Submitted by Dennis Hatfield

A collaborative effort to provide environmental field studies to Gulf Shores High School Science students begins on Tuesday as an outreach event by the Little Lagoon Preservation Society volunteer monitoring members.

Group leaders say they are appreciative of their concern for education in the community and the opportunity to expose future volunteers to the responsibility of insuring healthy water sources. 

Lynn Lowell, GSHS Science Teacher and students,  were invited by the LLPS to participate in water monitoring training sessions on-site at the Little Lagoon, in Gulf Shores.  The three classes will arrive by bus on the following schedule: 8:15-9:15 a.m., 10:15-11:15 a.m., 1:15-2:15 p.m. for observations and analysis of water testing procedures and result analysis. Data from testing is currently under study in a research project at Dauphin Island Sea Lab.

Little Lagoon is one of four lakes on the island and a treasured natural resource eight miles long near Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge.   Little Lagoon is home to more than 64 species of fish, 13 species of crab, seven species of shrimp, 11 species of mollusks, one specie of starfish and three species of jellyfish as residents and visitors. 

In late 1991, the current association was formed to help insure the quality of water and recreational opportunities are maintained and improved on and around the Little Lagoon in Gulf Shores.

Today the rapidly growing organization includes about 200 family memberships.

Marine Educator, Belinda Ringpfeil, of Ocean Camp Marine Education Program in Gulf Shores, helped coordinate the project.