Jan. 20, 1986; Vol. 14. things I enjoy while visiting wetlands. Wetlands are lowland areas that are 3. Shipping Industry; Funk & Wagnalls New saturated with moisture. They are natural Encyclopedia; Vol. 23; Yr. 1986. habitats for wildlife. Marshes, swamps, fens and bogs are examples of wetlands. The term “wetlands” is uses when referring to all of them. The different types of wetlands only differ in minor characteristics. Wetlands provide nature and us with a variety of functions. These functions, not one less important than another, are: flood storage and conveyance, erosion reduction and sediment control, pollution control, wildlife habitats, recreation and education. All of these speak foe themselves, in their importance. Many people here in the United States and around the world view wetlands as waste areas. For this reason more than 35% of the United States’ wetlands were drained by the 1970’s. Since 1818, Illinois has lost more than 95% of its wetlands (7.6 million acres) to farm land, housing and industry. The 1970’s sparked the increasing awareness in the ecological value of wetlands. The United States has undertaken various programs to preserve the remaining few wetlands. Still, wetlands are disappearing. As time goes on, the wetlands will disappear. You may not believe this will, in any Wetlands: Here One Day; Gone The Next way, directly affect you. This is not true. The wetlands provide a home for animals. Do you The wetlands of Cook County, Illinois, want those animals living in your backyard? the United States of America, and indeed the Some commercial fisherman use the wetlands as whole world are in danger of vanishing com a prime fishing spot. Coupled with the loss of pletely. Wetlands provide homes, food, and jobs, you may have to pay more for fish shipped protection for an extremely wide variety of in from out of town. Wetlands are holding animals and plants. With the construction of places for a large amount water. Remove the buildings, houses, roads, and other man made wetlands, and you may end up with a flooded objects, the simple beauty of these small areas basement. on the planet may not be here for the children of The Senators, the Representatives, and the future. They may not be able to enjoy them the President do not do enough. Our state and just as I have, you have, and many others have. Local officials do not do enough. It is time that Ever since I was a small child, my family, my we, the children and the adults, must rise up and cousins, my grandparents, and I have taken challenge the industries, the state, and the walks in wetlands. We walk around admiring government, and voice our opinion. Stop the the beauty that could only be created by nature. building. Stop the draining of our wetlands. The birds flying overhead, the frogs hopping Let up show what the power of the from one place to another, and the wind brush people really means when the people unite ing through the grass are a few of the many

74 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville against the destruction of a natural beauty. This Great Rivers Project natural beauty is not just a pretty view, it pro vides animals a place to live, plants a place to There’s a lot happening on a river. You grow, and humans a place to learn and enjoy. can swim, canoe, walk by the bank, or just sit back and watch the life it gives. By Joe Hudzik You watch as the river seems to just Francis Howell High School trickle along. You imagine how strong that would seem if you tried to walk against the flow. Biblography You sit back and watch a stick float down the river and wonder where it came from. Maybe it 1. American Heritage Illustrated Encyclopedic was knocked into the river when a deer walked Dictionary, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1987. by way up in Itasca. Maybe a kid was chasing his sister with his stick when he dropped it a 2. “Marsh” Encyclopedia Americana, volume couple of hundred yards up stream. Next you 18 page 362-363 Groiler Incorproated, 1988. wonder where the stick is headed and how long it will take to get there. Maybe it will get caught 3. “Wetlands” The World Book Encyclopedia, up in a damn. Maybe it will make it all the way volume 21 page 225. World Book, Incorpo to Paducah, Kentucky. I doubt it will be travel rated, 1990. ing at 84 m.p.h. as I was ticketed for on my last visit. 4. “Illinois Wetlands Management Program” Maybe you’ll just sit back and watch the pamplet Illinois Department of Conservation. birds. The geese are migrating this time of year. You admire how ingeniously they fly in a V and 5. Niering, William A. The Life of the Marsh. wonder if God gave some of his creatures an Published in New York: McGraw-Hill Book innate understanding of the laws of physics we Company and The World Book Encyclopedia, were somehow not blessed with. You also 1966. realize that you had better be careful because they are right above you now, and, well, geese will be geese. Maybe if you look long enough you might see a fish jump. Maybe a bass, or even a salmon. If not you can always go up to the dam and watch the carp. A few people on the shore have lines in the water. They don’t seem to be catching much, but no one seems to upset. There’s sun there’s scenery, there are smiles. Maybe there’s a family picnic going on downstream. You let out a little chuckle as a boy throws his bratty older sister into the river and she yells and screams and ends up laughing. There sure is a lot to see at the river. Maybe you should do this again.

By Eric Jenson Blaine High School

A COLLECTION OF POETRY AND SONGS.

"There is no rushing a river. When you go there, you go at the pace of the water and that pace ties you into a flow that is older than life on this planet. Acceptance of that pace, even for a day, changes us, reminds us of other rhythms beyond the sound of our own heartbeats."

Jeff Rennicke

Like a snake the river winds... An endless line it makes, Lonely river, There are many treasures one can find... winding all through the night. If you have the time it takes, You don’t know where you’re going, but soon you’re out of sight. To understand the river blue... Takes more than just a glimpse, You make me feel so lonely. There are many tests you need to do... I haven’t got a clue To see beyond the glints. why your river haunts me, but yet it is so true. By Andrea Volek Belle Plaine Junior High School By Molly Witt Belle Plaine Junior High School The Long Polluted Train

You are like a long polluted train, winding along the land you claim. Sensing The Outdoors Into you all toxic waste goes, and down you all of it flows. A pair of geese gliding across the ligh blue sky ‘You pollute us and we pollute you back. The sound of rustling leaves in the wind Isn’t it time for a recycle attack? The gently sloping hillsides complemented by If everybody pitches in and helps the Earth, The distant tree line we would be celebrating a whole new birth. The colors of the turning trees, so beautiful A lone tree standing proudly By Angie Stier In a open sea of grass Belle Plaine Junior High School An occasional rock sitting....sitting The river glistens with rays of reflected sun light The smell of fresh Autumn air The River Added to by the trees, leaves, And other parts of nature The river is wild The sight of a man, Too much anger to be caged Who stands out in his natural surroundings Beware the river. Please, Lord, help man to preserve his home

By JakeGiesen By Dave Bohn Belle Plaine Junior High School Blaine High School

Poetic Dreams

I am a river I tend to flow so swiftly, Sweeping away dreams

Moving Slowly, a peaceful scene Take a look I envelope myself in blue and green see what time has left Standing, watching from the ledge Open your eyes Softly lapping the waters edge to the damage around you I am embraced by the river’s song Once clear Singing quietly all day long now soiled by us Suddenly, this water begins to scream x I think I know what it must mean. Watch life Pop cans, paper waste, garbage untold as it fades to death Polluting the beauty that was mine to behold Look at the result I feel this river will cry for years, becoming an of our carelessness enormous cesspool of tears What can be done to fix our mistake By Erica Vickers Blaine High School Take action against the plague of death A River which wipes away purity

What happens to a river Help save Does it vanish like your cold breath? what we have hurt Or splatter like paint— Make it clear... and then wet the land? ...again Does it glow like a star? Or flicker and die— like an old person? By Aaron Pearson Maybe it just floats in the sky Kokomo High School-Downtown Campus like a cloud. Or does it wonder in the crowd?

By Amanda Ramseyer Kokomo High School-Downtown Campus Changes

Calm Untitled Crystal Clear Cool, Crisp, Giving To make this world a better place, Polluted, Dark, Thick We need to come face to face, Murky, Rough We need to open our eyes, Dead We need to realize, What did we do to our rivers? We need to help, We need to try. By Kari Parkos Blaine High School By Alison Albright Kokomo High School-Downtown Campus

Standing on the edge of nowhere The river flows Waiting for tomorrow to come As a whisper. Thinking you can do nothing No one knows Nothing but to succumb- Where it goes.

To the influence of the businesses It can flow from a mountain, That are polluting the water Or into a cave, Feeling hopeless It can flow to an ocean and become a wave. Looking up to the Heavenly Father Or maybe it flows to a hot spring

For some kind of guidance That slowly becomes polluted. From Him who created this land Perfection does not last long: But instead of helping Soon it will be noticed by its smell You just kick at the sand People just say, “Oh, well.”

Asking yourself what you can do But I care Wondering if there’s any hope for you to clean this river, As I stare into the image of hopelessness Well you can help I feel a shiver. There are things you can do Who knows what the outcome will be First pray for guidance I can’t do it all- For God to show you the way help me. Then ask for His help To make a better day By Angie Butler Kokomo High School-Downtown Campus Then follow through with His answers In every way you can And make a better world For every man

By Angie Swartzendruber It’s Only Human Kokomo High School Downtown Campus When a river is bom it is clean and clear like an infant Untitled It is crystal clear like the heart of a child Innocent and curious like the adolescent Liquid With its flow growing strong and wild Dirty, Gross If you pollute us we will die Running, Flowing, Swirling As will the river and the animals inside Polluted, Grimy Water By Kari Parkos Blaine High School By Chris Wardlow Penn High School

w Its beauty once flowed, ater for all to see. the life But its since been killed, the heart the by you and by me. soul of the many com We could’ve saved it, ers of the world ponds la but care we did not. Tees rivers oceans teem with li We kept sending it poisons, fe provider of food for the masses which it constantly fought. the source of relief in time of thirst And through all the years, wet wild calm serene vivacious beautiful we took all its life. destructive unsettled restless skittish creator of the It suffered while we put it wonders the destroyer of the blunders polluted degenerating through much pain and strife languishing deteriorating dying insufficient scarce sea The river’s polluted. nty preservation restoration renewal living flowing The fish we did kill. providing abounding life ecology environment ba And now it has died. lance home vacation food drink we need to The river is still. cherish the water we have and rememb er the life blood that it gives to us and to the wild thank By Joshua Woodall ful astounded amazed Kokomo High School-Downtown Campus obliged satisfied the wonder of the power of wat er

By Austin Coose Kokomo High School-Downtown Campus

Changes

Calm Crystal Clear Cool, Crisp, Giving Polluted, Dark, Thick Murky, Rough Dead What did we do to our rivers?

