Getting Started inVolunteer Monitoring:
Overview
USDA-CSREES Southern Region Conference
Lexington, Kentucky
October 2005Linda Green
USDA-CSREES Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring National Facilitation Project
1972 amendment
*= CWARestore and maintain the chemical, chemical, physical and physical and biologicalbiological integrityintegrity of the Nation's waters
P hysi calI ntegr i ty
B iologicalI ntegr i ty
C hem icalI ntegr i ty
Used with permission from Abby Markowitz, Tetra Tech
*Federal Water Pollution Control Act (WPCA, 1948)
Used with permission from Abby Markowitz, Tetra Tech
Why Monitor our Waters?Why Monitor our Waters?
To educate ourselves about our water To assess ecosystem health and human
use To detect early warnings of change To provide insight into the causes of
problems To tell us whether we’ve achieved our
management goals
Volunteer Monitoring: Moving into the Mainstream, Austin TX 2000
Who Monitors our Waters? Federal Agencies
EPA USGS Forest Service NOAA Fish & Wildlife
States Environmental Agencies Drinking Water agencies
Counties Municipalities Tribes Regulated Community
Isn’t that enough monitoring?
Advocacy Organizations Sporting Organizations Watershed Organizations Schools, 4-H
No! Only 18% of US waters have been assessed
Is there a role for volunteer monitors?
Community Educators & Stewards
Citizen Scientists
Photos from (NC) Watershed Watch
“It is in the marriage of credible data and increased stewardship behavior that the true potential and vitality of citizen monitoring begins to emerge.”
-Steven Hubbell, Colorado River Watch
Reality of Using VolunteerCollected Data
•We need more data at a higher frequency of collection
•EPA has encouraged use of volunteer collected data
•Volunteers want to do it right
- Danielle Donkersloot, NJ DEP Vol. Mon. Coordinator
Strong Nationwide Support
USDA CSREES National Facilitation Project www.usawaterquality.org/volunteer
Build a comprehensive support system for Extension volunteer water quality monitoring efforts in the U.S.
Expand & strengthen the capacity of existing Extension volunteer monitoring programs
Support development of new groups
www.usawaterquality.org
Who,What, why,
Contact information for each Extension Volunteer Monitoring Program in the U.S. and its territories
Results of Inquiry to Current Extension Programs on:
• Program Beginnings
•Training Techniques
• QA Measures
• Volunteer Support Tools
• Outreach Tools
• Program Funding
Select Inquiry Results - Funding
< $5000
$5000-$20,000
$20,000-$50,000
$50,000-$75,000
$75,000-$100,000
> $100,000
Extension programannual budgets in 2001
State
Federal
Other
Foundation
Corporate
Donations
Dues
Grassroots fundraising
Extension programFunding sources in 2001
www.usawaterquality.org/volunteer
Online Database:
•Info on online database developed & tested at University of Wisconsin
•Info on what to think about before setting up a database
•Direct links to 22 programs with on-line databases
Annotated Bibliography:
•Studies comparing volunteer monitoring efforts to those professional
•Pertinent Volunteer Monitor articles
•Select EPA Vol Mon listserv discussion archives
Received from:
South Carolina
Iowa
Ohio (Secchi Dip-In)
Rhode Island
EASI (Env. Action for Senior Involv.)
Virginia
“Guide for Growing Programs”-Expanded factsheet format -Hardcopy and electronic formats-Lots ‘o links
Getting Started- about The Guide Why Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Makes Sense Designing Your Monitoring Strategy-?’s & Resources to guide
you Matrix of Monitoring Activities
Effective Training Techniques Additional Resources – equipment and supplies Direct Links to On-line manuals
Building Credibility: QA/QC for Volunteer Monitoring Programs Volunteer management and support tools Outreach tools Finding support and funding for local efforts
* www.usawaterquality.org/volunteer
All outreach materials to date,Including fact sheets, posters, and ppt presentations
Summary of Vol Mon list serv online discussions
So, let’s get started…
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