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Student poster shows higher nitrate and phosphate after rain at Memorial Boulevard; board urges coordination with public works
Summary
A conservation-program student presented pond water testing showing higher nitrates and phosphates at Memorial Boulevard Park versus Page Park and suggested steps such as reduced salting, catch-basin filtration and vegetative buffers; the board recommended coordination with public works for comparative testing.
A conservation-ambassador program participant presented water-quality testing results for Page Park and Memorial Boulevard Park, finding higher nitrate and phosphate readings at Memorial Boulevard and an increase in those pollutants after rain and snow events.
Asha described pre- and post-precipitation tests and reported that Memorial Boulevard showed elevated nitrate and phosphate levels (phosphate rose from 0.1 to 0.3 in a sample); Page Park showed smaller or no harmful readings before precipitation but increases after rain and snow. Asha said she tested temperature, conductivity, total suspended solids, pH, nitrate, phosphate and ammonia and is preparing a poster for an upcoming science-center presentation.
Deputy Superintendent Sarah Larsen suggested Asha compare results with the citypublic works/water trust testing (noting the city's MS4 obligations) and recommended coordination with the public-works department for shared sampling and methods. Commissioners also discussed possible local mitigation measures Asha recommended: reduced or alternative de-icing salt, catch-basin filters or vegetative buffer strips to reduce runoff, and further monitoring to understand sources such as geese or road salt.
Staff said the parks department will include the student's data in upcoming water-quality testing at Memorial Boulevard and invited Asha to present her poster to the board and to the science center event next Friday.