By Kari Parkos Blaine High School

Like a river Can you hear it crying, In constant motion said the father to his son. Wandering, journeying Never staying in one place Can you hear it crying, Through new experiences said the white tail to her fawn. Learning, growing Changing with each one Can you see it changing, In different directions as the humans have come and gone. Separating, deciding Finding out what’s best Can you see it changing, Life as the losing battle’s won. Wandering, journeying Learning, Growing Can you feel the calmness, Separating, deciding of the river dancing through. Moving like a river Can you stop it’s crying, By Maggie Price she’s dying because of you. Blaine High School By Marin Fuller Blaine High School

Can You Hear It River and Me Can you hear it crying, said the father to his son. The river is like a sunflower blowing in the whispering wind. The river is like a Gecko Can you hear it crying, creeping up a window pane. The river is like a said the white tail to her fawn. piano playing on a melancholy day. The river is like Georgia O’Keefe stroking her flowers on an Can you see it changing, easel. The river is like Abraham Lincoln, as the humans have come and gone. truthful. The river is like Mount Everest, long, winding, and majestic. The river is like an apple Can you see it changing, computer, colored. I am like a sunflower bend as the losing battle’s won. ing in the whispering wind. Sometimes the wind overpowers me, and I dip low among the field of Can you feel the calmness, flowers. But, I get up again. The sunshine makes of the river dancing through. me thrive and be happy; the rain makes me sad and lonely. But no matter what brings me down Can you stop it’s crying, and who hurts me, I know I am a sunflower, she’s dying because of you. blooming on this precious Earth. • By Marin Fuller By Sophia Varma Blaine High School Stanley Clark High School

Cold and lonely is the winter scene, No one around- tis too dark to see. A distant bell sounds a melodic tune, The trees are limp and gray with ice. Beyond the bushes a deer tries to find food, From the horizon a dim light shines curiously, Slowly it peeks out and looks across this land. The tree,lilting its head skyward, seems to smile. The snow melts and the river flows again, Bright green grass jumps from its sleep in jubilation. The little rabbit sticks out his furry nose and sniffs, Prancing about, the deer is no longer hungry. Tiny buds appear on the branches, Small violets sit up and yawn, A songbird sings his praises. All at once flowers bloom as if for a queen, Blue, Yellow, Red, Pink- all alive, full of life. The clouds came gray and sad, They weren’t invited to this celebration. Animals hide and flowers are eager for their gift. Down upon these blooms rain gently falls. The River Believing she is unwanted, The sun slowly walks away, I am the river. And this land again becomes gray. They see me as I pass by. They stop to stare and begin to cry. By Megan J. Lawrence-Buhr Is it no constant motion with Nature? Blaine High School My deep water life, full of adventure? Or is it the power I take in from their souls? The hypnotic splashing with no common goal. But why must they gander on me with doubt? For one day I’ll be gone with nothing but drought. I am dying, can’t they see? They reach out to me in their dreams. But then realize I am no longer free. Ignorance and self indulgence haunts us all. When it creeps up behind us, feel the fall. Weeping people dry your eyes. There is someone that will hear you. Together, one and one, we will make two. I am the river, ragingly. The raging river...that’s me.

By Megan Schumacher Blaine High School

82 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville The River Creatures on the Test Site The river has many beauties, Fish both great and small. Slimy There are fish, animals, and scenery Slippery which make the river call. Swimming The river speaks of strange and weird Bird past memories. Fluffy Of once what was a flowing stream Feathery is clogged with beer cans and debris. Flying The river used to laugh and sing, Man like a little child Pink But now what we have done to it, Perverse is anything but mild. Polluting There are many things that can be done, to lend a helping hand. By Sean M. Lundequam All you really need to do is Blaine High School say that you can.

By Bryan Ward Kokomo High School Downtown Campus The River The River of Dreams I open my eyes and look upon the emotions of a love Floating down the river A love that grows and chums and not knowing where the end is flows only dreaming of what’s to was granted from above come and what lies ahead maybe adventure and maybe An unrestrained and flowing fear, but all the same force your dreams keep flowing in your mind. that swells and rolls over all. My mind is drowning in a blur as I’m swept past all recall One last time you start to travel down the same river and hoping it will be the same and remembering One cannot control such a power how it use to look. as the raging current goes Ride the joys, relax and love Now as you the feeling as it flows start to travel, you notice all Love is like a river rush the trees, bushes, and animals are gone and now replaced with trash, both mysteries hidden deep useless trash and more, then you ask They taunt you with serenity then surrender to their keep yourself, “Was this the same river, My River of Dreams?” By Tom Meier Blaine High School By Cyndi Williams Kokomo High School

First Person Narrative: And the white collar conservative man

Came to me and said The Earth is dying And soon too will you be dead

Me: Stand back and take look for yourself Because it is surely easy to see You can do more with a conscience than pointing your plastic finger at me

White Collar Conservative: Just give me a story and I’ll take all the credit With all the glory no one could tell me from one or another

Me: You see all and hear all but you can’t comprehend a thing you see living with eyes closed your opinions are as bold as can be

So stand tall in your sitting chairs and hang your pictures on your wall

But think of what I showed you And listen to what you saw

By Chris Carmichael Kokomo High School

Lightning, wind, snow, and rain Feel the Earth Round the year they come again move beneath your feet, and know Icy water reflects the flashes As we run the water splashes She is alive! Slipping and sliding we will hide, Feel her change, feel her grow.. " And wait until the storm subsides Feel the Sky Living in the wilderness, smile upon you Fearing for my life And the Sun warm you- Delicate ecosystem Hear the Wind that is their voices say: “You and everything you know is alive!” Overcoming strife See the River, See the Water The leaves, the woods, which teems and abounds with crawling, scaled, swimming, shimmering The babbling brooks life Will people return Flow into the Sea What they have once took. to be bom again as a single Flower By David Mote The Bird, the Fish, the Tree Kokomo High School Downtown Campus lived lifetimes before you tread this Earth. They grew, and changed, and lived but, the footprints of man A Masterpiece leave too heavy a mark upon the Earth. It tumbles carelessly o’re the pebbles and stones, Know that she is alive... Singing the songs of nature. Shadows of surrounding trees are thrown against By Erin Elkins its Kokomo High School-Downtown Campus crystal surface. The rippling sounds of the flowing waters to the never-ending end, What is the Wildcat Creek ? Dew-kissed leaves are subsiding from the autumn-brought It is a gift... accept it. trees. It’s It is an adventure...dare it. It is a mystery...unfold it. A MASTERPIECE CREATED It is a struggle...face it. It is beauty...praise it. By Jenn Heronemus It is an opportunity...take it. Kokomo High School-Downtown Campus It is a goal...achieve it.

By Jenny Carver Kokomo High School-Downtown Campus

Man There once was a little river, What is his plan? Who ran through the woods so quietly. Wherever he goes he leaves a trail of Her sweet voice singing destruction And her cool hand touching all the creatures. He is destroying his yard of seven hills The river saw many years pass and people coming and and seven ponds, going, this is of his of his construction Children played and sang on her banks, Picnicking and visiting. Man has become lazy And the river realizing that she was very old cried out! Trying to find an easier, cheaper way to But the voice she heard out was not the sweet one of do things at her youth. whatever the cost It was hard and tired, she looked at herself closely. And for this all the trees, plants, and And saw the beauty of her dress was tattered and tom, animals will so be greatly worn. lost All because of the likes of men. The things that Man is doing seems Her Graceful journey now a twisted, dried up path. somewhat crazy Her cool touch no small creature longed to feel. And the river Man thinks that he can solve everything cried out once more as she slowly died. with machines Making new rivers, lakes, and forests, reforming the landscape By Laura E. Emrick For Man’s destiny, he is trying to escape Kokomo High School-Downtown Campus Man has always be at conflict with himself, and this is his main thing

After many years of trying to create man’s dream, it has turned into his worst nightmare. WATER And as he awakes from his dazed and confused slumber, a The water that we need cold sweat he yells Rushes down the stream with speed “Oh sh**” But we all abuse “What have I done?” And we also overuse “Oh my God, what have I begun?” This natural water that we need Then Man says “Phew”, “It was only a Is disappearing with great speed. dream. Or was it? By: Tom By Joannie Allen Kokomo High School-Downtown Campus Pleasant Valley High School

Nature grounded in the clutches of men, A step backward, flowers flourish , Forests and mountains crushed without any A step foreward, flowers perish. remain. A glance to the past, where nature roam, Wild lives intruded by civil affairs, A glance to the future, where nature be doom Smoke and darkness filled the city air. A deep breath filled with dusty smog, SickSiess and hopenessless invaded the glory A sleep that lies Mother Earth land, Quickly it marches on with a simple command. By Ming Liu It lives to conquer, to conquer all lives, Kokomo High School-Downtown Campus It lives to destroy, to destroy all hopes.

By Ming Liu Kokomo High School-Downtown Campus The River

I gave you a drink to quench your thirst The Wildcat Creek I gave you relief from the hot summer sun I gave you peace when you sat on my banks I gave you enjoyment when your life grew weary Your rippling waves are pushed along But the mouth I have fed so generously has bitten as swans and mallards sing their song. me You house and feed so many creatures, In return for my hard work and dedication whom depend upon your special features. You give me Your beauty and your flowing grace Chemicals contribute to our human race. Toxics Your gifts are a blessing, heaven sent, Garbage a vital part of this environment. Waste God’s creation for our use and joy, You have broken my spirit and soiled my soul for us to nurture, not destroy. Now it's your job to correct your mistake Will you?

By Nicole Cothem By Tish Bolton Kokomo High School-Downtown Campus Kokomo High School

Untitled

Liquid Brown, Muddy Moving, Shining, Winding Dirty, Shadowy Creek

By Kandi Bailey Penn High School

The poison breath of industry is in the air. And we cannot breathe but no one asks, “Who put it there?”

‘Cause we did it all ourselves. We cannot blame some other. And all that we have learned We’ve learned from one another. There’s a price to pay.

The war’s begun. And all that we have said Has to be done.

It used to be, when Springtime came, the world rejoiced. But now, as nature grows through trash, we have no choice.

