Skidmore Advanced GIS students partner with Gunpowder RIVERKEEPER® to model the river’s E. coli values at critical sites. From February to May, the students will be running models of various river segments to better understand the threats to increased levels of E. coli in a dynamic environment.
Meet the Team!
Sophie Zuckman
Sophie is a senior at Skidmore who joined Gunpowder RIVERKEEPER® in Summer 2025 as an Environmental Outreach, Mapping, and Monitoring Fellow and has served on the organization’s Board of Directors since September 2025. The Maryland native is committed to protecting the Gunpowder, Bush, Bird, and Middle Rivers, and looks forward to modeling E. coli patterns linking water-quality monitoring with spatial analysis to help the community better understand their waterways.
Charlie Movius
Charlie Movius is a senior environmental science major from Cleveland, Ohio. He has worked with the Cleveland Metroparks county park system as an Aquatic Research & Management Technician to monitor and protect freshwater resources in the Great Lakes region. He grew up sailing on Lake Erie at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River, which has faced numerous environmental challenges over the years and inspired his interest in freshwater environmental stewardship. He looks forward to using GIS to aid Gunpowder RIVERKEEPER® in their efforts to monitor natural and recreational resources.
Liv Mollo
Liv is a senior Environmental Science and Spanish major from New Jersey. Liv has conducted wetland aquatic vegetation surveys, monitored freshwater ecosystems, and participated in coral reef monitoring and restoration research. As someone who is especially interested in aquatic system ecology, monitoring, and restoration, Liv is excited about modeling E. coli concentrations to support Gunpowder RIVERKEEPER® in better understanding water quality patterns and supporting watershed conservation efforts.
Gunpowder RIVERKEEPER® is thrilled to continue this important work with Skidmore College to engage these students in practical application of the skills they are studying and to facilitate this partnership that benefits our local waters and communities. Gunpowder RIVERKEEPER® has been engaging with students from Skidmore College since 2022 when we hosted Emily Chase as a summer intern.
Follow us on social media or check back here for updates, findings, and data from our monitoring efforts.