SMART School: Columbus High School

Location: Columbus, Mississippi

Mentor: Deborah Pounders (Poundersd@columbus.k12.ms.us)

SMART student researchers: Tori Savors, Jeremiah Ramsey, Donavan McCranie, Miracle Weston, Hunter Brooks (Point Person, brookshunter01@gmail.com)

Community partners: Bradley Richardson: PhD Student in Fisheries and Aquaculture at Mississippi State University; Rachel Milstead: Retired Science Teacher/Land Owner

Group meeting time: Mondays and/or Tuesday at 2:00

Based on the success of the after school SMART program last year, our school district established a new research/project-based class for students interested in STEM fields, allowing them to explore their passions and gain experience that will prepare them for the transition to college. Student participants will receive credit for Environmental Science, Zoology, Botany and Science Literacy.

Watershed: Upper Tombigbee River Basin

Research sites: Sites are located on Magby Creek and Luxapalila Creek in Columbus, MS, 33.507934 N, 88.383886 W. 

  • Site 1:  Magby Site 1 – near 219 Warpath Rd. Upper Riffle
  • Site 2: Magby Site 2 – near 219 Warpath Rd. Lower Riffle
  • Site 3: Magby Site 3 – near 1301 Gardner Blvd. Upper Riffle Area
  • Site 4: Magby Site 4 – near 1301 Gardner Blvd. Middle Riffle Area
  • Site 5: Magby Site 5 – near 1301 Gardner Blvd. Lower Riffle Area
  • Site 6: Luxapalila Site 1 – near 1301 Gardner Blvd. above the pipe
  • Site 7: Luxapalila Site 2 – near 1301 Gardner Blvd. at the pipe
  • Site 8: Luxapalila Site 3 – near 1301 Gardner Blvd. below the pipe
  • Site 9: Luxapalila Site 4 -1301 Gardner Blvd. Above Magby Outflow
  • Site 10: Luxapalila Site 5 1301 Gardner Blvd. At Magby Outflow
  • Site 11: Luxapalila Site 6 1301 Gardner Blvd. Below Magby Outflow

Map of research sites:

Magby Creek
Luxapallila Creek sites

Team goals and research topics: 

  1. How does the salvage yard/road crossing affect the macroinvertebrate population of Magby Creek when compared to a wooded, less traveled area of Magby Creek?
  2. Does the salvage yard affect the water quality of Luxapallila Creek based on pH, conductivity and dissolved oxygen readings?
  3. How does storm water affect the water chemistry of Magby Creek?
  4. Is the water in Magby Creek safe for human consumption based on E.coli levels?

Presentations and Outreach

 

A special slideshow about the Columbus Team's experience at the 2017 SMART Summer Institute at the University of Maine
a SMART student and teacher look at macroinvertebrates in a D-shaped net
Columbus 2018 Student Capstone presentation Summary of 2017-18 research and outreach
The Columbus Team presents at a Columbus Municipal School District board meeting! Their presentation begins at 15:21 on the linked YouTube video.
the Columbus Team presenting at a school district board meeting
Columbus Municipal School District features SMART Team in newsletter Hear each student speak about their experience at the Summer Institute!
SMART students use a kick net to catch macroinvertebrates

Student Resources