As this world is slowly dying Everyone must lend a hand. Our only hope’s in trying

To save this precious land

The earth’s our home, Our source of life, That if we do not save Will die and with it Take all forms of life_all forms of life

The job was their’s but no one tried, so now it’s our’s. To restore the world to perfect form, a task so hard.

Water Cold, clear Roaring, rushing, bubbling Home for many organisms H20 Fish By Kylie Daniels Whitcomb High School Fish Beautiful and graceful Swimming, flying and moving through the water Untitled with great ease Aquatic animals I’m like a silent river— I like to stay silent and not be heard. By Kerrie Lehman I just like to listen to others. Pleasant Valley High School

I am like a rapid running river— I am sharp and I am heard when I talk. Mississippi I speak my mind and I don’t let others bother me. Mississippi Huge, polluted By Mary Cunningham Flowing, polluting, churning Penn High School Killing fish and wildlife Cesspool

Water By Matt Kline Pleasant Valley High School It’s something that we need to survive. The surface water Water is polluted, so is the sea. Flowing mystically We are dumping Surrounded by a swirling mist garbage, oil, and sewage in it. Running quickly We can’t Over the small, smooth pebbles use the rain. Once clean It’s polluted, too. Now stained with man So, I ask Once peaceful What are we doing? Now raging with waste

By Emily Pfeffer By Molly Strothkamp Pleasant Valley High School Pleasant Valley High School

Outdoors The river is like a dandelion, blowing its Colorful, Cool seed across the land. Fishing, Hiking, Camping The river is like a pack of rats, leaving Slimy, Sunny destruction in its wake. Wonderful! The river is like a flute, continually bursting forth with its majestic song. By Chad Obert The river is like Monet, its colors flow Penn High School ing together as one. The river is like Mark Twain, its lan guage bubbling throughout the land. The river is like the rolling plains; Daydream endless. The river is like an apple computer; all If you listen closely you can almost colors combined together as one. hear the water pass beneath the frame of a birch bark canoe as it By Sonya Sterba travels up the river, and Stanley Clark High School if you stare long enough at the river, (you won’t see your face but you will be looking at the birch bark canoe and the water parting at the tip Untitled as if an Indian was standing there beckoning it to do so. There is a snag in the forest Limp, dead and brown Then you start to believe you are No leaves left on it truly there and They’ve all fallen to the ground. you are helping to unload the frail canoe of its cargo. Limbs rotted and soft Covered with green, fluffy moss Your daydream ends Breaking it down slowly as abruptly as it started. Making more of the moss. A passing car has awakened you to the reality that you are merely sitting Soon it will be gone on a rock staring at the river. In a hundred years or so You are not alone in an unchanged wilderness, So soon it will be gone but in the middle of a booming city. Another will start to grow.

By Chris Efta By Barbara Smith Stanley Clark High School Whitcomb High School

The breeze was cool and crisp. Water was quite cold The leaves rustled beneath my feet. Rocks slippery to walk on The limbs of the trees swayed back and forth. No twisted ankles. The smell of fresh air and trees. The sight of the colorful leaves browning. By Romko Stanchak Peaceful Whitcomb High School

B'y Crystal Campbell Whitcomb High School Untitled

Waters Forest Running swiftly Cold, clear, and full of life Peaceful, quiet It makes me feel so fresh and new Growing, moving, dying Rivers Home to many things Trees By Amber Harker Lakeland Junior High School By Kylie Daniels Whitcomb High School Silent Prisoners

I sit amongst the trees Leaves and on the grass, all objects with life. Green, brown I sit and wonder Changing, falling, decomposing if they hear me speak. Going from green to brown Do any of my actions Foliage affect their lives? They are all silent prisoners By Kylie Daniels of this world. Whitcomb High School No one hears their cries for they are quiet - taken for granted. Forest Colors They give us life yet are ignored. Greens, oranges, yellows, and reds as the leaves Without them, no breath Greys, browns, greens and white as the trees would be breathed, Blues, grays and white round out the picture as no songs would be sung. the sky. The world too — would be silent.

By Romko Stanchak By Amy Homstra Whitcomb High School Yankton High School

I go by the water - it feels good to me, water flowing in a stream, I feel a gentle breeze go through the trees, While beams of sunlight hit, Look at the birds fly by so free, The water like gleaming sand. Yes, this place is good to me. The bank shows time, By Andrew Kenall Over the peaceful river, Village Wbods Middle School That flows never-ending.

The trees peacefully sway, Over the gleaming water, The rocks are wet and slippery, Where I Sit In the golden brown water, As I silently sit That flows forever, never stopping on the river’s bank To take a breath the musty smell of wet leaves drifts to my nose. By Augusta Harshman Village Woods Middle School A soft spring breeze blows across the water as the shining sun warms my bare legs. Immortal River

Beneath me, Flying along its course long dead grass cutting a path covers the cool damp of its own design ground where I sit. Waves rippling water sparkling Birds chirp cheerfully trying to imitate in the bare branches the night that moan mournfully in the whistling wind. Ever moving never slowing Cars whiz by on the highway back to its inevitable shattering the peaceful quiet while a train blares its horn beginning in the distance. By Ben Klein Fluffy white clouds Anoka High School float in the bright blue sky and appear again in the river’s running water.

By Angie Hill Anoka High School

As I silently sit As I sit on the banks, on the river’s bank And watch the river flow by, the musty smell of wet leaves I feel the warm, gentle sun, drifts to my nose. And see the bright, blue sky. A soft spring breeze The strong warm winds, blows across the water Convince the trees to dance, as the shining sun The leaves wait a minute, suspicious, warms my bare legs. Then decide to take a chance. Beneath me, They slowly start to move, long dead grass Then take off in flight, covers the cool damp Soaring in circles, ground And flying out of sight where I sit.

By Angie Hill They leave uncovered, Anoka High School The fresh sprouts of green, That are starting to wake up, And beginning to be seen. Immortal River

Flying along its course With all the new life, cutting a path I can’t help but smile, of its own design I’m full of a new hope, That I haven’t had in a while. Waves rippling water sparkling By Alisa Halseth trying to imitate Anoka High School the night

Ever moving The River never slowing back to its inevitable Clean clear fresh water beginning Beautiful pebbles shine through Fish splash happily By Ben Klein Anoka High School By Lisa Combs Lakeland Junior High School

Sittin’ on the banks of the Rum, Her waters are the blood of the land, I peer from behind an old shady oak tree. Bringing nourishment and life A peaceful, tranquil river ogles at me, Where none existed before, With a smile on its face, And giving existence to man’s cities. Like an innocent child. Both graceful and cumbersome bridges Span her gentle waters - TWEET! TWEET! As she moves steady on her destination; Stopping for no one. A boisterous bird softly serenades me, She whispers in our ears With passion and melody. The songs of the past, Flaky fall leaves chime in, And gives wings to imagination With help from a minute gust of wind. So that we might fly to the future. They dance around the old oak tree. Her waters carry us (As they have carried our ancestors) To where we dream to go; Lapping water, Where we can be who we dream to be. Chirping birds, She is non restricting; Rustling leaves, Embracing everything in her path All perform like an immaculate concert at And giving a home to those in need . Symphony Hall. But her tranquil waters muffle her cries Teeny tiny diamonds sparkle swiftly down the And reveal the stains of man. mighty river, These stains cannot be erased, Drifting the good oF memories , But they can be faded. Drowning evil forever Man need only shed his blindfold To discover her simple beauty. My spot on the Rum is sincerely serene, If he looks deeper, he can see Tranquillity echoes through tiny droplets of Her salty tears often disguised in the water. Tainted water; and perhaps then All becoming one, Will he lend a hand to the dying river. The River By Christine Beaubien By Beth Anderson Anoka High School Anoka High School

Rivers

Rivers crisp and clear Like a well of life flowing Beautiful and clear

By Micheál Waltz Lakeland Junior High School

94 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville A River Moment Beauty and the Beast Quiet Whirling wind and rustling leaves, Quickly interrupted Musty dew and fallen trees. Loud birds Rabbits race in the warming sun, Laughing with delight Chickadees chirp in song and fun. Sun hits dark water Gurgling Beauty laughs nearby, Suddenly a kaleidoscope of colors Watching geese about to fly. Old leaves smell like a musty , ancient attic Only to be blown away without a second But humans live by rivers too, thought With little thought for what they do. River slides delicately downstream Cans and trash are left behind, Rush it does not Without a care or thought in mind. Smooth as silk water Beware humans who do this deed, Silently laps at edge “Stop now, stop now!” Beauty pleads. Wind blows recklessly By Clark Bennett Without heed Anoka High School Fortunately river lives below Forever and far it will flow

Wonders of the River By Jenna Tschida Anoka High School Fluffy clouds gradually Floating through the Sky like leaves floating On water; Trees swaying swiftly To the music of the wind; Birds singing the Joys of spring; Brilliant green buds Silently emerging A sign of new life; Pair of geese Effortlessly swimming Against the current.

By Jenny Hanson Anoka High School

Water waltzes smoothly amid the expansive Sitting by the river river. Geese go swimming by Twisting and carefree, The water ripples striving to see me. The wind rustles the leaves Crisp cool winds push past its ripple-stricken A sweet smell blows my way surface. White, puffy clouds float over head " Awakening water spirits, Like marshmellows on the top of hot chocolate trying to impress me. The bright, warm sun Reeds rise from the water’s glass lid creating a Surrounds all life shelter for On the river ebony birds. Flying and thrashing, By Jenny Nolan singing back to me. Anoka High School Distance disguises the frogs who compose elaborate staccato songs. Chortling and harmonizing, The Feel of Nature auditioning for me. Peacefulness permeates the entire river atmo Banging in a tree, sphere. High above the river, Calming and soothing, I perceive nature. welcoming me. The moist earth, And new-fangled grass, By Laura Hoch Produce a sweet and sour smell. Anoka High School The wind whispers swiftly, Like a God exhaling, Swishing the crisp, brown weeds. The chirping birds, Soar high above. An occasional boat flows upstream, Rippling the liquid pool. The warm brilliant sun, Glistens in the cool water, Where geese glide past, Green moss and brown cattails.

