Ruth Ann Tesanovich, retired scientist and certified Adopt-a-Stream volunteer, wades through the stream behind her Madison County home with a lifetime’s experience in a lab. She tests for oxygen levels and combs through to identify critters that indicate stream health.
The task is more than scientific. Her family has almost 40 years’ worth of memories about spending time together in the South Fork Broad River. These memories, and hopes for the future, make river monitoring and advocacy so important to her.
Why It’s Newsworthy: Improper designated use assignments allow higher levels of bacteria in bodies of water such as the South Fork Broad River. Madison County residents often use this water for recreation.

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