By Lynette Cox
Clermont, Kentucky – November 25, 2024 – Bullitt Advanced Math and Science Students (BAMS) are helping with a local dam project in Clermont, Ky. The project will improve stream connectivity for fish and other wildlife, reduce water quality issues associated with old dams, and improve stream and riparian habitat in this section of Long Lick Creek.
The stream restoration is a collaborative effort by Bernheim Forest and Arboretum, steward of the headwaters of Long Lick Creek, and the Ohio River Foundation. Funding for the project was provided through a grant from the USFWS Fish Passage Program.
The BAMS team is documenting water quality, biodiversity, and facilitating rehabilitation of the dam site on Long Lick Creek. During visits to the site, students have made baseline measurements on water conditions and biodiversity along the stream edge and cobble bars. They also removed invasive shrubs impeding access to the dam and collected trash, including fishing lines, tires, landscaping debris, and illegally dumped household items.
“With the site now cleared and baseline data collected, we hope to begin the removal of the dam in the coming months,” explained Andrew Berry, Director of Conservation at Bernheim Forest and Arboretum.
Next steps for the project include an archeological survey by the Army Corps of Engineers, and the students will investigate the process of the dam removal and what effects it will have on Long Lick Creek. No date has been set for the dam removal.
Stephanie Lewis, BAMS teacher at Riverview Opportunity Center added, “The students love working on this project and are invested in the outcome. The opportunity to work with mentors and professionals in their field is always a welcome experience and enhances the educational process.”
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About Bullitt Advanced Math and Science:
The Bullitt Advanced Math and Science (BAMS) is an academically rigorous, STEM-focused program that has multi-faceted authentic learning experiences built into the curriculum. Students engage in 18+ courses in the first two years of the program and attend a college program during their junior and senior year. Students will earn one to two associate degrees during their college program, earning between 64 and 92 college credits before their high school graduation. The students have opportunities to delve into advanced topics in engineering, environmental biology, and coding, to name a few, being mentored by professionals through partnerships with organizations such as Bernheim Forest and Arboretum, GE Haier, University of Kentucky, Bellarmine University, and the AMGEN program.