By Julie Ulrich Anoka High School

Dark, mysterious, foreboding. suddenly.... Light. Awake, alive. Sapphire blue water, " isolated islands of emerald algae, ^glints from the sun, hints of hidden.treasure Pulsing. waves lapping on the river banks, It Flows An optical illusion, endless ebb and flow minute ripples, titanic swells. Its waters flow endlessly Beautiful. seeking only the sea Fascinating. flowing over the land Perfect, slowly and silently green plastic bottle moving and meandering dirty paper cup then quicking empty beer bottles human thoughtlessness It flows without purpose polluting..... only knowing the current Whisper of the wind through the trees. rushing over the sand Birds whistle and chirp. tumbling and twisting Secret code, foreign language, swelling and swallowing communicating, then calming yet you don’t understand traveling the distance Intriguing. finding its way to the sea Serene. disappearing Perfect, traffic By Elizabeth Bradley noisy clamor Anoka High School cars, planes, trucks rumbling, accelerating FASTER FASTER FASTER FASTER polluting.... Unseen noises, Haiku somewhere out there. Sadness. In Minnesota Because you know. the river runs all over You can’t escape it.... The Mississippi

Even by the banks of the river. By Ron Letness Minneapolis North High School By Laura Lee Anoka High School

Blue sky I sit by the peaceful river reflects to my eyes. Sensing the beginnings of April and May The hot sun beams upon my face Blue river The gentle breeze blows through my hair flows into the horizon.. Geese and ducks glide silently by Chickadees chirp vibrantly in the sky Hot Sun Ducks quack Brings sweat to my brow.. Geese honk Leaves flutter as the death of winter blows away Spring breeze Spring is uncovered with beautiful bouquets freshens the air. Trees bud with new life The river water shimmers like diamonds in light Damp earth Reeds and cattails fill the shore squishes between my toes. The earth blooms with signs of spring

Soft breeze By Megan West rustle the leaves. Anoka High School

Gentle wind waves to me in the river.

Waves to me Death of Nature

...Beckons to me Tangled trees twanging tirelessly The feel of a tick, ick ...To enter the cool water, Crying in the dirt Flying in the wind But I refuse... Dying in the sun Students lying lifelessly Standing riverside, The wind swirling sporadically staring into the cool blue. The relaxing rejuvenation But then the end of natural awe Transfixed by its beauty, Smog, the city’s exhalation mesmerized by its purity Death to the river And her siblings ...here I will stay. The city has come, an era has ended It is the death of Nature By Mary Wood Anoka High School By Mike Bomier Anoka High School

warm wind whipping The river’s dirty smells of summer So dirty you can’t swim much birds purr in the distance Someone must clean it! nature’s song By Conrad Dillon others, eager to join, call back Minneapolis North High School cool, inviting water gusts of wind create waves that lap at the crackly leaves suddenly

the clouds steal the sun The Exit of Winter chill in the air moments later, its rays peek through the clouds Old dead forest encompasses me, again warmth crunchy grayish leaves embrace my feet. Wind whisks through the trees the rhythm of the woods continues and more dead leaves flutter away. peace the roar of a truck Underneath, revealing dainty green buds beauty spoiled bursting with life. A great expanse of the mighty river the gentle hum is no more spreads out in front of me. sadness if we had only known...... Dark and solemn solitude disturbed by the cool breeze. By Rachel Miller Warm rays of sunshine glance off the water Anoka High School causing it to sparkle like a diamond.

Wisps of cottony white clouds float carefree through the pure blue sky. Water is special A deep must settles over the forest This water is so dirty signifying that a spring cleaning is in order. We must keep it clean And off in the distance, birds celebrate the exit of Winter By Shanell Stanback with an endless cheerful chatter. Minneapolis North High School Brimming with young fresh life, the forest anxiously awaits a full bloom.

By Sarah Mehrer Anoka High School

As the river flows Thick black muck Dead decaying leaves Hid Two stately Canadian geese glide by the shore den rusted can. Brown cattails rattle their dead stalks. time As the wind blows patience A blackbird struggles against the wind, then nature revealed gives in beauty Silent, regal wood ducks scuttle through the warm light reeds. cool As the bird crows breeze. Minute bullfrogs croak a never-ending chorus song Freshly plowed fields of clouds roll overhead. filled As the gras grows air Chickadees, Red-winged Blackbirds, and Robins soft call for company wind Gangly limbs of giant gray Cottonwoods sway towering trees in the wind. calming birds As the tree bows complete silence, Horrid methane wafts my way soft wind Muskrats, like boats, cut through the water. towering trees As the river flows. calming birds complete silence, By Ted Treska performance Anoka High School tiny turtle Canadian geese woodpecker moss Untitled flies, puzzle The Mississippi piece of bark It’s totally polluted rock, And it really stinks! forgotten sky soft fluffy By Jamie Edwards clouds, Minneapolis North High School underwater revealed. Man’s power to destroy, inability to create, and responsibility to protect. Untitled By Wade Litke Sad Mississippi Anoka High School Seems like a life on it’s own So long, so lonely

By Maila Yang Minneapolis North High School

River Water can be clean peace, quiet, contentment Or water can be dirty geese gliding graciously But we need water! softly swaying water birds cooing conversation By Sai Vang breeze sending leaves soaring Minneapolis North High School " crunching crispy dead leaves x slightly swaying trees

Spring scents Haiku Chain softly shining sun long cat-tails dancing River deep and wide majestically sparkling water A big mirror of the sky trees budding green Now the sun can swim distant whistle blows Along with the moon now peace again The stars float side by side too Dipping and diving By Toni Rahn It changes like us Anoka High School Sometimes its vision unclear With snow, rain and fog A big deep ribbon Mirroring the night and day Forever moving Untitled By Veronica Nelson We live next to the Minneapolis North High School Mississippi River-Boy, and is it dirty!

Robert Tischhner Minneapolis North High School

Untitled Untitled The river is clear It moves fast like a rocket You flow so lovely The river is nice Beautiful Mississippi You make me happy Lisa Poppe Minneapolis North High School By Jenny Nye Minneapolis North High School

Waves River and ripples Fast, slow Twinkling in the moonlight Living, growing, moving Everlasting Pulse of a nation Refreshment By Beau Kins By Shanell Stanback Minneapolis North High School Minneapolis North High School

Untitled Untitled River Running through cities Smooth, rough In valleys; they are Runs, ripples, waves Very big trails of water Home of many animals Every river has a name like Mississippi Mississippi River By Lowell Samuel By Dalenna Hill Minneapolis North High School Minneapolis North High School

Untitled Untitled

Washing Water All of our Clean, fresh Tender Drinking, bathing, swimming Earth’s Key to my life Resources H20

By Tamiko French By Dorothy Drayton Minneapolis North High School Minneapolis North High School

Diamantes Untitled Water Wet, clean River Thirst-quenching, soothing, mouth-watering Long, dirty River, ocean, Antarctic, glacier Boating, swimming, fishing Freezing, changing, shining Let’s clean it up Frozen, cold Mississippi Ice By Kristin Dancho By Marcus Zackery Minneapolis North High School Minneapolis North High School

I go by the water - it feels good to me, The beautiful spring is coming here, I feel a gentle breeze go through the trees, The sounds of birds mating is a delight to my ear Look at the birds fly by so free, The sight of seeing insects on the ground makes Yes, this place is good to me. me look all around, The sound of the water makes me want to take a swim, with all my friends, I will always clean up the litter that people have By Andrew Kenall thrown, Village Woods Middle School Once it is done I will look around and see what I have done. Going to the river makes me happy, Leaving makes me sad, Forever Flowing I will always go back to the river to see what I have found. water flowing in a stream, While beams of sunlight hit, By Kim Miller The water like gleaming sand. Village Woods Middle School The bank shows time, Over the peaceful river, That flows never-ending. Water

The trees peacefully sway, Water Over the gleaming water, cold, clear The rocks are wet and slippery, rippling, gurgling, crashing home to many fish In the golden brown water, H20 That flows forever, never stopping To take a breath Margie Smith Whitcomb High School

By Augusta Harshman Village Woods Middle School

Foliage

Walking through the woods The leaves falling like a blanket rustling like music the colors like a painting.

By SuAnn Taplin Whitcomb High School

A river is a source of love As the years of yesterday passed by, It cradles the life that it is made of. I came to accept the river The fish of the water swim with grace in all stages. Knowing their heart is in this place. Flood, drought, or mud The beautiful colors at which I glance the river was always like a magnificent beast. Put me in a delightful trance. Gently rolling at times " A river is a quiet place and furiously roaring at others. For those of you who like your space. Sometimes it was barely audible. Above all, it always survived. By Stephanie Ferdig Now the river Yankton High School is facing its greatest challenge. There is an ominous and threatening cloud of danger Cinquains hovering over it This cloud has a horrible River and unfortunately man-made name - Fast, slow Pollution! Living, growing, moving It’s almost possible to see Pulse of a nation the river shaking in its bed at the effects of this killer. By Beau Kins I cannot accept Minneapolis North High School this stage of the river and neither should you.

