Youth Engagement in Water Quality Monitoring: Uncovering Ecosystem Benefits and Challenges

Abstract

A youth-centric participatory mapping approach was employed to monitor the lower Mill Creek, an urban waterway located in Cincinnati, Ohio, by collecting geospatial data points on surface water quality and ecological assets. Utilizing the ArcGIS Field Maps application, a digital survey-based tool was developed to identify key areas related to ecological assets and urban water management challenges. The purpose of this citizen science approach was to allow researchers to capture and understand community perspectives and insights while engaging in scientific research that focuses on identifying geographic vulnerability areas and ecological assets. The primary objective was to empower local community groups and residents in an environmental justice neighborhood to understand the current opportunities and constraints of the adjacent waterbody, enabling informed decision-making for future planning initiatives that benefit both conservation and remediation efforts aligned with local values and needs. A youth-centric participatory mapping approach was employed to monitor the lower Mill Creek, an urban waterway in Cincinnati, Ohio, through the collection of geospatial data on surface water quality and ecological assets. The findings, based on hotspot analysis, revealed significant spatial clustering of heavy debris near the barrier dam and the lower portion of Mill Creek, where it converges with the Ohio River. This accumulation is attributed to the structural features of the barrier dam’s inner flood catchment area, which traps debris during rainfall events. Although no areas showed spatial significance for perceived ecological services, students identified specific areas with esthetic and biodiversity value, particularly at Mill Creek’s confluence with the Ohio River and along the northern stretch of the stream corridor. These findings provide valuable insights for guiding future conservation and remediation efforts that reflect both community values and environmental priorities.

1. Introduction

Surface water quality monitoring is a critical element for environmental protection and conservation initiatives to safeguard ecosystems and promote public health. Urban waterways with a high presence of industrial areas are fraught with numerous environmental issues attributed to the impacts from urbanization and the anthropogenic sources [1]. These issues include water emissions from industrial discharge [2,3,4], which can increase health risks for local communities and wildlife, making water exposure unsafe for human contact. Additionally, urban waterways are known for runoff from paved surfaces such as roads, parking lots [5,6], and buildings [7], which are sources of chemicals and contaminants that can leach out into the water bodies. In addition, phosphorus and nitrogen from pesticides and fertilizers used on lawns and landscapes in residential areas can impact streams, degrading stream ecosystems and increasing the risk of eutrophication [8]. Furthermore, during heavy rain, which burdens sewer systems and leads to the discharge of combined sewer overflows (CSOs) in the waterbody, such chemical compounds are released in the waterbody [9,10]. This can result in flooding that causes property damage and impacts local communities. Monitoring environmental hazards from anthropogenic sources, such as runoff, industrial emissions, and debris from combined sewage overflows, is crucial for identifying pollution sources affecting urban water quality.

At the same time, it is essential to recognize and assess environmental assets, such as ecosystem services, that play a pivotal role in maintaining the health and quality of urban watersheds. Ecosystem services is a concept known to link the benefits that humans derive from natural ecosystems, which are classified into four broad categories: supporting, regulating, provisioning, and cultural [11]. In urban water environments, supporting services include water cycling, habitat provision, flood protection, and water purification, while cultural services [12] are often experienced indirectly and may vary depending on environmental and contextual factors. Citizen science in urban watershed monitoring has become an increasingly widespread approach, involving the public and community groups in the observation and assessment of environmental conditions, including various water quality sampling methods [13,14]. This engagement not only generates valuable data that enhance the understanding of local natural resources but also encourages active community participation, fostering a sense of stewardship. By helping to identify both environmental assets and potential hazards, citizen science bridges data gaps in water quality monitoring that governmental agencies often struggle to address due to resource limitations. As a result, citizen involvement plays a crucial role in supplementing formal monitoring efforts [15]. Moreover, collaborative approaches that involve local residents have demonstrated positive impacts on ecological health [16], while educational programs integrated into these initiatives raise awareness of environmental challenges and deepen public understanding of the critical importance of ecological preservation, ultimately fostering a stronger commitment to long-term sustainability [17]. Hence, inclusive engagement through a participatory planning approach [18], particularly in areas where community members can utilize their local knowledge to inform decision-making about the area in which they live, is essential to allow them to voice their concerns about their neighborhoods. Furthermore, it is crucial to engage often-overlooked groups, such as young people [19], who are vital agents of change within their communities [20]. Young people can play pivotal roles in leadership in water management [21], offering innovative perspectives and driving sustainable solutions. Incorporating innovative technologies, such as mapping software, can provide opportunities for collaborative mapping projects with young people, and non-experts can not only facilitate in environmental education but also lead to increased environmental knowledge [22] and greater civic participation [23,24].

