Extension Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Network logo Link to National Water Quality Program website

Cooperative Extension Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Programs

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Project Initiatives Link to 382K pdf file with a Project DescriptionLink to Outreach Materials and Activities webpageLink to Information about Nationwide InquiryLink to information about online databasesLink to webpage about training modules

Link to listing of Volunteer Monitoring Programs sponsored or co-sponsored by ExtensionLink to listing of Extension-connected Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring programsLink to webpae about volunteer monitoring programs' acheivementsLink to current highlighted programLink to highlighted program archiveslink to job postings

Header for studies that research and validate volunteer monitoringLink to validation studies of volunteer monitoringLink to other research about volunteer monitoringHeader for Related Research and Education Efforts

Link to archived volunteer monitoring discussionsLink to publications relevant to the volunteer monitoring communityHeader for section about tribal initiatives in volunteer monitoringLink to information about the Great Lakes tribal water resources surveyLink to information about the 2010 Great Lakes Water Resource SummitHeader for section about other National Water Resource ProjectsLink to NEMO Network websiteLink to information about other National Water Resource Projects
Link to webpage about the Guide for Growing Programs Link to 803 K pdf file about Using the Guide Link to Why Monitoring Makes Sense 582K portable document format fileLink to Designing Your Monitoring Strategy, 1.6 M p.d.f. fileLink to Monitoring Matrix, 80K p.d.f. fileLink to 986K p.d.f. file about effective training techniquesLink to 437 KB p.d.f. file of Monitoring Equipment SuppliersLink to listing of direct links to online manuals from volunteer monitoring (Extension) programsLink to 1.5 MB pdf file about Building Credibility for Volunteer Monitoring Programs (Quality Assurance and Quality Control)Link to 1020 KB pdf file about SHaring Information Through Internet ExchangeLink to fact sheet learning module about Volunteer Management (7 M pdf file)Link to 6086 KB pdf file about planning your program's data management systemLink to Tips and Tools for Effective PresentationsOutreach ToolsLocating Support and Funding

Special Topics' header
Link to Secchi Dip-In websiteLink to National Water Monitoring Day InformationLink to Volunteer E. coli Monitoirn gProject website

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When we first started this project we identified 27 volunteer water quality monitoring programs sponsored, co-sponsored or affiliated with Cooperative Extension in the United States and its territories. As of 2012, there are more than 55! We are always looking for programs we have missed and have had help from people across the country to find 'new' programs. We identify below which programs are sponsored or co-sponsored by Cooperative Extension and which are affiliated in other ways -- such as by providing technical assistance with trainings, educational materials, equipment, or meeting space for volunteer monitoring events.

The map above shows where and to what extent Cooperative Extension is involved in volunteer water quality monitoring across the nation.

The first of these programs began in 1978, the most recent in 2012. In parentheses next to each program's name is the year that the program began. Program volunteers are monitoring a wide range of aquatic habitats including rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, wetlands, estuaries, and drinking water wells.

In the directory that follows, we've tried our best to keep the contact information current. Many programs have websites and we have created links to these sites for your convenience. We encourage you to explore the wide range of Extension volunteer monitoring programs and contact those that interest you. All our coordinators are more than happy to share their expertise and enthusiasm with you! For programs that are CE-affliated, contacts listed are usually Extension staff who work with the program, thus are generally not the program coordinators.

We now have a listing of Master Naturalist and Master Watershed Steward Programs in the U.S., many of which are sponsored or co-sponsored by Extension and which are invovled with volunteer monitoring efforts locally. view list of Master Naturalist Programs >>

Alabama Cooperative Extension-sponsored or co-sponsored

Arizona Cooperative Extension-sponsored or co-sponsored
Arizona Cooperative Extension-sponsored or co-sponsored CaliforniaProgram is affiliated with Cooperative Extension (tech support, materials, building space, or some type of assistance)
ColoradoProgram is affiliated with Cooperative Extension (tech support, materials, building space, or some type of assistance) FloridaProgram is affiliated with Cooperative Extension (tech support, materials, building space, or some type of assistance)
Idaho Cooperative Extension-sponsored or co-sponsored Indiana Program is affiliated with Cooperative Extension (tech support, materials, building space, or some type of assistance)
IllinoisProgram is affiliated with Cooperative Extension (tech support, materials, building space, or some type of assistance)  
 
Iowa Cooperative Extension-sponsored or co-sponsored Kansas Cooperative Extension-sponsored or co-sponsored
KentuckyProgram is affiliated with Cooperative Extension (tech support, materials, building space, or some type of assistance) KentuckyProgram is affiliated with Cooperative Extension (tech support, materials, building space, or some type of assistance)
KentuckyProgram is affiliated with Cooperative Extension (tech support, materials, building space, or some type of assistance) MaineCooperative Extension-sponsored or co-sponsored
Maine Cooperative Extension-sponsored or co-sponsored
MissouriProgram is affiliated with Cooperative Extension (tech support, materials, building space, or some type of assistance) MontanaProgram is affiliated with Cooperative Extension (tech support, materials, building space, or some type of assistance)
MontanaProgram is affiliated with Cooperative Extension (tech support, materials, building space, or some type of assistance) MontanaProgram is affiliated with Cooperative Extension (tech support, materials, building space, or some type of assistance)
MontanaCooperative Extension-sponsored or co-sponsored
MontanaProgram is affiliated with Cooperative Extension (tech support, materials, building space, or some type of assistance)
NevadaProgram is affiliated with Cooperative Extension (tech support, materials, building space, or some type of assistance)
 
