Big Delta is situated in central Alaska at the confluence of the Tanana and Delta Rivers. The town appears to be surrounded by a multitude of environmental threats. To the south, several companies are conducting studies on coal-bed methane. Directly adjacent to those public lands, is the largest live ordinance bombing range in the United States. If you travel twelve miles to the east, one would encounter the first military installation to house anti-ballistic missiles. A nuclear reactor was in operation on the base during the 1940's. The Alaskan pipeline also happens to be located just about one mile upstream.

After attending a seminar on ground water presented by a local hydrologist, the students of Whitestone Training Center became concerned about the sustainability of their watershed with so many environmentally "risky" neighbors sharing the same aquifer. As a proactive measure, the students began to collect baseline data on water quality and the health of the invertebrate population. As a result, the group would be able to monitor environmental changes that might affect the overall health of the watershed.

The students began meeting with environmental professionals from each of the companies operating in the area in order to establish working relationships. The students are taught that big business and industry are necessary components of the modern world and that they must approach environmental concerns with a balanced, educated perspective. After meeting with a representative from GW Scientific, the students discovered that they could file for water rights through the Alaska Department of Natural Resources. In other words, the students could hold companies responsible for maintaining water quality in their areas of operation. At this point, the students knew that they could affect change.

The group began counting juvenile silver salmon in Whitestone Creek and discovered that glacial silt was destroying habitat for macro-invertebrates and suffocating the silver salmon eggs. They blocked the overflow channel of the Delta River with debris to prevent sedimentation problems in the creek. The students were directly involved in the installation of their stream monitoring equipment and are also responsible for its maintenance. Funds for their equipment were provided by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and were administered by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The group actually monitors five hydrological parameters in three different locations. Students have also been raising silver salmon in the hope that they will be able to reintroduce the fish in Whitestone Creek. Future efforts will also include the restoration of silver salmon spawning grounds, ground water modeling and studying the effects of point-source pollution on local wells.

The Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute (HSWRI) stated, "The junior high students of Whitestone Training Center, under the guidance of teacher John Donaldson, are studying water and soil quality and the status of invertebrate and fish populations in order to monitor the health of their local watershed. Their project, "A Sense of Place: Creating a Working Model for Sustainability in Local Environments", embodies Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute's belief in the power of creative partnerships, as students are working closely with scientists and managers from industry, academia, and state and federal resource agencies to make a difference in their community."