By Shannon Muff Dirty River Clark County R-l High School The river’s dirty So dirty you can’t swim much Someone must clean it! Untitled By Conrad Dillon Minneapolis North High School The wind blew and made the trees sway and the leaves rustle. River The sound of a tiny trickle as the stream flows down the Running through cities hillside. In valleys; they are The wind stops, Very big trails of water Silence. Every river has a name like Mississippi River By Melissa Lawrence Whitcomb High School By Dalenna Hill Minneapolis North High School

Water The river is clear Clean, fresh It moves fast like a rocket Drinking, bathing, swimming The river is nice Key to my life H20 By Lisa Poppe Minneapolis North High School By Dorothy Drayton Minneapolis North High School River

River Smooth, rough Runs, ripples, waves Home of many animals Mississippi

By Lowell Samuel ' Minneapolis North High School

The River Untitled The Mississippi You flow so lovely It’s totally polluted Beautiful Mississippi And it really stinks! You make me happy By Jamie Edwards By Jenny Nye Minneapolis North High School Minneapolis North High School

River The River River Long, dirty Sad Mississippi Boating, swimming, fishing Seems like a life on it’s own Let’s clean it up So long, so lonely Mississippi By Maila Yang By Kristin Dancho Minneapolis North High School Minneapolis North High School

Leaves softly dropping, We live next to the River slowly flowing. Mississippi River-Boy, Birds flying overhead; talking and is it dirty! with their little bird voices. Clear blue sky, By Robert Tischhner coldness nipping at your Minneapolis North High School nose. See the geese, in a V, flying south for the winter. Haiku These are the signs of fall. In Minnesota By Monica Johnson the river runs all over Eden Prairie High School The Mississippi

By Ron Letness Stuck Minneapolis North High School

Clomping down the riverbank, Big boots on my feet I take a step into the water, And this is where I meet: A gooy, sticky bottom of mud Water and realize I can’t go farther. I start to turn around, you know, Water can be clean and realize I’m STUCK in this crud! Or water can be dirty But we need water! By Monica Johnson Eden Prairie High School By Sai Vang Minneapolis North High School

Diamantes Acrostics Water Wet, clean Waves Thirst-quenching, soothing, mouth-watering and ripples River, ocean, Antarctic, glacier Twinkling in the moonlight Freezing, changing, shining Everlasting Frozen, cold Refreshment Ice By Shanell Stanback By Marcus Zackery Minneapolis North High School Minneapolis North High School

A river is a source of love Water is special It cradles the life that it is made of. This water is so dirty The fish of the water swim with grace We must keep it clean Knowing their heart is in this place. The beautiful colors at which I glance By Shanell Stanback Put me in a delightful trance. Minneapolis North High School A river is a quiet place For those of you who like your space.

By Stephanie Ferdig Yankton High School

Untitled

Washing All of our Tender Earth’s Resources

By Tamiko French Minneapolis North High School

Haiku Chain Untitled River deep and wide A big mirror of the sky A walk in the woods Now the sun can swim with the calm sound of the wind Along with the moon and the crackling sound of leaves and trees The stars float side by side too breaking beneath my feet Dipping and diving I come to a tree that has marsh on it It changes like us that is decomposing the tree Sometimes its vision unclear walking by trees that have fungi on them With snow, rain and fog and an erratic that was dropped by a glacier A big deep ribbon 10-12000 years ago Mirroring the night and day now that I leave the woods I realize how Forever moving old yet how beautiful the woods really are.

By Veronica Nelson By Blanca Gonzalez Minneapolis North High School Whitcomb High School

A COLLECTION OF CREATIVE WRITINGS

“The Negro Speaks of River”

I’ve known rivers: I’ve known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins.

My soul has grown deep like rivers.

I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young. I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep. I looked upon the Nile and raised pyramids above it. I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln went down to New Orleans, and I’ve seen its muddy bosom turn all golden in sunset.

I’ve known rivers: Ancient, dusky rivers.

My soul has grown deep like rivers.

By Langston Hughes

©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Mighty Jack They cried for help, but no one heard them and they soon gave up. Just then, one of the crew It was the spring of 1869, and in the members got a wonderful idea and spoke up. town of Belle Plaine not a day went by when the “Why don’t we call for Mighty Jack? He’ll people didn’t see at least three steamboats rescue us!" The crew thought this over and traveling down the Minnesota River. Sometimes decided that anything was worth a try. So they these steamboats would dock at the levee in yelled at the top of their lungs for Mighty Jack. Belle Plaine and unload some of the goods that It didn’t take long before the ground started to they had received from Mankato. shake and rumble. Mighty Jack had heard them The men who owned and conducted and he was coming to help. these boats took pride in their jobs and they No one knew when Mighty Jack had first would often name their boats after a sweetheart come and helped someone. They just knew that or child. “Mollie Mohler” and “Frank Steel” if you were in trouble and needed help, all you were among some of the best boats around and had to do was yell “Mighty Jack” and he would their length and attractiveness were known all come. along the river. The longest and most attractive He was very tall and very wide, with steamboat ever to sail the Minnesota was called broad shoulders and dark skin. He always wore the “Jeanette Robert.” Named after the daughter a plaid shirt and work pants with leather boots, of owner Louis Robert, this boat was believed to and he always had an ax. There wasn’t a time have gotten the most business out of all the when a large smile hadn’t been spread across his steamboats. round, good-natured face. Now, the spring of 1869 was not a dry As the rumbling became louder and the one and soon the river banks were flooded for sky began to darken, the crew looked up and miles along the river. Usually the Jeanette saw Mighty Jack had arrived. With one hand, he Robert would pick up goods in Mankato and gently picked up the boat and set her back into deliver them in either Belle Plaine or Shakopee, the river. The crew yelled their thanks as Mighty but one trip required her to go much further than Jack turned and walked away. that. The dealer in Mankato had made a deal with a dealer in St. Paul and the goods had to go By Becky Leonard much further than it normally went. So, one Belle Plaine Junior High School bright and sunny morning, the Jeanette Robert set out on the long three-day trip. The first two days went well, but were extremely hot and the sun shone down without mercy. Since the river had flooded, the boat wasn’t too concerned about staying on the direct path of the river and she tended to glide along the flood plain. On the second night, the crew went to sleep and the captain stayed up on deck so he could guide the boat. If things went as planned, they would arrive in St. Paul the next day around 3:00. The captain fell asleep, though, and the boat glided along the flood plain until it hit a large sandbar and became stuck. The captain and crew awoke the next morning to find themselves stranded on the sandbar with the river flowing around them.

109 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Voyage to the Future point? Today, 1994,1 think we can all answer My name is Jon Kettle. I live on my the question Jon Kettle was asking. Something own, just me and the wilderness. I keep myself needs to be done to the Minnesota River and the busy exploring the rivers in Minnesota in my habitat around it. You can help out by joining a canoe, from town to town to get to know its site river clean-up group or just going with a friend and the people. to pick up any litter you see near the river and its First I started on the banks of St. Peter on habitat. May 21, F874, heading to the Mississippi in Minneapolis. Around a week or so later, I came By Chrissy Bigaouette to a place on the river called Blakely. There I Belle Plaine Junior High School decided to rest a while, so I went to Blakely’s hotel. I stayed there for three days and got to know the people and town. One day while I was watching the grain elevator being built, Mr. Dean, the town’s founder came over and talked about how he Help! made this land into a booming town. Mr. Dean said, “It was a period of town sites growing I am the mighty Minnesota River. My everywhere. I had no thought of a town site waters were once beautiful and clean. My body until I saw that the railroad was headed this way. was crystal clear and not harmful to anything or I also realized that the river ran past so it would anyone. Beautiful, lush, green grasses grew be another good way for transportation. So I along my banks. The fish that chose to swim in started to lay out a town site called Blakely. The me were healthy and happy. The two-hundred town is named after Captain Blakely, one of the foot cottonwood stood proudly at my shore and important stockholders in the railroad company. shook cheerfully as the calm winds whisked It was getting to be a very busy town. I built a Now, everything is different. My murky, house and served meals to train men and pas polluted water is frightening to everything. The sengers. I became the first postmaster and fish that dwell in my body are silently poisoned station agent in Blakely. Right now we are and left to die a long, disgusting death. The working on putting the elevator up. Ferries and cottonwoods are half-dead and ashamed to live barges come up and down the river carrying on my shore. Algae and parasites are disgusted goods and people to the city. at the sight of my body. Yet, this turn for the “Well, thank you for the nice stay in worst is not my fault. Could it be the factories Blakely. I should get started down the river that allow their waste to drain into me? Or again.” I went to the edge of the river and set could it be the farmers who spray pesticides and my canoe on the water. As I traveled down the insecticides on their fields and don’t care about river, there were ferries passing by. There were where it goes after that? Or maybe it’s the so- also some barges that passed by once in a while. called “intelligent” people who gave me my very Next I came upon a town called Belle fragrant new neighbors, sewage ponds? Or Plaine. I decided to pass by the town. I contin could it be the everyday people who think one ued my trip, looking at the beautiful landscape car ride isn’t hurting anything? What about me? and the clean river. As I was sitting in my canoe I’ve been taking this abuse for so long. admiring the wilderness, I thought about the What can I do to save Myself? Absolutely future of the river. Will the river and wilderness nothing, except ask you for help. You are the be always this clean or will the animal in people only ones who can make it known that I need conquer the river and wilderness to a threatening help. You have just read a summary of my life.

110 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville I don’t want you to feel pity for me or just forget Beyond Repair about it Get excited and tell everyone that I’m in need of a lot of TLC ASAP! Gabrielle was a girl who grew up by Blakely, Minnesota, in a house on a hill over By Heather Noll looking the Minnesota River. It was a beautiful Belle Plaine Junior High School year in 1994, and Gabby was seventeen years old, and to her life was just beginning. She spent her days sitting on the white sandbars of Jake Bunyan the river, writing, reading and listening to music on her headphones. The sun was always reflect In the great Midwest Plains of the United ing off the water and shining through the lifeless States, there was a man who wasn’t well-known. trees. Gabrielle especially liked the river be This man’s name was Jake Bunyan. He was the cause it was quiet. The only sounds were the lost twin brother of the well-known Paul smooth sound of the water rolling over the rocks Bunyan. Well, Jake did many things that Paul and the rustle of the branches when the breezes ended up getting the credit for, and this is the blew over. The ground was cold and numbing recollection of just one of them... and as she sat there, the business and chaos of Jake Bunyan was eating dinner in a diner the world seemed to fade away. To Gabby, with Tim, his clumsy red moose, when he heard nothing could be better. of some trouble that was going on in a small Soon things began to change. After town. The two of them left St. Paul, traveled Gabby graduated, she left home for a college south, and in two hours reached a place called 130 miles away. Over time, Gabby began to Belle Plaine. They stopped there to rest when a forget about the time she spent at the river. man came up to them and said, “I can sense that Marriage, a new job, children and the hassles of there will be a wave that will wipe out the bridge life clouded her mind as she grew further and they are building down on Grove Street” further away from the days she had known. These words confused Jake and Tim, but Forty-seven years later in the year 2041, sixty- the people that knew crazy Mike just ignored four year old Gabrielle gathered her family what was said. together for a family reunion. Two of Gabby’s “At what time does this wave get here?” grandchildren began talking about the things that asked Jake. they had recentiy been learning in school about “In less than a minute, you better hurry,” the history of their towns. One of her grand replied crazy Mike. daughters lived near Blakely, close to the rapidly With those words, Jake and Tim ran growing town of Belle Plaine. The girls rattled down towards the river. Just before the river, off everything they knew about I. N. Dean as the Tim tripped over the stockyards and fell in the founder of Blakely; everything they knew about river. Tim was still in the water when the wave the old railroad; and even mentioned the old came. His large body acted as a dam to block creamery as Gabby half listened to the girls’ the water just long enough for Jake to blow the conversation. In only a few moments, water north. The water landed in what is now Gabrielle’s memory of the river came back. The known as Waconia Lake. curiosity of the way the river would be then Everyone was happy, but Jake knew that caused her to return to her old home for a visit Paul would get the credit. Maybe it was that As soon as all of her children and grand jealousy that kept Jake from looking for Paul, children left, and everybody returned to then- his lost brother. regular routines, Gabrielle packed her bags for her trip. Upon arriving, Gabby was astonished. By Jon Nagel Everything had changed so drastically in the Belle Plaine Junior High School

