Achievements of Volunteer Monitoring Programs Across the Nation

Every so often we hear some especially exciting news about volunteer monitoring program happenings from our colleagues nationwide. We thought having a page where we list some of these achievements would be a good way to keep track of great steps our programs have taken. Please let us know breaking news from your region of the country so we can compile a comprehensive list of accomplishments.

August 2008

Washington- Streamkeepers of Clallam County, Washington, succeeded in having the Washington Department of Ecology accept and utilize their macroinvertebrate benthic index of biotic integrity (B-IBI) data for listing impaired waters of the state to the US Environmental Protection Agency. They have worked over the past four years to see this become a reality. view story >>

New Jersey- This month we have three success stories from New Jersey to share:

First, the New Jersey Watershed Watch Network recently completed an Oil Spill Toolkit designed to assist volunteers and monitoring coordinators in recruiting, training and managing a crisis. This kit was created by money from EPA Region 2. Watershed Watch is a program of the NJ Department of Environmental Protection. They worked with the Delaware Riverkeeper Network to develop this kit. The US Coast Guard is now considering using this kit in times of a spill as well. view story >>

Second, the Great Swamp Watershed Association in Harding Township, New Jersey, was recently recognized in a feature article of the Daily Record of Morris County, NJ, to acknowledge use of the volunteer-generated data by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The monitoring group assesses quality in numerous tributaries to the Passaic River, which is a drinking water source for at least a million people. The volunteers assess such parameters as nitrates, salt, conductivity, total dissolved solids, and turbidity, among others. Their monitoring is part of a three year study. The article, called "Great Swamp group doesn't take clean water for granted" is accessible for purchase at the Daily Record. However, coordinator Kelly Curran shared another recent press release: view story >>

Third, students from Passaic Valley High School in Little Falls, NJ, along with those from Barringer High School in Newark, Newark Academy in Livingston and Wallington High School in Wallington, were recognized for their efforts to monitor the Passaic River this year. They are part of the Passaic River Environmental Education and Monitoring Organization which is an EPA grant funded monitoring project through 2009. The students presented their monitoring results at a conference of the PREEMO group in May. view story >>

May 2007

Rhode Island: University of Rhode Island Watershed Watch celebrated its 20th anniversary. view story >>

April 2007

Alabama: Bill Deutsch, Director of Alabama Water Watch (AWW) reported that one of the AWW groups on the coast received a coveted Outstanding Alabama Water designation, largely based on eight years of volunteer water testing (link to 321 KB pdf file). view story >> (link to 321 KB pdf file)

January 2007

Iowa: Rich Leopold, former coordinator for IOWATER, the state's volunteer water monitoring program, was named Director of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.