Fifth Grader Spurs Change at WCU

In North Carolina, Cullowhee Valley School fifth-grader Liam Tormey made an impression on judges and Western Carolina University officials at February’s Western Regional Science and Engineering Fair. Tormey’s testing of the Tuckasegee River revealed that rainfall had resulted in sediment coming from WCU property into the river. Sediment affects water quality and is a danger to wildlife in and around the river.

This discovery prompted WCU Chief Sustainability Officer Lauren Bishop to reinforce stormwater runoff prevention and provide more buffers to avoid harmful sediment pollution in the future. — By Sara Crouch