8th Annual Rio Research Roundup includes San Luis Valley schools

VALLEY — On Wednesday, October 11, dozens of student teams will gather at diverse points along the Rio Grande-Rio Bravo watershed to measure vital signs of the river and its tributaries.

Teams will test at the river’s headwaters in Colorado, and end some 2,000 miles downstream where the river empties into the Gulf of Mexico near Boca Chica Beach, Texas and Matamoros, Mexico.

Teams are also scheduled to test five smaller Texas river basins that drain into the Gulf of Mexico.

Schools participating in the San Luis Valley are South Conejos, Mountain Valley and Alamosa High School.

The 8th annual award-winning Rio Research Roundup is part of the 23st annual Dia del Rio celebration. 

During the Roundup, students will measure various water quality parameters that include bacteria, nitrates, phosphates, pH, salinity and others. They will also create 30-second public service announcement videos, 90-second videos, original artwork, 500-word essays, and field photos.

Data results should vary across the 335,000-square mile watershed due to human activity and weather conditions.

The Rio Grande-Rio Bravo is a dynamic, ever-changing American Heritage River that gives life to millions in the U.S. and Mexico. Sadly, it continues to rank among the 10 Most Endangered Rivers in the world, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

The Roundup is designed as an educational experience to promote watershed unity and awareness. Due to the great success of the Rio Research Roundup, it has received numerous awards like the Galardon Prize, the Environmental Heritage Award, the Community Green Award, and the Texas Environmental Excellence Award.

“With so many natural disasters impacting our communities lately, the Rio Research Roundup is the ideal project to provide awareness to the new generations,” said Lucia Juarez, RGISC project coordinator. “It is RGISC’s objective to compel these new generations to safeguard our river and take environmentally-driven options.”