More than 30 people participated in testing the Little Vermillion River on Aug. 28.
Physical science instructor Robert Byrne, who organizes the testing as a part of the nationwide Rivers Project, said students and staff from IVCC and area high schools, and representatives from EcoWatch and the Illinois Rivers Project took part in the morning testing and afternoon canoeing.
In addition to testing on the Little Vermillion, the local Rivers Project group is working on other projects: testing the flow rate on Spring Creek near Troy Grove, testing the pH in a culvert area in Starved Rock, and the 1999-2000 project testing Mitchell's Grove.
The IVCC chemistry club, a chapter of the American Chemical Society, will also be testing the Fox River on Oct. 12 when they are on a canoeing trip.
"The foliage should be nice then, and we would do all the tests as we go down the river, and either work on the islands or on the river bank," Byrne said.
The next testing of the Little Vermillion is being planned for Sept. 25.