VBAP Community Presentation

GMCG’s Annual Volunteer Biological Assessment Program Community Presentation with local students

Monday October 28, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Ossipee Central School

Students from the Ossipee Watershed will present their water quality research findings from the nineteenth annual Volunteer Biological Assessment Program (VBAP). Each year local schools present what they learned through program that assesses stream health through macroinvertebrates and other water quality measurements. Students follow state protocols to sample a local river or stream and learn about their watershed and how they can be good stewards of water resources.

Since 2021 students have also conducted microplastics sampling as part of VBAP. Students collected samples on field day and analyzed them for microplastics in the classroom using microscopes as part of GMCG’s Less Plastic Initiative.

The community is invited to hear from the students what they learned through VBAP, as well as the results for bioassessments of local streams. There will be cider and doughnuts, macroinvertebrate specimens and microscopes for viewing microplastics.

Participating schools this year include: Effingham Elementary School, KA Brett School, Ossipee Central School, Sandwich Central School and Lakeside Primary School. Any teachers that are interested in participating in the program next fall should contact Tara Schroeder at education@gmcg.org. Special thanks to the Alfred Quimby Foundation and The Kendal C. and Anna Ham Charitable Foundation for their support of the program as well as local towns’ support for this and other water quality monitoring programs.