Upward Bound Science Academy: Connecting Surface to Ground Water Processes and Policy through Research

Our team is comprised of eleventh grade high school students from Northwest Arkansas, participating in the University of Arkansas' TRIO Upward Bound 2008 Academy for Mathematics and Sciences. We present our project connecting surface to groundwater interactions, land use and public policy. We are focusing our inventory on portions of five watersheds: Arkansas River, Beaver Reservoir, Frog-Mulberry, Illinois, and Robert S. Kerr Reservoir. Objectives include our better understanding watersheds through the multifaceted approach of integrating physical, chemical, biological, geospatial, land use, and public policy aspects.

This research is particularly important to us since geology is not part of the Arkansas high school curriculum. We do this project to learn more about our environment and to explore applied solutions to issues facing our region, state and nation. Our research activities expose us to the possibilities of geoscience-related careers. We use stream segment surveys as we sample surface features within these watersheds. Our data is combined with other available data sets, to include the University of Arkansas Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies (CAST) GIS Wetland Analyses and Arkansas Watershed Information System, United States Geological Survey Water Watch Stream Gauging Program, National Water-Quality Assessment Program, and National Water Information System for groundwater. Additionally, we study groundwater and ecosystems first hand within a karst cave system.