111 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville forty-seven years that she missed. She drove around looking for an easy road down to the river, but she got lost among all of the buildings and factories. There was a grayish fog lining the new town and blocking out the sun that used to shine overhead. Finally after attempting to familiarize herself with where she was, Gabby found an old road that she knew and remembered. She drove her car down there in hopes that it would be the same. Gabrielle parked her car and got out. She shakily clambered down, weaving around the sparse trees. She stopped suddenly and her eyes welled up with tears. Gabby’s mind was soon flooded with guilt and disgust. She gazed down onto a narrow stream of a substance that she could hardly call water. Replacing the wide sandbars that once lined the Minnesota River were old tires and a garbage dump. She hoped for the quietness to have at least remained, but even that had been robbed from the land. In stead of the birds and the rushing water she used to hear, machine and car noises pounded in her Deep Thoughts head. Gabrielle stood stiff as she stared across the flow of chemicals, oil and water, only to When I was growing up my mom used to view what looked like a drainage pipe leading say to me, “Sara, sometimes I wish men were down from the factory. Gabrielle turned back on more like rivers.” I never really thought about wobbly legs and slowly stumbled back to her until now. You see a river is: constant- never car, unable to look at what was left of a once stops process- deep- you know that something is peaceful and beautiful place. in its body- responsible- reliable under any The next family reunion that Gabby held circumstance to provide hospitable- provides a for her children and grandchildren was much home for millions at once humble- expects different from the last. The children gathered nothing in return- stable- won’t be gone when around their grandmother as her frowning mouth you wake up one morning- committed- follows told the story of the river. Soon a family of through with responsibilities- relentless- no young and old was gathered together to hear the matter what problems may lie ahead a river wrinkled old woman’s story. But as Gabrielle won’t wimp out and decide to stop when the told the story, she knew that things were out of going gets rough- emotionally stable- you’ll these children’s hands. The old woman knew never see a river stop functioning because that they, had passed on a world damaged people take it for granted. And to think... for all beyond repair. these years I thought nothing of that statement. I just figured it was because she was desperate By Nicole Whetzel and knew that there was an abundance of rivers. Belle Plaine Junior High School By Sara Jenson Blaine High School

112 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Percy Decides “Who put it there?” asked Percy. “Who else, the humans of course. Those “Mom, mom! When is dad getting stupid inconsiderate humans. Now, our factory home? I want to go find dinner. I haven’t eaten has to come up with thousands of shells to pay since this morning,” exclaimed Percy for the damage. This means overtime work for “Well, son, he’ll be here very shortly. He me, until the damage is cleaned up.” said father. called this morning and said there was some trouble at the job site and he said that he would Dear Diary, be late, I hope nobody got hurt. Just wait a little I can’t believe what has happened. Why longer,” answered mom. would the humans pollute my home so much? I Little Percy and his parents were bass guess i just don’t understand. Obviously the that live in a part of a river called the Wildcat humans aren’t going to do anything about the Creek. Percy had twenty brothers and sisters but pollution. That means that us fish have got to so they had all left home already. Percy was the it. The question is, what is exactly that we do?” baby of the family. Percy’s father worked in an aluminum factory. What they did at the factory Percy’s father did as he said. He was late was they took the aluminum off of cans and every night for about a month. But, he was able turned it into raw materials and then sold it to to take time off to go to Percy’s graduation. The other companies. It a fairly small company but it night before his graduation, Percy wrote in his is growing abundantly. Percy’s mom was a diary: homemaker who spent many hours looking after all of the other kids of other mothers who had Dear Diary, jobs. Since, this was the decade of the woman. Well, this is it. One more day and I am out of Percy went to “school” everyday. But, he had school. How exciting. Especially since I know only a few more weeks before he would gradu what I want to do now. As I was reading back ate. He writes in his diary after school: through my diary, I found that I wanted to do something to help my fellow fish and my home. Dear Diary, I talked to my father about it and he will put up I am a week away from graduating and I the money for me to start an organization to still have no idea what it is that I want to do with clean up my home. It may not clean up the the rest of my life. My father wants me to work whole creek but I am going to try. I love my with him at the factory. I just can’t imagine me home too much for me to let the working in a factory for the rest of my life. I humans destroy it. want to do something important. Of course, I may not have to worry long because if the By: Elizabeth Schuck humans keep polluting my home, the fish won’t Kokomo High School even be here any longer. What will I do?

“Daddy, you’re finally home. Why were you so late? I’m so hungry,” asked Percy. “Well son, there was a hold up at the factory. Last night after all the workers had gone home, a round, rubber thing with no middle floated into our factory and ruined a large chunk of the factory. All the workers had to work together to remove the item,” answered Percy’s father.

113 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Emily Learns a Lesson move into a house. I still feel awful though,” I explained “Daddy, can we go to the zoo today?,” “I know, but there’s nothing we can do asked my daughter, Emily. about it. It’s out of our hands. If we buy Emily a “I’m sorry, Emily, but it’s too late in the pet and disobey our landlord’s rules, we could afternoon to go to the zoo. It would take us one be evicted. I know this apartment isn’t our hour to drive to Indianapolis, and then we’d dream home, but it sure beats living on the only have about an hour to spend there. You’d street. Besides, we should be able to afford a want to stay there longer than that, wouldn’t house after I get a job.,” Monica said. you?,” I explained. I asked, “Monica, am I a horrible fa “Yeah, so could we go to the pet store ther?” instead?,” questioned Emily. “Why no, Marc. Why on earth would “What for?,” I asked. you ask a thing like that?,” answered Monica. “ So, I can see the puppies, pet the “Well, I feel like I’ve let Emily down. bunnies, and talk to the birdies,” Emily re We hardly ever spend time together because I’m sponded. “Daddy, let’s get a little puppy or a always at the office. I kept telling her no when bunny.” she asked to go to the zoo or the pet store.” “Emily,” I began, “you know we’re not “Oh, honey, don’t worry about it. allowed to have animals in this apartment Where’s Emily now? Is she down the hall building. Besides, you’re too young to take care playing with Claire?,” questioned Monica. of an animal by yourself. And, your mom and “Yes,” I answered. I have enough responsibilities of our own right “Then, I’m sure she’s forgotten about the now. I’m sorry sweetheart. I know how much whole thing. I’ll tell you what. Since you have a you love animals. I tell day off from work tomorrow, why don’t we all you what, when we move out of this apartment go to Highland Park , and have a picnic?” and into our own “All right, that sounds good.” house, then you’ll probably be able to get a pet.” “Would you mind going down to “Really? Oh, I can’t wait!,” exclaimed Claire’s and getting Emily because dinner’s Emily. With that, she darted out of the apartment almost ready?” door. “Be back before dinner,” I called after her. I opened the door, and Emily walked “Speaking of dinner, could you please right in. “I was just coming to get you,” I told help me with these groceries, Marc?,” asked her “Well, Claire’s family was ready to eat, so I Monica. I turned around to find my wife stand thought I’d come on home. Mmm, it smells ing at the door with two bags of groceries in her good,” Emily exclaimed. arms. “We’re having your favorite, pizza,” “Sure dear,” I answered. “Wow, that was Monica said. quick. I didn’t expect you to be home from the “Yummy!,” replied Emily store so soon.” “Say, Emily, how would you like to go “Yeah, I know. The grocery store wasn’t on a picnic with your mom and I tomorrow at crowded. So, what did you and Emily do while I the park?,” I asked. was gone?” “I’d love to.” “First, Emily asked me to take her to the “Okay, great,” I said zoo. I told her I thought it was too late to go, and The next morning, my wife packed our then she asked if we could go to the pet store. lunch and the three of us headed to Highland Monica, she’s lonely. She doesn’t have any Park. We ate, played on the playground, walked brothers or sisters, so she wants a pet. I told her through the Indian Trails, and toured the rest of that she might be able to get a pet when we the park. When Emily saw Old Ben, the large

114 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville steer displayed in the park’s shelter, she asked, “Lots of things,” replied Emily. “We “Why isn’t the big bull moving?” She couldn’t learned that the believe how large the Sycamore Stump was earth is in trouble.” either. As we crossed a bridge leading over the ‘Trouble? What kind of trouble?,” I Wildcat Creek, Emily said, “Can we go swim inquired. ming?” “Animals, including people, may not “No, sweetheart. I’m afraid we can’t go have a place to live if we keep polluting the swimming in that water,” I told her. “Why don’t land, sky, and water. Mr. Tickfer taught us how we go Teed the ducks instead?” to recycle, and he told us never to litter. So, “Okay. Look at the bunny and over daddy, could we go back to the park and clean it there’s a deer!,” up. I don’t want the animals to lose their homes. shouted Emily. If I can’t have a pet at home, at least I’ll be able “Shh! Be quiet, Emily, or you’ll scare to take care of all the animals that live in the them away,” my wife said. “Here’s some bread park.” crumbs to feed the ducks with.” “I’m very proud of you, Emily. I think “Can I feed the bunnies, the deer, the it’s great that you’re trying to save the environ squirrels, and all the other animals too?,” ques ment,” I said. “I should not have said you tioned Emily. weren’t responsible because you really are. Monica responded, “I don’t think you Maybe your mom and I can learn a thing or two have enough food to feed all of the animals that from you. You and I can definitely go clean up live in the park, dear.” the park tomorrow.” After she fed the ducks, we headed “Can I help too?,” Monica asked. home. On the way, Emily was making animal Emily remarked, “Sure, mom, we need noises. “Quack, quack!,” she said, “I can’t wait all the help we can get.” to tell Claire and the rest of my class all about our picnic at the park.” By Nicole Cothem When I came home from work the next Kokomo High School-Downtown Campus day, Emily greeted me at the door with a huge smile on her face. She was overflowing with excitement. “Hi, daddy,” she said. “Guess what we learned in school today. We had a visitor and —” “Emily,” interrupted Monica,” why don’t you let your father sit down and then you can tell him all about what happened in your kinder garten class today at dinner. Okay?” As soon as I sat down at the table, Emily rushed over to finish her story. “Now, who was the visitor?,” I asked. “Mr. Tickfer,” answered Emily. “He’s an officer.” “A conservation officer,” added Monica “Yeah, that’s it,” said Emily. “I forgot his name, but I remember everything he taught us.” “What did he teach you?,” I asked.

