Located in the prairie directly out the door of the Education Center is a weather station that has been dutifully collecting meteorological data for decades.
This scientific-grade station collects important meteorological data used by the scientists and government agencies who monitor Valley Creek. They use the data collected from this station to help them build accurate stream flow models of the renowned trout stream.
Although this weather station has been quietly collecting data for years, there has never been a way to access that information until now. In March, the Valley Branch Watershed District (VBWD)‚ one of the principal users of the weather station's data‚ awarded the Belwin Conservancy a $1,800 grant to make the station available to other users. Along with a generous gift from Chuck and Hope Lea, the Belwin Conservancy purchased a computer and monitor as well as software used to create a weather display inside the Education Center.
The display will show in near real-time the current weather conditions at the Belwin Conservancy. The other exciting thing this upgrade allows us to do, is post the current conditions online. You can now view the weather conditions at the Belwin Conservancy any time by visiting: www.belwin.org/weather.