Montgomery County Conservation and the Nishnabotna Water Defenders will offer a free, hands-on stream-sampling and water-quality program Monday, August 3

The program will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. at Bond’s Landing, also known as the Stennett Boat Ramp, along the East Nishnabotna River. The site is located in the former Stennett community near the river crossing on 150th Street. The listed address is 1940-1948 150 Street near Red Oak.

Montgomery County Conservation Naturalist Cassandra Barbosa said the program is designed for people of all experience levels. Participants do not need a scientific background to attend, and the activities will be explained by conservation staff and volunteers.

Participants will learn how scientists and volunteers evaluate the health of a stream. Chemical testing will include measurements for nitrates, phosphates, chloride, pH and dissolved oxygen.

The group will also collect benthic macroinvertebrates, which are small aquatic insects and other organisms that live along the bottom of a stream. The presence or absence of certain organisms can help indicate the stream’s overall health.

Participants will use fine-mesh collection nets to gather samples from the river bottom. Field microscopes and identification materials will be available to help examine and identify the organisms. Data collected during the program will be recorded as part of the water-monitoring effort.

Barbosa cautioned that participants should expect to enter the water and get wet during the sampling process. Appropriate clothing and footwear for wading in a muddy river environment are recommended.

The event is free and open to anyone physically able to walk to and around the sampling area. Registration is not required, although advance registration is encouraged to help organizers prepare equipment and materials.

Registration is available under the Events tab at montgomeryccb.org. Participants who do not register in advance may still report directly to Bond’s Landing before the program begins.

Event information

Date: Monday, August 3, 2026

Time: 1 to 3 p.m.

Location: Bond’s Landing/Stennett Boat Ramp, 1940-1948 150 Street near Red Oak

Cost: Free

Registration: Encouraged but not required at montgomeryccb.org

What to bring: Clothing and footwear suitable for entering the river and getting wet