2. Study Area

Mill Creek, a historically significant urban waterway in Cincinnati, has seen substantial restoration efforts following decades of degradation caused by industrial pollution, combined sewer overflows (CSOs), urban runoff, and illegal dumping. In 1996, the conservation group American Rivers [25] identified Mill Creek as one of North America’s most threatened urban waterways. Over recent decades, significant progress has been made through a combination of local and federal initiatives aimed at cleaning and restoring Mill Creek. Local efforts led by community groups have integrated citizen science with volunteer cleanup activities, providing educational and employment opportunities that have revitalized the surrounding areas. These initiatives have engaged numerous youths and local volunteers in educational and restoration projects, supported by both federal and local agencies.

Despite recent improvements, researchers involved with this study noted that anecdotal testimony and discussions with local community groups revealed that lingering negative perceptions of Mill Creek persist among Cincinnati residents, stemming from its history of pollution. This issue is particularly pronounced in the lower portion of Mill Creek, adjacent to environmental justice communities like Lower Price Hill. Lower Price Hill is a mixed-race neighborhood with a predominantly Black population, where residents face significant environmental health risks due to traffic-related air pollution, cancer, and respiratory disease risks, as well as proximity to water pollution sources [26]. The presence of industrial facilities, an active railroad network, and highway systems exacerbates the environmental challenges for both the waterway and the surrounding community. These challenges are further intensified by combined sewer overflow (CSO) discharges, illegal dumping, and odors from nearby wastewater treatment facilities.

Set in Cincinnati’s Lower Mill Creek area, an urban waterway impacted by runoff pollution, this study focuses on the environmental justice neighborhood of Lower Price Hill. Using a youth-centric participatory mapping approach, this research monitors surface water quality and identifies ecological assets along a 1.5 miles (Figure 1) along the Lower Mill Creek located in the lower portion of Cincinnati City. The project promotes environmental awareness through citizen science and youth engagement, offering hands-on learning experiences to identify water quality challenges and perceived ecological assets. Additionally, this study aims to empower communities by equipping them with local data that can be used to influence public policy, ensuring that proposed changes align with their needs and values. By involving local communities, particularly young people, this study assesses environmental hazards and assets, supporting informed decision-making for future conservation and planning initiatives. The guiding research question is as follows: how can a participatory mapping approach involving local youth identify geographic vulnerability zones and ecological assets in an urban waterway, and how can these insights inform conservation efforts that reflect community values?

3. Materials and Methods

3.1. Civic and Academic Partnership

A civic and academic partnership between well-established community groups such as Groundwork Ohio River Valley, The Mill Creek Alliance, and a university researcher was formed to develop youth-centric citizen water quality monitoring activities with residents from Lower Price Hill. This collaboration aimed to harness the strengths of both organizations’ ongoing initiatives, focused on environmental stewardship, monitoring, and soft skills training. The Mill Creek Alliance is known for its efforts in watershed management, environmental education, and advocacy for the restoration and preservation of the Mill Creek watershed. These efforts include organizing cleanup events, implementing green infrastructure projects, and conducting scientific research to monitor and improve water quality with the help of volunteers and researchers.

3.2. Participant Recruitment and Inclusion Criteria

Recruited students participated in a 1 h training session with the Mill Creek Alliance facilitators and Groundwork Ohio River Vallery youth coordinator on using data collection protocols. This included providing students with guidelines on how to collect data using a tablet app’s multiple-choice features and taking photos directly from the app. Students and facilitators were divided into five canoes, each paired with one Mill Creek canoe operator, to collect data within the study area. The recruitment process aimed to enlist 10 students (aged 13–18) from the Groundwork Green Team Program, who are current residents of Lower Price Hill. Participants were recruited through both public outreach and personal invitations in April 2023. The “Friends Let’s Map Our Watershed” ad campaign was used to communicate the importance of shared responsibility in citizen science projects through participatory mapping.