115 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville The River in Fall and Spring river as life and me as shelter. There were many times he wished that he had never come, but in In comparison to the fall, the river in the end it was worth it. He :lived a full life along spring seems more alive. It appears in the fall to the banks of the St. Joseph River. be dying, while in spring it appears to be reborn. In fall, everything is bare and stripped, but the By Dylan Chudzynski spring seems to bring back the vibrance and Stanley Clark High School beauty of nature. The fall colors are usually dark such as brbwn, deep red, and orange. Occasion ally there is a dirty yellow visible, which add to the beautiful, death-like decor of fall. In spring, Navarre Cabin everything seems to be light and vibrant. The rich green of the grass and the budding trees add I am the river. I run wildly from state to to the beauty of spring. Also, the forgotten state. People come to my banks and worship flowers pop their lovely heads out of the ground me. I have lived forever. I have seen settlers and once more, adding to the bright colors of spring. Indians battle my temperament. People have In fall, you can almost smell the coming winter. depended on my generosity for years. The man I The burning of leaves give off acrid odors while remember the best is Pierre Navarre. The other those on the ground give off dank odors. In the settlers’ names have become lost in my memory, spring you can smell the flowers, the green but Mr. Navarre was my friend. He depended on grass, and the blooming trees. It is the smell of my gifts of transportation and food, I depended life reborn. In fall everything is rough to the on his respect that he gave to me. touch. The crisp dead leaves break at the slight The Navarres were the first settlers at my est touch. In spring everything is soft and satiny, south bend. I watched as they found territory and but still is gentle to the touch. The contrasting laid their mark on my banks. The log cabin they seasons along the river are amazing to my built stood as a majestic castle standing guard by senses. me. I still flow from state to state, but the gener By Dena Locsi osity that Pierre Navarre showed me is absent Stanley Clark High School from today’s life. My banks eroded from years of giving and from years of human taking. When the last drop of water is gone my life will cease Pierre Navarre Log Cabin as did Pierre Navarre’s, but my spirit will live on as does the first settlers of South Bend, Indiana - I was built in 1820 by Pierre Navarre as a the Navarres. home for his family. My only name is home. If you have not guessed by now, I am a log cabin. I By Heather Stamp am a small shack built about 500 feet from the Stanley Clark High School St. Joseph River. Pierre Navarre and his family came from France to this land called America. They came for opportunity and were pioneers leaving their old life for something better. Navarre built me with his own hands in a time where there were no modem conveniences like cement mixers or construction companies. I was the first home built by a European in this area. It was a hard life Pierre led, full of pain and frustration, but he pulled through, with the

116 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville knit dress for my doll, Molly. I can see the Indians early in the morning checking their traps by the river. My father trades colorful beads and cloth with the Indians for fur. I think I will like it here by the river.

By Sonya Sterba Stanley Clark High School

River and Me

The river is like a sunflower blowing in the whispering wind. The river is like a Gecko creeping up a window pane. The river is like a piano playing on a melancholy day. The river is like Georgia O’Keefe stroking her flowers on an easel. The river is like Abraham Lincoln, Pierre Navarre Cabin along the St. Joseph truthful. The river is like Mount Everest, long, River winding, and majestic. The river is like an apple computer, colored. I am like a sunflower bend The year is 1820 and we have just com ing in the whispering wind. Sometimes the wind pleted building our cabin. It was strenuous work; overpowers me, and I dip low among the field of my brother and my father worked on it for eight flowers. But, I get up again. The sunshine makes months. Then they rode over to Virginia to get me thrive and be happy; the rain makes me sad my mother and me. We put all our belongings and lonely. But no matter what brings me down in a covered wagon and began our journey. It and who hurts me, I know I am a sunflower, took us about seven months to get here and, blooming on this precious Earth. considering we had to cross two rivers, we made really good time. By Sophia Vaima We have been here for almost a week. Stanley Clark High School My neighbor in Virginia made me a new quilt for my bed as a going away present. Out house here is a little smaller than our last one. It is about 300 meters from the river, so that if it flooded we would be safe. We moved here so that my papa could trade with the Indians, especially to get beaver and fox furs. Our room downstairs has a fire place and in the middle is our long harsh wooden table. Upstairs are my brother’s and my room and our parent’s room. However, in the winter we will sometimes sleep next to the stove to keep warm. I have started a squash garden behind our cabin. In the afternoons I stitch needle point by the river. Mama and I have started working on a

The snow fell heavily and was very deep. They dipped their small, tan feet into the The little rabbit noticed he was lost and looking cool water. Though it was mid August, goose- for his mother and his friends. Where are all my bumps appeared on them from the water’s chill. friends he wondered. What is this cold stuff on The redheaded girl in the striped bathing suit the ground. appeared to be the leader of the six youngsters. The rabbit didn’t know this yet, but it “Lift up that big rock,” she ordered the was winter and all of his friends had hibernated four boys. “We’ll head downstream.” or gone South. His fur had turned white and so With that, Kelly and Jenn started to wade had his mother’s. He remembered his mother downstream into the deeper water with a net and telling him about an upcoming season, when it bucket in hand. These were the days that the snowed and got very cold and there were many children enjoyed, days spent at their changes. grandmother’s house brought pure joy to their This cold white stuff must be snow he summer. Suddenly they spotted it darting from thought. He couldn’t remember how to get rock to rock through the rippling water. They home. Everything was so different. The trees started the chase. had no leaves. They were stags except for the “Hey guys,” said Kelly, “we’ve spotted green trees with the needle like leaves on them. one!” I wonder why, he thought. Unimpressed, the boys didn’t even look The little rabbit sat in a light gap and up. The creature settled on a large rock, and waited for his mother to come and get him. Jenn leaped at it waving her net. The sediment Soon his mother came and took him home. stirred, and the water became murky. When it When they finally got home, he asked where all cleared enough to walk without stubbing one’s of his friends were. His mother told him that toe on a rock, the girls headed for the cemented this was winter. It gets really cold and it snows. area of the bank. There they emptied the con All of his friends, like the birds and beavers, tents of the net, and sorted through dirt, rocks, have gone south to warmer weather or are and small shells. Something moved in the pile, sleeping (hibernating) in warm homes under and the girls lunged at it. ground or in caves. “Gotcha,” Jenn shouted. “Get the water The little rabbit smiled and went to play bucket!” with his brothers and sisters. He was happy that They watched the creature crawl around he was home and his friends had not left him. for about ten minutes in the bucket, then they called the boys over to show them their catch. By Margie Smith “Let’s take it up to the house,” said Greg. Whitcomb High School They crossed the road by the noisy dam, which was overflowing with summer rainwater, and headed through the green park. At their grandmother’s back door they were met by their grandmother, and told to take it back to the water and set it free. The six saddened children moped all the way back to the Wildcat and set the crayfish free. Then they started a minnow hunt.

By Jennifer Bernard Kokomo High school Downtown Campus

(1726) As I step out of my time machine, I notice a beautiful river. The time I am in is 1726. I hear a bird singing, and a duck swimming in the water. The water is so clean and fresh, and has a sweet fragrance. I look around and see a large trout being caught by a huge bear. Seeing this makes me hungry, so I decide to catch a fish in the crystal clear water. The fish are so plentiful that I have no trouble catching one. I eat all I can, and I save the bones for the Indians. I offer them the bones and in return they give me some beads. I thank them and go to my time machine. I set the dial to 1826, and I’* off. (iB26) I’m in 1826, and am looking at the same river. The river still is beautiful, but I see some changes. I see settlers are here now. I am once again hungry, so I go to the clear water and try to catch some fish. I’m having a hard time catching one, but finally I do catch a fish. It isn’t as plenti ful as it was, and not as many ducks stop here either. The settlers have put up fences, and cut up the woods. I really feel sorry for the Indians. I once again step into my time machine and set the dials to 1926. (1926) As I open my door in 1926,1 smelt this awful stench. When I open my door I see this hor rible looking river. It smells so horrible that I have to hold my nose. Along the river, it’s so popu lated that it’s terrible. I am wondering what has happened to the Indians. I go over to the river and look at it. The river is no longer clear, but is red and polluted. Animals don’t even live here any longer. I am so sad and mad that I step into my time machine and set the dial to 2006. (2026) As I arrived in 2026,1 plug my nose and expect the worst. When I open the door, I see this beautiful crystal clear river again. I’m amazed at what has happened since I was here last time. I unplug my nose and smell the clean fresh air. I look towards the river and see a duck swimming. I see a deer and a bear drinking out of the water. People have started to recycle, instead of pollute. I am happy at what has happened. I go back to my time machine and set the dial to 1996 and I’m off.

1700-1 step out of my time machine that reads 1700. I have never smelled such air! The clean air fills my lungs and I realize how long it has been since I have had any water. I saw the clear water and almost fell in love with it. It caught the sunlight and sparkled like a diamond. I knelt down and took a drink of the cold, clear river water, something I have not seen in modem times. I stood back up and went to my time machine. I set the time for 1826.

