An Interest in Weather Prompts a Trip to Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory

The Fifth Grade has been studying weather for six weeks. Two facets that have been of interest are cloud formations and weather instruments. One of the international centers for hydrologic research is located near Franklin. The class took a field trip there last Friday. Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory, US Forest Service, has been keeping weather records and conducting experiments about the effects of water on the forest since 1934. Because of their continually maintained data, scientists come from around the country and even from foreign countries to develop their theses and dissertations at Coweeta. One of the scientists, Randy Fowler, showed the students a power point presentation about the research at the Station and then conducted a long hike to see two weirs used to record data about the runoff from the watersheds. The students also saw the Farm Experiment, now reforested. It was there that early scientists proved that mountain farming in vertical patterns created erosion and damaged the riparian areas around streams, not only at the site itself but further down the stream as well.