3.3. Survey Tool Development

In a collaborative effort, the university researcher and the Groundwork Ohio River Valley youth coordinator implemented a spatial survey tool adapted and modified from previous literature focusing on water quality management [26], with an added integration of an ecosystem service survey. This tool, downloadable to smartphones and tablets, enabled real-time data collection, storage, and sharing via the ESRI ArcGIS Online Field maps application (Redlands, CA, USA), a web app designed for user-friendliness; the survey tool featured a multiple-choice menu that linked urban water quality monitoring and ecological assets with a multiple-choice format (Figure 2). The data fields captured the type of urban water quality impacts and ecological assets by geographic location, along with a qualitative ranking system (high = 3, medium = 2, and low = 1) to quantify the magnitude of hazards and the intensity of perceived ecological services. Students were advised to take photos, which could be geographically tagged, as they provided ranks.

The survey tool used in this study focused on assessing both ecosystem services and urban water quality issues along Mill Creek. For ecosystem services, participants were asked to evaluate two key aspects: (1) the esthetic qualities, particularly the appreciation of attractive natural features, and (2) the biodiversity of plants and wildlife in the area. In terms of urban water quality issues, the survey identified several major concerns: (1) heavy debris, such as tires and large objects deliberately dumped into the creek; (2) the presence of industrial and abandoned structures; (3) debris from runoff carried by rainwater; (4) visible sewage and floatable solids in the water; and (5) non-point-source pollution, including discarded items like bottles, cans, and food packaging along the waterway. These categories helped capture a comprehensive understanding of the environmental and esthetic challenges facing Mill Creek.

3.4. Data Collection

Urban water pollution and ecological asset points were collected during the canoe ride along the lower Mill Creek area, which started from the Barrier Dam at the lower portion of the Lower Price Hill neighborhood and up towards the end of the Lower Price Hill and back down towards the mouth of the Mill Creek where it meets the Ohio River. Each student was paired with a canoe operator, and each team was supplied with an iPad for pointing, shooting, and tagging for ranking purposes. The canoe operator navigated the canoe as close to the water’s edge as safely possible. The water trail was approximately 1.5 miles long along the lower Mill Creek, adjacent to Lower Price Hill. The data collection session lasted 2.5 h. The route was chosen due to its direct adjacency to Lower Price Hill and its unique characteristics, including a high presence of industrial sites such as a wastewater treatment facility, an industrial railyard, a highway, a dam, and post-industrial sites. In addition, an ecological corridor with various vegetation along the waterway also exists near the northern portion of the Lower Price Hill neighborhood.

3.5. Data Analysis

The data analysis followed a three-step process. First, a heatmap was generated using ArcGIS’s Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) to visualize the distribution of environmental concerns related to urban water quality. IDW interpolates nearby data points to highlight areas of concern and display surface water quality across the study area. Second, statistically significant areas were identified at a 90% confidence level for urban water quality issues and ecological conservation areas using ArcGIS’s Hotspot Analysis tool. This method, based on the Getis-Ord Gi statistic, identifies clusters of high (“hotspots”) and low (“coldspots”) values through p-values and z-scores. Finally, a vulnerability index was constructed from geospatial data, with categories such as heavy debris, industrial structures, runoff, sewage, and non-point-source pollution overlaid and aggregated into 50 × 50 m grid cells in ArcGIS (https://www.arcgis.com/). This methodological approach provides a detailed visualization of vulnerable areas, supporting ecologically driven decision-making [27].

4. Results

During the one-day data collection, students gathered 88 data points (

Table 1. Description of urban water quality challenges and ecosystem services survey outcomes.

Variable	Percent Response	Mean (Ranking Results)	Std. Dev
Perception of Ecosystem Services Esthetic (appreciation of attractive natural features)	0.07% (7)	2.7	0.49
Plants and wildlife (plant and wildlife diversity)	0.05% (5)	2.6	0.55
Urban Water Quality Challenges Heavy debris (tires, heavy items that someone most likely had to put directly into the creek)	47% (47)	1.68	0.84
Industrial building, structures, abandoned structures	19% (19)	2.2	0.71
Runoff debris from rain	1% (2)	2
Sewage and floatable solids	2% (2)	2	1.41
Non-point-source pollution (bottles, cans, potato chip bags, etc.)	6% (6)	2	0.63

). The data revealed that 88% focused on urban water quality challenges, while 12% addressed ecosystem services. Within the urban water quality challenge categories, over half of the survey responses highlighted the presence of heavy debris, followed by the presence of industrial structures. The mean value for heavy debris was 1.68 on a scale of 1 to 3, indicating significant variability in the distribution of heavy debris throughout the study area. In contrast, the presence of industrial structures showed less variability in ranking. Regarding ecosystem services, despite only 12% of responses focusing on this category, the mean rankings were 2.7 for esthetic value and 2.6 for biodiversity. These results suggest that the perception of cultural ecosystem services was clearly identified with less variability.

