Selected Archives of Volunteer Monitoring Listserv Discussions

Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2006 14:13:44 -0500
From: Anne Sturm <asturm@glc.org>
Subject: [volmonitor] Online Data Entry by Volunteers

Hello,

I'm looking for advice on how to get volunteers excited about entering their water quality data online. We have a well established lake volunteer monitoring program with dedicated volunteers, some of which have been collecting monitoring data for decades. Until recently, hard copies of the volunteer monitoring datasheets were sent to program staff and these data were then entered into the database by program staff. We are now trying to make a transition to an online data entry system where olunteers enter the data they collect directly into the database using an online data entry system.

Have other volunteer monitoring programs have successes or problems trying to make this switch? If so, how have you handled these issues? What sort of response rate can we expect for the online data entry? Also, how can we motivate volunteers to make this transition to online data entry?

Thank you very much for your help.

-Anne

*********************************************
Anne Sturm
Great Lakes Commission
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
asturm@glc.org
*********************************************

Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2006 15:48:38 -0700
From: Anna Holden <clearwaterroads@wildlandscpr.org>
Subject: Re: [volmonitor] Online Data Entry by Volunteers

Anne,

I don't have a direct answer to your problem, but I will be facing a similar problem--some of our volunteers will be entering data on a website, and others will be giving us hard copies. My suggestion (if you have the time) is to spend an extra afternoon with your volunteers at the computer. Make it clear that it's an important end to the day (or week). In other words, include the data entry into the day as part of the process, and volunteers should catch on pretty quickly.

: Thu, 19 Jan 2006 08:05:12 -0500
From: John Yagecic <John.Yagecic@drbc.state.nj.us>
Subject: Re: [volmonitor] Online Data Entry by Volunteers

Anne,

One idea that we contemplated was having a separate group of volunteers enter the data. Our field volunteers would collect the data, fill out the field sheets and send them in as usual. Instead of our staff entering the data, however, we would send copies of the field sheets to people who had volunteered to enter data from home. This potentially has 2 advantages:

First, it provides an opportunity for involvement for folks who would like to volunteer, but for whom field sample collection is beyond what they can do. Data entry can be done from home, after the kids are in bed. It opens up volunteer opportunities to a whole new set of participants.

Second, if you send the same data sheets to two different volunteers, you have an automatic QC check. You can query your database to only accept entries that are identical in both sets. Typos and other erroneous entries are deleted.

Good luck,

John Y.

--
John R. Yagecic, P.E.
Water Resources Engineer / Modeler
Delaware River Basin Commission
P.O. Box 7360, West Trenton, NJ 08628-0360
Phone: 609-883-9500 X271
Fax: 609-883-9522
www.drbc.net

From: streamaintenanc@netscape.net
To: Volunteer water monitoring <volmonitor@lists.epa.gov>
Sent: Thu, 19 Jan 2006 08:08:30 -0500
Subject: Re: [volmonitor] Online Data Entry by Volunteers

Hi, the problem of 'computer avoidance' is quite popular among the older generation. I first discovered it when training teachers to use computers and utilize computers in their curriculum about twenty years ago. In Illinois we have some unique tools "on line" that you might use to motivate your volunteers and your state officials to consider.

Look at this tool - - http://agec31.agecon.uiuc.edu/website/rmms/ and use it to raise the computer literacy level of your volunteers. This combined with Google Earth, and Google search skills, may help them to visualize and accept the importance of the computer technology in their daily lives. I have a humanitarian form of 'shock therapy' with which many seniors seem to relate - -

I have heard reports that about a third or more of the senior population have an apparent 'cholesterol processing problem' and many were placed on 'Statens' and many may have had side affects like muscle cramps. One day, I heard a report on National Public Radio about the lack of correlation with these drugs for heart attacks and strokes. But, there was light at the end of the tunnel, as they described an expensive test C-RP (C-Reactive Protein) that did correlate based upon several years of studies. Well, after educating my doctor, i received the < $50.00 test and proved what the stress test showed was correct. This health check-up was activated by my 50th birthday (thirteen years ago), when i decided it was time for my '50,000 mile check-up' and learned that my cholesterol was over the recommended 200.

Well, to make a long story short, as I reacted to all the Staten drugs and also participated in the Margarine Studies, the C-RP result gave me some piece of mind.

I have one other brief example and that pertains to the health affects of fluoridated water. Northwester University has a web site that supports what former Surgeon General Coop alluded to about this issue. 'That there is no scientific evidence that Fluoride via drinking water will protect your teeth'. Actually, lbased upon the Periodic Table, one might conclude that Fluoride can replace Calcium in your body and weaken your teeth and bones. The Northwestern site which you can find with Google even indicates a possible link arthritis.

PS One final tip, you should communicate by E-mail to all your associates. Even if they do not have a computer as they can get free E-mail in the library. The referance librarian should be able to assist them in getting a free 'Netscape' account. I am not pushing Netscape in particular but the price is right.

Regards, Chuck Dieringer, Ed.D., Thorn Creek Watershed, Illinois

Date: Mon, 08 Sep 2008 08:13:06 -0400
From: "Weglein, Sara" <sweglein@dnr.state.md.us>

I am with the MD Department of Natural Resources volunteer stream sampling program,
Stream Waders. We are looking to make some changes to our program such as having volunteers
enter data online and possibly identifying macroinvertebrates in the field. I was just wondering
if anyone who had such programs in place had any comments or suggestions that may be helpful.
Thank you!

