St. Anne’s-Belfield School awarded the Earth Flag from the Sierra Club

On Thursday, Dec. 12, The Piedmont Group of the Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club awarded St. Anne’s-Belfield the Earth Flag.

The school received the award for its long-term monitoring of the Rivanna watershed, involving monthly data collection and analysis of water quality. Under a permit from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources — the only one of its kind in the nation for a high school — St. Anne’s-Belfield School monitors three species of freshwater mussels at two sites.

Students in Pearce Johnson’s Environmental Studies and Research senior seminar tag new specimens, and recaptured ones are recorded and measured for size. These data, submitted to the state database, help evaluate the conservation needs for these threatened and critically endangered species, including the James River spinymussel.

Additionally, in Dr. Todd Jarry’s Biotechnology and Ethics senior seminar, students collect monthly data on the diversity and population sizes of aquat ic insect larvae, which are sensitive to water quality. Using DNA markers, researchers identify invertebrate species and assess the presence of specific species in water bodies, aiding the search for endangered species.

Students learn the importance of scientific protocols in collecting accurate data to analyze trends. Changes in water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and water flow can be correlated with weather variations and conservation efforts.

These data are made publicly available through a website designed and updated by students.

The local group of the Sierra Club works both to celebrate the natural world and to protect it on a wide range of fronts. They have been awarding Earth Flags to local unsung environmental heroes to make sure they get the recognition they deserve.