In the IDW analysis, hotspots were highlighted in various sections of the study area, spanning from the lower portion of Mill Creek in the southern part of Lower Price Hill to the upper portion of Lower Price Hill (Figure 3). This suggests variability in environmental impacts, as indicated by the survey. Given that only 12% of the data points accounted for ecological assets, creating a comprehensive IDW analysis for these assets was not feasible. The sparse and less localized nature of these data points further limited the effectiveness of the analysis for ecological assets.

A further analysis utilizing hotspot analysis, with a 90% confidence level, indicated that heavy debris is significantly concentrated in vulnerability zones near the barrier dam and the lower portion of Mill Creek, where it meets the Ohio River (Figure 4). This accumulation is attributed to the structural surroundings of the barrier dam’s inner flood catchment area, which inadvertently traps trash and debris, especially during rainfall. In the northern section of the lower Mill Creek, heavy debris was also observed in areas where the stream bends (Figure 5). The bends in the creek create natural catchment areas along its edges, leading to debris accumulation. In contrast, the heat density visualization for ecological services could not generate a meaningful map due to the limited sample size and geographic variability. However, students mapped and identified specific zones that reflected their views on the esthetic quality and biodiversity in key areas of the lower Mill Creek, particularly at its confluence with the Ohio River and along the stream corridor.

The collaboration between community and university partners led to a youth-driven approach to monitoring urban water conditions using geospatial technologies. This initiative identified areas for future remediation and potential conservation zones for development proposals. The study revealed statistically significant environmental impact areas in the lower Mill Creek, but no statistically significant zones were identified for ecosystem services. This suggests that understanding cultural ecosystem services, such as biodiversity and its geographic variability, may be less apparent to students, especially in terms of identifying different plant species. Additionally, esthetic appreciation data points were concentrated in two main areas: where the Ohio River meets Mill Creek and the northern portion of Lower Price Hill, where vegetation is more abundant (Figure 6).

5. Discussion

This study aimed to document local knowledge of surface water quality through direct engagement, observation from canoe as a unique method of monitoring the lower Mill Creek. Unlike surface water monitoring programs that rely on visual assessments and geotagging at the street level to identify various water quality hazards, including non-point-source pollution [27,28], community-based photovoice approaches to document potential hazards at the neighborhood scale [28], or studies utilizing water quality sampling instruments for ecological monitoring of accessible water bodies [14,29,30], this research took a different approach by canoeing to observe water quality in otherwise hard-to-reach areas. The steep banks of the lower Mill Creek make it challenging to access and monitor water quality and ecosystem services from a distance. Consequently, canoeing emerged as an effective method for assessing surface water quality. This approach allowed for close-up, on-the-water observation, enabling participants to directly engage with and assess water quality conditions. By interacting with the waterway at surface water level, participants gained detailed insights into the immediate environmental challenges. This mobile approach provided an immersive experience, offering a more nuanced understanding of the water quality issues affecting the lower Mill Creek.

This youth-driven participatory mapping project identified key environmental challenges along the lower Mill Creek, particularly highlighting areas with significant debris accumulation and the presence of industrial sites. This study confirmed that structural features such as dams and bends in the creek contribute to debris clustering, especially in vulnerable zones near the barrier dam and the Ohio River. The combination of industrial structures and non-point-source pollution further underscores the environmental burdens faced by both the waterway and the adjacent environmental justice community of Lower Price Hill. Overall, our results align with the common challenges and opportunities observed in urban waterways, particularly regarding non-point source water quality issues [27,28] and the identification of potential beneficial areas that focuses on ecological assets [28].

