Monitoring the health is a critical task in managing any watershed. There are a variety of different tools that can be used. Taking a community engagement perspective on watershed monitoring, the tools I cover below stem from a citizens science approach. In other words, the equipment chosen places an emphasis on overall usability, economical cost, and ability to participate in various citizen science initiatives. A list of citizen science initiatives is provided at the end. Thanks!
Aquascope
This is one of my favorite water monitoring tools! While it looks like a traffic cone, it has a sealed, plexiglass bottom, allowing users to see underwater by breaking the surface tension barrier of water. Most have handles that make use easy in high current environments. Additionally, the height of the cone allows users to use it from a near-standing position. It is appropriate for all ages (with consideration of standard swimming/water hazards) and levels of mobility.
Average cost: $30-$50
Hand Lens
An incredibly simple yet effective way to quick sort through tiny creatures and treasures. Hand lens come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and levels of magnification depending on the intended application. Hand lens expose key minute differences in plants or macro-invertebrates that are often part of various steam monitoring initiatives.
Average cost: $5-$25
Stream Net
A net is a great way to temporarily contain macro-invertebrates in order to document the diversity and quantity of species collected. The net below is used first by securing the bottom within the stream bed. A partner then kicks up/stirs the stream bottom within a specified area, loosening species to flow downstream and into the net.
Average cost: $50- $200; can be made from hardware store supplies
White Cloth, Small Buckets, Clear Containers
Once the macroinvertebrates are collected in the net, you need somewhere clean to count and sort everything. All reputable citizen science projects for rigid sampling procedures and accuracy is key! Often times macroinvertebrates are dark in color and placing samples on a white cloth makes them easier to see (some are tiny!) and easier to count. Place larger species, such as hellgrammites (also known as Dobson fly larvae) or crayfish, in small, clear containers.
Average Cost: $1-$10
Smart Phone, Apps, and Notepad
Smart phones can be an endless resource for data collection and reporting. I believe one of the hosts of the former TV show "Myth Busters" said, "It's not science if you don't write it down!" So, write it down. Take abundant notes. Take plenty of pictures. Be accurate with your recording and make sure it is organized in a way that it is still useful once you have left the stream or returned the sampling to the water. FOLLOW PROTOCOLS. If the citizen science project you are participating in has a protocol (and it should), follow it. This is not the time to get creative. Finally, smart phones have a wealth of apps that can help with identification.
Average Cost: Apps range from free to ~$10, some have subscription fees
Citizen Science Initiatives for Environmental Monitoring Descriptions are taken directly from the respective initiatives
Save Our Streams (SOS)
"Virginians have the right to know whether or not streams are safe for swimming, fishing, playing, and drinking. Virginia Save Our Streams monitors water quality of Virginia’s streams and educates the public about importance of clean water. Hundreds of VA SOS volunteers collect stream quality data from over 200 stream sites across the state. Monitors collect, identify, and sort benthic macroinvertebrates from the stream. By identifying which macroinvertebrates live in a local stream stream, volunteers can calculate a stream health score."
Website for more information: https://vasos.org
Air Sensor Toolbox
"Air sensor monitors that are lower in cost, portable and generally easier to operate than regulatory-grade monitors are widely used in the United States to understand air quality conditions."
Website for more information: https://www.epa.gov/air-sensor-toolbox
Globe at Night
"Globe at Night is an international citizen-science campaign to raise public awareness of the impact of light pollution by inviting citizen-scientists to measure & submit their night sky brightness observations."
Website for more information: https://www.globeatnight.org/
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