Hello Sara,
Just thinking some of what I have online might be helpful to you-- and interesting. Our BioSITE Program, curricula, and data can be viewed online (actually, the data is not updated yet so more will come..) Let me know if you have any questions--

S
Sandra Derby
Environmental Education Manager
BioSITE Program Director
Children's Discovery Museum
180 Woz Way, San Jose CA. 95110
w408.298-5437 x261
f408.298-6826
www.cdm.org/biosite

Date: Mon, 08 Sep 2008 12:40:43 -0700
From: Eleanor Ely <ellieely@earthlink.net>

Are you familiar with the Summer 2005 issue of The Volunteer Monitor newsletter?
It profiles a number of macroinvertebrate monitoring programs and hopefully will give
you some ideas about the different possible approaches. See www.epa.gov/owow/volunteer/vm_index.html.

I believe online data entry by volunteers is getting more and more common. One good example
is Alabama Water Watch (https://aww.auburn.edu/).

Eleanor Ely
Editor, The Volunteer Monitor Newsletter
50 Benton Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94112
415-334-2284
ellieely@earthlink.net

Date: Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:35:01 -0400
From: Jo Latimore <latimor1@msu.edu>
Subject: RE: [volmonitor] MD Stream Waders

Here in Michigan we’ve had mixed results in asking volunteers to enter their data online.
The Michigan Clean Water Corps (www.micorps.net) set up an online database a few years ago for
both stream and lake monitoring data. We handle stream and lake monitoring a little differently,
based on program history. Our lake program has been functioning in one form or another since the
70s, with some monitoring done by lake associations, and some by individuals. They pay a small fee
to participate, to (almost) cover the cost of equipment and lab analysis. In general, our lake
volunteers have been resistant to entering their own data online. Some say that they don’t want
to do more work, and others are uncomfortable with computers. We initially hoped to make volunteer
data entry required, but so many were opposed that we have abandoned that hope and do much of it
ourselves.

Our stream monitors are all organized within their own groups (watershed councils, conservation groups,
etc.). The statewide stream monitoring program is relatively young, compared to the lake program, and
so are the folks involved. Computer literacy can be assumed, and when groups join the stream program,
we require that they enter their own data – and these groups are fine with that. Since they are
already organized into groups, they already have plans to use their data for stream/watershed
protection, and want their data in electronic form anyway. Our online database allows volunteers to
enter their data and then download a copy for themselves in Excel format, so we essentially save them
from having to design their own database. We also offer groups an alternative – if they already have
their own database they use, they can just send us a copy of their electronic data, and we import it
into our database.

Regarding field ID of macroinvertebrates, I’d give the handy answer, “It depends.” It depends on the
level of taxonomic resolution. Order-level IDs by volunteers in the field are certainly possible, with
training. I’ve found that often, though, volunteers – especially new ones – aren’t always comfortable
with that level of responsibility. You’ll want to have a Quality Control plan in place to check ID’s,
and make sure the volunteers know that, so they don’t worry quite as much about getting one or two
wrong. I’d also recommend providing a way for them to turn in bugs that they are unsure of – a
“mystery jar” of sorts. One big upside of field ID is that the volunteers know the result of their
search right away. If you’re looking for family-level ID, though, I’d steer clear of field ID.
Even the pros (myself included) don’t have the best track record with that.

On the other hand, at my previous job at the Huron River Watershed Council in Ann Arbor
(www.hrwc.org), we found a way to involve volunteers in identifying bugs at a separate indoor
event – described in the issue of the Volunteer Monitor that Ellie mentioned. This type of event
may not be feasible at a statewide scale, but your individual watershed groups might try it.
The Michigan Clean Water Corps permits field or lab ID of bugs, as long as there’s a QC plan in
place to check those IDs.

Jo A. Latimore, Ph.D.
Lake, Stream, & Watershed Outreach
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife
Michigan State University
13 Natural Resources
East Lansing, MI 48824-1222
(517) 432-1491
latimor1@msu.edu

Date: Mon, 08 Sep 2008 22:30:11 -0500
From: Kris Stepenuck <kris.stepenuck@ces.uwex.edu>
Subject: Re: [volmonitor] MD Stream Waders

We have a fact sheet about online databases (as well as other types of databases) with links to
numerous volunteer monitoring programs' databases within it. It also includes tips from program
coordinators across the country who replied to a request for feedback to share with others about
planning and implementing such databases. Here's a link to the fact sheet:
http://www.usawaterquality.org/volunteer/Outreach/Databases.pdf

Third, we also did a survey of volunteer monitoring programs across the country about their
online databases. We used the information we learned in the fact sheet noted above, but results
of the survey itself are also posted online. They're available at:
http://www.usawaterquality.org/volunteer/DataReporting/index.html

Date: Tue, 09 Sep 2008 08:52:49 -0400
From: Debra Gutenson <gutenson50@loudounwireless.com>
Subject: Re: [volmonitor] MD Stream Waders

Sara,

You may wish to contact Stacey Brown ( coordinator of VA SOS) re' our volunteer monitoring and data reporting efforts in VA. This is an all volunteer statewide program, not run by any state agency.

Email : Stacey@vasos.org

Otto Gutenson ( OW, EPA- retired)

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