 
New Hampshire Cooperative Extension-sponsored or co-sponsored New York Cooperative Extension-sponsored or co-sponsored
New York Cooperative Extension-sponsored or co-sponsored North CarolinaCooperative Extension-sponsored or co-sponsored
Ohio Program is affiliated with Cooperative Extension (tech support, materials, building space, or some type of assistance) Ohio Cooperative Extension-sponsored or co-sponsored
OhioCooperative Extension-sponsored or co-sponsored OklahomaProgram is affiliated with Cooperative Extension (tech support, materials, building space, or some type of assistance)

Ohio State University Extension
Jerry Iles
OSU Extension - Athens County
280 West Union
Athens, OH 45701
Phone: 800-297-2072
iles.9@osu.edu

Blue Thumb Program (2000)
Cheryl Cheadle
Oklahoma Conservation Commission
128 East 3rd Avenue
Bristow OK 74010
Phone: (918) 398-1804
cheryl.cheadle@conservation.ok.gov


Oregon Cooperative Extension-sponsored or co-sponsored Oregon Cooperative Extension-sponsored or co-sponsored

Pacific NW Water Quality Monitoring Program (1999)
Bob Simmons
County Director and Water Resources Faculty
303 N 4th St
Shelton, WA  98584
Phone: (360) 427-9670 ext 690
simmons@wsu.edu

Oregon Program is affiliated with Cooperative Extension (tech support, materials, building space, or some type of assistance) Oregon Cooperative Extension-sponsored or co-sponsored
Partnership for the Umpqua Rivers (2000)
Eric Riley
Monitoring Coordinator
1758 N.E. Airport Road
Roseburg, OR 97470
Phone: (541) 673-5756 X159

Eric@Umpquarivers.org

Curry Watershed Water Quality Monitoring (1994)
Cindy Ricks Myers
PO Box 666
Gold Beach OR 97444
Phone: (541) 247-2755 ext 7
cricks@currywatersheds.org

Rhode Island Cooperative Extension-sponsored or co-sponsored South CarolinaProgram is affiliated with Cooperative Extension (tech support, materials, building space, or some type of assistance)

URI Watershed Watch (1988)
Linda Green
University of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension
Natural Resources Science Dept. URI
1 Greenhouse Road
Kingston RI 02881
Phone: (401) 874-2905
lgreen@uri.edu


SC DNR SCORE (SC Oyster Restoration and Enhancement Program) (2001)
Nancy Hadley
Marine Resources Divison
South Carolina Dept of Natural Resources
PO Box 12559, 217 Ft. Johnson Rd.
Charleston SC 29422
Phone: (843) 953-9241
score.dnr.sc.gov

Texas Program is affiliated with Cooperative Extension (tech support, materials, building space, or some type of assistance) Utah Cooperative Extension-sponsored or co-sponsored
Vermont Cooperative Extension-sponsored or co-sponsored Vermont Program is affiliated with Cooperative Extension (tech support, materials, building space, or some type of assistance)
Washington Cooperative Extension-sponsored or co-sponsored  
Kitsap County Stream Stewards
Arno Bergstrom
WSU Extension
Kitsap County, 345 Sixth St, Ste 550
Bremerton, WA 98337
Phone: (360) 337-7157
awbergstrom@wsu.edu

 
Washington Cooperative Extension-sponsored or co-sponsored Washington Cooperative Extension-sponsored or co-sponsored

Pacific NW Water Quality Monitoring Program (1999)
Bob Simmons
County Director and Water Resources Faculty
303 N 4th St
Shelton, WA  98584
Phone: (360) 427-9670 ext 690
simmons@wsu.edu

WSU Beach Watchers (1989)
Chrys Bertolotto
Washington State University Extension
600 128th Street SE
Everett, WA 98208-6353
Phone: (425) 357-6020
chrys@wsu.edu
West VirginiaProgram is affiliated with Cooperative Extension (tech support, materials, building space, or some type of assistance) WisconsinProgram is affiliated with Cooperative Extension (tech support, materials, building space, or some type of assistance)
 
WisconsinProgram is affiliated with Cooperative Extension (tech support, materials, building space, or some type of assistance) WisconsinProgram is affiliated with Cooperative Extension (tech support, materials, building space, or some type of assistance)
 
Wisconsin Cooperative Extension-sponsored or co-sponsored Wisconsin Cooperative Extension-sponsored or co-sponsored
Citizen Lake Monitoring Network (1986)
Laura Herman
Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources
107 Sutliff Avenue
Rhinelander WI 54501-3349
Phone: (715) 365-8998
laura.herman@wisconsin.gov
Clean Boats, Clean Waters (2003)
Erin MacFarlane
UWEX Lakes Program
UW Stevens Point, CNR
800 Reserve St

Stevens Point WI 54481
Phone: (715) 346-4978
erin.mcfarlane@uwsp.edu

Wisconsin Cooperative Extension-sponsored or co-sponsored WisconsinProgram is affiliated with Cooperative Extension (tech support, materials, building space, or some type of assistance)

Please note, the programs listed on this page are not the only volunteer water quality monitoring programs in existence in the country. They represent only those that have a connection with Extension - whether as a sponsor, partner or affiliate. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency maintains an online directory of volunteer monitoring programs across the nation. More than 1000 programs are listed in that directory. It is accessible at: http://yosemite.epa.gov/water/volmon.nsf/Home?readform

Updated Monday, 11-Feb-2013 20:08:20 CST
 

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The USDA-NIFA and this project provide equal program opportunities without regard to race, age, sex or preference, creed, or disability.

This material is based upon work supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under Agreement No. 2008-03530


 

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