Watching the Watershed
Authors: Jocelyn C. and Kate W.
Ecologik Institute youth apprentices Jocelyn C. and Kate W. spent this last Spring monitoring the water quality of the San Dieguito Watershed. Advised by Brooke Wilder and San Dieguito River Park rangers, they measured and recorded different water quality standards to compile into a scientific report. This work was done with the research cohort, one of the many groups in the Conservation and Environmental Stewardship Apprenticeship Program (CESAP).
Apprentices Jocelyn C. and Kate W. sit side by side at the end of a wooden dock with a white container and long-handled nets. They observe and analyze a water sample they collected as part of their research project on water quality.
Crest to Coast
Starting in February 2025, the research cohort began by visiting the source waters of the San Dieguito watershed: Iron spring at Volcan Mountain. There, apprentices learned the basics of water quality testing by examining the headwaters and learning about the origin of the watershed. In the following months, apprentices travelled to different locations down the watershed while testing pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, phosphorus, and fecal bacteria levels in the water.
Jocelyn expands on how they formed hypotheses, analyzed their data, and came to a conclusion about their findings:
“Kate and I, along with other members of our cohort, got to learn about specific pollutants and contaminants that might be entering the watershed and affecting our data. Compiling all our results from the different sites, we formed conclusions about why our data looked the way it did and what surrounding areas might be impacting the health of our watershed. We really enjoyed learning how to use scientific tools and also getting to learn how to graph on R (the coding language for life sciences). I’m super excited to expand our research and sample watershed data again in the fall.”
Apprentices sit on the edge of a wooden dock, leaning over the water with long-handled nets. They scoop up samples from the surface to study water quality as part of their research project.
Diving Into Data
Following their research and analysis, the cohort got opportunities to share their research with members of the community. Kate comments on the experience:
“We got to present our findings to many different audiences, including the San Dieguito River Park rangers, a local citizen advisory committee, and again to the San Dieguito River Park team and executive director. People from around the county were interested in our research, sharing our same passion and care for the environment directly surrounding us. It was incredibly gratifying to feel like our research was being heard and making a change in our local community.”
Apprentices Elizabeth W. and Jocelyn C. sit together and record observations from a water sample they collected. They use tools such as tubes, test kits, white containers, and a binder with instructions. They are examining the sample as part of their research project on water quality.
Watershed Wisdom
Jocelyn and Kate are very grateful to have gotten the opportunity to participate in hands-on science research so close to their own community! Their experience shows how young women in STEM can get involved in their own community to contribute to things they are passionate about. Their water quality report can be found on both the Ecologik Institute website as well as the San Dieguito Riverpark’s website. The two will be joining the Ecologik Institute’s Research Cohort in continuing to monitor the watershed this fall, and are thrilled to expand on their findings from the spring.
Jocelyn C. and Kate W. are juniors in high school and youth apprentices at the Ecologik Institute. They are both passionate about the environment and are interested in environmental science related careers!
