Two weeks ago the UNC Environmental Science classes took a field trip to Bear Lake to determine drought conditions for the Greeley area.

Ms. Corrine Loulies said each group digs a pit 3 feet deep to test the soil “They go up, we put on snowshoes, we go hike up, and they have to dig a snow pit, and then they have to find the different layers in the snow. And our pits were about 3 feet deep,on average. Then, from each layer in the snow, they can figure out density, so later in a couple of weeks they’ll actually figure out how much water is in each layer of the soil. And depending on that, that’s how we decide drought conditions, and if we need to make any water restrictions..”

Loulies also said this is teaching them that we are in a drought. “Water is known as blue gold. And our only drinking water in Colorado comes from snow melt, and were getting less and less of it,” Loulies explained.

Senior Alexia Salcido Rascon really enjoyed snowshoeing across Bear Lake. “My favorite part of the trip was hanging out with friends and snowshoeing across the lake.”

Junior Moe Nasim also enjoyed the views on the bus ride.  “My favorite part about the trip was definitely the bus ride. The bus ride was phenomenal. I mean, just looking at the scenery that was outside was very enlightening to see the trees, and the height”.

Loulies said the class will do all the math and analysis in class in a couple weeks. “They were trying to figure out the density of the snow, and then we’ll finish up the math part to find out how much water was in the snow later.”

“This is actually gonna be the water on their farms, because they’re all doing farms right now in their class,” Loulies explained.