Dog owners who walk their critters in the Fauntleroy Watershed have been caught by some kids in primary school with letting Fido walk without a leash where a leash is required.

Those kids at KapKa Primary School on Phinney Ridge became scientific straight-talkers at two forums last week thanks to their completed study on Fauntleroy Creek bacteria that showed excessive amounts of dog poop - which means high fecal coliform bacterium levels in its waters.

Kindergarten through second grade classes took five trips to the creek and discovered a total of 55 dog piles left behind. They regrouped at school last Wednesday with their "poop study" presentation including colorfully illustrated posters and several pages of data they shared with two representatives from the State Department of Ecology, teachers, and fellow classmates.

The following day they presented their study again during their "learning celebration" event to the.

"If you think picking up your dog's poop is unpleasant, try drinking it," was the mantra repeated by the enthusiastic 5- to 7-year-old scientists during their talk, who seemed amused as they used the "p" word. But serious words accompanied the giggles.

"Our school follows what the children are interested in," said KapKa educational director Kathi Bulfin. "This is an organic project, and connects them with the community. They are learning to become stewards of the environment."

"Our department has worked for about a year with Judy Pickens and the Fauntleroy Water Shed Council and we are very impressed with the students' work," said Sinang Lee, water quality improvement coordinator for the Department of Ecology, who attended the first presentation.

Pickens, an historian, author, and environmentalist, established the Fauntleroy Watershed Council in 2001. One goal of the Council is to restore salmon spawning in the creek as the total maximum daily load of bacteria decreases. The Department of Ecology projects that at current rates Fauntleroy Creek will comply with state quality standards by June 2013.

The creek lies within the 98-acre Fauntleroy Creek Watershed and is dogged by pollution from domestic wastewater, sewage, decaying organic matter, and wildlife excrement, in addition to Fido's contribution, according to a current Department of Ecology report. In the drier summer months the bacteria levels shoot up. In the wetter months rainwater dilutes the pollutants.

"We learned from this study that a lot of dogs are not on a leash because the poop was discovered mostly off the trail and in the clearing," said Lee, referring to the students' hand-drawn maps of dots connoting dog-dropping locations. "Based on this study the Watershed Council will put up more signs." The students will help the council install more poop-bag receptacles.

While signs posted to pick up after your pet help, Lee wants to work on behaviors to change habits of dog-owners.

Dave Garland, her colleague who also attended, agreed. "You students are setting a standard of good behavior. If we in the community convince people to pick up after their dog, that's more enduring than police fining people for breaking the ordinance.

"Too bad fish can't talk but if they could they'd tell you 'thank you for the work you're doing.'"

Steve Shay may be reached at steves@robinsonnews.com