International

Stroud Water Research works closely with Kenyan groups and Bill works with teams in the Philippines, Thailand, Rwanda, and Guatemala. Stroud specializes in aquatic macroinvertebrate monitoring of water quality and merges data from all over the world through their Leaf Pack network (LPN) website: www.stroudcenter.org

The Leaf Pack Network (LPN) is a network of teachers and students investigating their local stream ecosystems. The investigation uses the Leaf Pack Experiments Kit from the LaMotte Company. After conducting their own leaf pack experiment, these schools share their data through the network. The data sheds light on the important connection between streamside forests and the ecology of rivers and streams.

The Leaf Pack experiment involves creating an artificial leaf pack (dry leaves in an onion bag), placing it in the stream for three to four weeks and then examining the packs in the classroom, discovering different types of aquatic insects that are used as indicators of stream health.

Dr. William Deutsch directs the Alabama Water Watch (www.alabamawaterwatch.org), a Global Water Watch partnership, and shares wonderful pictures he took of his latest trips to Thailand. As you can see, the Thai tribes take water testing seriously.