1826-1 step out and see that the water is as shiny as it was before. However, something is tugging at my mind. There are so many people here! The river area is still clean, but no longer quiet and people are trying to get their homes set up before winter. I hope they do not take this wonderful river for granted. Once again, I step in my time machine. I turned the dial to 1921.

1921- As I step out, tears fill my eyes. What has happened to this place? Has my worst fear come true? I take a closer look at the river. It has turned dark green, red, and brown. Something must be done about this. I walk back into the time machine.

2026- The door of the time machine opens in the year 2026. The air is not to bad, and the river is a lot better. Something is on my mind though,. What if this is the only clean river? I can’t let myself think that this is the only river the people cleaned up, they probably have the knowledge to clean up other rivers. I got into my time machine for my journey home.

By Amber Harker Lakeland Junior High School

A COLLECTION OF ISSUES AND POSITIONS ON WATER QUALITY

"To increase public awareness of the values and ■productivity of wetlands, encourage people to enjoy them, and to protect, recognize, enhance, commemorate, and restore our Nation's wetlands."

©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 1. THE BOTTLE BILL The small and large levees would be placed at a Be it enacted by the people of the distance further back from the State of Illinois, represented in present position of the levees the General Assembly: Ten Water which would therefore allow a Article I: Every recy flooding river to widen. The clable beverage container sold or Issue Position widening of the river would offered for sale in this State shall decrease the amount of force that be returnable for a refund of 5 Statements would be exuded by the water if cents, and no person may sell or the levees would be topped or offer to sell any beverage con broken. tainer without a refund value of 5 In light of this new cents. system, inhabitants of the flood Article II: “Beverage” implies any type plain would be given the option of purchasing of substance in liquid form that is intended for flood insurance. If flood plain residents would consumption. not choose to exercise this option, they would Article III: A statewide notification of receive no governmental compensation in the local redemption centers should be enacted, and event of a flood. distributors should be fined $500 for first of Another aspect of the study would fense, and $2000 for the second offense. concern the determination of the most construc Article IV: In order to effectively reach tive use of wetlands if they would be created. the total population at least one redemption Due to the great likelihood of a flood in center should be located in each convenience the Midwest, we propose that the State of Illi zone. All laws in conflict with this bill are nois initiate the creation of a flood relief pro hereby declared null and void. gram to be used as additional aid in the event of a flood. 2. RESPONSE TO GREAT FLOOD OF ’93 3. WETLANDS

We, the students of the Illinois Rivers Whereas: The Great Flood of 1993 Project, do hereby propose the following regard caused in excess of three billion dollars to ing the future of the levy system. Federal and State taxpayers, and Before augmenting the levees in any Whereas: A large majority of this fashion, studies of no less than five years should damage could have been avoided by the preser be performed as to determine the most effective vation and construction of our states wetlands course of action to be taken concerning the which have been proven to reduce flood dam height and positioning of the levee system. The age, and afore mentioned studies would be under the Whereas: It has been proven that wet jurisdiction of a state agency appointed to lands play a significant role in the filtration of regulate said studies. nitrates, sedimentation, and alkalinity which are A main aspect of the study would con all dangers to our water supply, and cern the prospect of placing a smaller levee in Whereas: Wetlands provide habitats and such a position as to protect farmland and a are sanctuaries for 40% of threatened and endan larger levee placed some distance behind the gered animal and plant species, and smaller as to protect the living area of those who Whereas: Illinois has lost approximately farm the land. 90% of its precious wetland areas already and therefore the remaining should be saved while we still have a chance; therefore

122 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville As ideas to support the above recommen Be it resolved by the State Congress: dations, we have listed below some of sugges 1) The Congress shall form a committee tions to be considered: to research and deem “what is a wetland area” in ♦Creating a more flexible recycling which the following guidelines should pertain: program *Should contain hydric soil and hydro ♦Enforcing the reduction of bulk packag phytic vegetation. ing and promoting recycling through ♦Should provide a habitat for endangered the use of incentives and disincen " or threatened organisms. tives. 2) Congress shall begin funding wetland ♦Conforming plastics to the same stan preserves and constructing new wetland areas by dards for each state purchasing land from farmers who apply and ♦Offering an educational program to in own land that has the potential to be a wetland form and influence area. consumers into recycling 3) Begin educating future generations to ♦Promoting activities to raise awareness avoid future problems with our wetland areas. 6. FARM CHEMICALS: FIELD USE 4. PROTECTING SCENIC RIVERS We feel more measures must be taken to We request the establishment of an protect the health and environment of Illinois Adopt-A-River program in which segments of residents. The old ways are not working and our rivers can be adopted by the public to ensure these environmental issues need to be addressed the protection of our existing river shores. immediately! Programs of this nature have proven to be 1. Ground water represents 90% of our successful in various states. drinking water which is slowly being polluted by We also feel that a full scale educational farm chemicals. The chemicals used by farmers program on environmental issues is desperately are known to cause diseases, such as overdue and necessary. We see an urgent need methemoglobinemia (Blue Baby Syndrome). It for more stringent enforcement of the existing is also believed that high nitrate levels may laws which our state has already established cause stomach cancer in adults. concerning serious environmental issues. 2. Besides pesticides affecting us di rectly, they have extremely harmful influences 5. WASTE DISPOSAL: REDUCING upon us physically. Some of the harmful pesti DEPENDENCE ON LANDFILLS cides are acifluorfen, dinoseb, trifluralin. Stud ies have been made at University of Illinois at We, the students of the Illinois River Chicago that have proven many diseases such as Project, propose reducing dependency on tradi cancer can be developed. Workers have to wear tional disposal technologies. We, being the protective clothing to shield themselves from the manufacturers and consumers, are responsible chemicals. Workers should not have to endan for our wastes. Whereas if the manufacturer ger their lives when other alternatives can be produces a product, they should be responsible used. Some of these are pheromone, organic for its ultimate disposition. Likewise, consum farming reducing pesticides and substituting ers of these products are responsible for their with others. Stricter national regulations need to partnership in fulfilling this task. be enacted to create strict regulations on im Furthermore, it is our recommendation ported foods. that all states become responsible for their own waste and interstate shipments.

123 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 3. Currently our nations farmers are The most controversial aspect of filter spending 2.2 billion a year on pesticides while strips for streams that we encountered was the the U. S. government is forced to raise taxes to, financing of the filter strips. Agreement could supply the 50 billion a year spent on water not be reached on whether the farmer or the state pollution clean-up. This money may be better government should pay the cost. After explor spent if we directed to subside farmers for using ing various options, we decided that both sides alternate methods of pest control, there for could benefit. Three options are viable: helping to eliminate the problem. 1. Fanners should be compensated by 4. Concerning fertilizers and phosphates, not having to pay taxes on the land set aside for these both have a serious impact on all filter strips. ecosystems causing disruptions in our wild life. 2. State governments could buy the land This not only affects wild life, but damage to used for the filter strips. rivers and lake will eventually affect tourism. 3. State government could provide farmers who could not afford implementation 7. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE with financial aid in the form of grants or loans.

1. All produce should list all the chemi We decided the best solution would be cal residues that could conceivably be harmful to for the government to have another cross consumers. compliance program like they do with com and 2. The government should fund depart buffer strips, except with filter strips. The ments to research the alternatives to harmful government could benefit by gaining clean chemicals used in the production of farming in water, and the farmer could make money from general. the program by planting plants that could be 3. Agricultural education needs to be harvested and sold at a profit. included in the curriculum of the public school Our final idea was that filter strips should system. be planted along every stream, river, or lake 4. The government should support possible to prevent soil erosion and to provide outreach programs by providing sufficient for better water quality. Streams used by indus funding for education. tries that use harmful chemicals should have top priority for planting filter strips. This could be 8. FILTER STRIPS FOR STREAMS paid for by either the factory or the government. In conclusion, filter strips will better our We believe filter strips are the best water supply and reduce erosion. They must be solution for decreasing the loss of topsoil and planted if our twin goals of conservation and providing better water quality for streams and clean water are to be attained. rivers. We do not believe farmers should be required to plant them by law at this time due to insufficient research on filter strips. It should be on a volunteer basis for farmers. Instead of making the federal government responsible for passing a federal law that would mandate farm ers plant filter strips, the state government should research the effectiveness of filter strips and determine the best types of plants for the filter strip, the cost to fanners , and the amount of land involved. This information should be presented to farmers so they can make the decisions that will affect them most

RESOLVED: That the chemical con We, the Illinois Rivers Project Student tamination of private wells poses serious health Congress, as a result of our dedication to educa risks to the users of said wells. tion and cooperation of and between government RESOLVED: That an educational and citizens, and the preservation of the environ campaign founded on the established principals ment, wish to revise and reform the current of proper procedures for the comprehensive agricultural pesticide/herbicide policy of the testing"of privately owned wells targeting that state of Illinois, therefore submit that: portion of the constituency of the legislature of A. the state and federal government the state of Illinois which characteristically assume control of pesticide and agricultural utilize said wells should and would be effective regulation of : in the facilitation of the reduction of said risks. 1. usage THEREFORE: We the Fourth Annual 2. storage Illinois Rivers Project Student Congress hereby 3. sale recommend to the legislature of the state 4. training wherein said Congress has convenes the ratifica and enforcement thereof, tion of a legislative bill which shall provide for B. the government fund extensive an educational program which shall be instituted education of the public and professionals con via the following: cerning 1. Postal notification of the various 1. laws health risks inherent in ownership of private 2. impact wells. using 2. Legislative mandate to the effect that 1. schools all documents of Seller Disclosure authorized by 2. cooperative extension services the state of Illinois shall include some written 3. positive reinforcement through form of notification of aforesaid risks. advertising 3. The proclamation of local Private 4. state cooperation with local Well Testing Days. agencies, CONCLUSION: We the Congress C. the government fund research in the recommend that all bills which shall prove areas of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and necessary and proper for the facilitation of the alternative growing methods by: effective and expedient institutionalization of as 1. using existing resources well as the sufficient funding for aforesaid 2. fining for violations proposed campaign shall be ratified. 3. incentives for use of innovations

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