6. Limitations

Although the project successfully identified the locations of perceived ecosystem service benefits, such as esthetic and biodiversity indicators, the number of samples documented by participants was limited. Notably, while the mean ranking scores for biodiversity features were high, suggesting that students could identify areas with greenery as indicators of biodiversity, their understanding of biodiversity was somewhat superficial. The lower Mill Creek attracts wildlife such as birds, fish, and various types of vegetation, even in areas with minimal greenery. This suggests that prior education on biodiversity, particularly on local flora and fauna, could have deepened students’ ability to identify and understand biodiversity in a more nuanced and informed way. Additional challenges included a short data collection period and initial technical training difficulties, in consideration of weather conditions and the availability of the community group to volunteer during their busy schedule. Despite these challenges, the project successfully engaged local youth in environmental monitoring and raised awareness about water quality issues. Community engagement was further amplified through the “Green Mic Podcast” [31], which featured student experiences from the Summer GreenTeam program. This initiative highlighted the importance of integrating local perspectives into environmental justice, making insights accessible to the public for broader education and engagement.

7. Conclusions

The Youth Engagement in Water Quality Monitoring project demonstrated the effectiveness of a youth-driven, participatory mapping approach in uncovering both ecosystem benefits and urban water quality challenges in the lower Mill Creek, particularly in Cincinnati’s Lower Price Hill neighborhood. This study confirmed that structural features like dams and creek bends significantly contribute to debris clustering, especially near the barrier dam and where Mill Creek meets the Ohio River. This highlights the critical need for targeted remediation in these areas, as the accumulation of debris severely impacts both water quality and surrounding communities. Furthermore, the presence of industrial structures along the lower Mill Creek, combined with non-point-source pollution from runoff that results from littering and trash debris, exacerbates environmental degradation in the area. This is particularly concerning for the environmental justice community of Lower Price Hill, where residents face heightened health risks due to the proximity of industrial sites and pollution sources. Addressing these overlapping pollution sources is essential to improving both ecological and human health outcomes. While this study found statistical significance in geolocated areas for water quality concerns such as heavy debris from non-point-source pollution, there was limited statistical significance for ecological services. However, participants identified key areas of esthetic and biodiversity value along the northern section of Mill Creek and its confluence with the Ohio River. Although these perceived areas of biodiversity and esthetics were limited in scope, they indicate potential zones for ecological restoration that align with community priorities for enhancing natural landscapes and advancing conservation initiatives.

The participatory mapping project illustrates the geographic location of urban water quality challenges, enabling researchers to monitor surface water quality issues and ecological assets. This project also provides STEM educational opportunities for young people to learn about and understand environmental issues and urban water quality challenges through a participatory mapping project. These maps can be used for future planning and conservation initiatives in watershed management decision-making, as they underscore the importance of a community-driven data collection approach to promote environmental justice through planning and conservation initiatives that is more inclusive, effective, and reflective of the community’s needs and priorities. In addition, the maps identified geographic locations of urban water quality challenges, providing researchers with a citizen science framework that helps bridge data gaps in surface water quality monitoring while simultaneously identifying ecological assets. Beyond its immediate contributions in raising awareness, the project also created valuable educational opportunities, particularly for young people who had never experienced canoeing or direct observation of water quality, and provided hands-on approach and first-hand insight into urban water quality challenges and broader environmental issues, facilitated by the use of engaging mapping technologies.

Looking ahead, future research could expand the impact of participatory mapping by exploring several key areas. First, conducting post-evaluation studies could track the long-term effects of community engagement on environmental outcomes and assess the sustainability of community-driven initiatives over time. This would provide a clearer understanding of how community involvement influences environmental stewardship and policy. Additionally, investigating the scalability of this participatory model would be valuable, determining how it can be adapted to other urban contexts with varying environmental, social, and cultural dynamics. This would help researchers understand how the model could function in diverse settings and guide its application to new regions.

Incorporating more advanced geospatial technologies, such as AI-powered mapping tools and real-time water quality sensors, could significantly enhance the project’s ability to identify and address environmental issues in real time. Research into how these technologies can be effectively integrated into participatory processes would expand the scope, accuracy, and immediacy of community-driven data collection. Finally, future projects could benefit from expanding their demographic reach by involving a more diverse range of community members, including seniors, underrepresented groups, and individuals from various socioeconomic backgrounds. This broader participation would result in richer datasets and more nuanced insights into the intersections of environmental justice, water management, and urban planning. By promoting equity and inclusivity in decision-making processes, future initiatives would not only address environmental challenges but also empower communities to play a more active role in shaping their urban environments.