FRIENDS OF LOWER MUSKINGUM RIVER
Stream Team
Volunteer Monitoring Project
Why Monitor Water Quality??
Citizen based watershed groups in communities all across the country are taking responsibility for monitoring their local streams and rivers. Long term monitoring of local waterways can help to identify possible problem areas and to document effects of remediation or reclamation efforts. Most streams and rivers in Ohio are only sampled occasionally by state agencies. Volunteer data can be used to establish baseline conditions for areas that may otherwise go unmonitored or to call attention to pollution problems in local watersheds.
Collecting data is only one part of the story; once the data have been collected, results can be compiled and presented to the community and be made available for use by other agencies and local governments.
By helping local residents understand more about water quality in their neighborhoods, specific problems can be addressed and solved at a community level.
The ABC’s of Water Quality
In order to have an effective volunteer monitoring program, volunteers must attend a training program to learn proper collection procedures.
Water quality can be determined with a three-fold approach;
Habitat Assessment
Environmental cues such as the amount of vegetation on the banks of a stream, depth and flow of the water, or the amount of sediment along the stream bottom are used to indicate overall stream health.
Biological Sampling
Aquatic macroinvertebrates, aka bugs are small animals living at least part of their life cycle in the stream. Some of these organisms are pollution tolerant, while others are sensitive to pollutants. The types of macroinvertebrates found in a stream can be used as an indicator of water quality.
Chemical Monitoring
Parameters of chemical monitoring can include; pH, a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of the water; dissolved oxygen, a measure of the amount of available oxygen in the water (even in the water fish and bugs need plenty of oxygen to survive!); temperature, which can have an effect on pH and dissolved oxygen; turbidity, a measure of the sediments in the water column; conductivity, a measure of the amount of metals in the water; and levels of nitrate and phosphate which are common pollutants contained in agricultural and residential run off.
Are You Ready to Test the Waters?
Are you interested in learning more about the natural world around you? Are you concerned about water quality in our area?
Learning to monitor water in local rivers and streams is a fun and interesting way to become involved with your local watershed group. You can enjoy the outdoors and do something positive for the environment.
Training sessions in the “ABC’s of Water Quality” will be held over the spring and summer covering water sampling methods in Habitat Assessment, Biological Sampling and Chemical Monitoring. Individuals and groups are welcome to come learn about water quality in our area and learn how to become more actively involved in protecting the resources we share. Contact FLMR at 740-374-4170 or flmr@sbcglobal.net