Eager to learn more about the environment and how to protect it, Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) students, faculty and community volunteers recently brought the first-ever Gwinnett River Rendezvous to life.
During the event, volunteers traveled to various local rivers and streams across Gwinnett County to collect water samples, which were analyzed for bacterial levels, conductivity, turbidity and optical brighteners. Additional volunteers, including GGC students and staff, conducted water sample testing on GGC’s campus.
“The data can tell us a lot of important things about the health of our watersheds,” said Aubrey Dyer, director of GGC’s Institute for Environmental Science and Sustainability. “The information we collect will go directly to Gwinnett Water Resources so that they can investigate potential contamination in those streams.”
Gwinnett Water Resources collaborated with GGC, alongside Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful, Georgia Adopt-A-Stream, the Yellow River Water Trail, the Chattahoochee Riverkeepers, and The Water Tower. Together, they created an opportunity for service learning, civic engagement and leadership development for volunteers.
“I’m an environmental science major, and I haven’t had any internship opportunities yet,” said GGC sophomore Andreas Forbes, who volunteered to test water samples during the event. “This was my first chance to really step into the environmental science world and do something hands-on.”
The inaugural Gwinnett River Rendezvous reflects GGC’s ongoing commitment to bettering the lives of students, staff and the wider community. The college plans to make the event an annual tradition, continuing its legacy of environmental stewardship, student engagement and community service.
View and download the Gwinnett River Rendezvous gallery photos.