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Water Quality Field Monitor Training
May 13, 2023 @ 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Join us for our next upcoming training for volunteers to become water quality field monitors as part of Polk County Conservation’s Water Quality Monitoring Program (PCCWQMP).
About the Training
To become a volunteer water quality field monitor, volunteers receive free training prior to taking on a monitoring site. This full-day training will take place at the Jester Park Nature Center and will include both classroom and field components. Volunteers can expect to learn the following at this training:
Overview of the PCCWQMP
Water monitoring learning modules
Water monitoring supplies & equipment
How to monitor testing sites
Monitoring schedules & volunteer expectations
Meet and get to know other water quality field monitors
*Lunch will be provided for all registered attendees.
Once volunteers have successfully completed this training they will be ready to start monitoring their designated sites!
About the Polk County Conservation Water Quality Monitoring Program (PCCWQMP)
Across Polk County, volunteers help monitor 70 sites along our local waterways as a part of the Polk County Conservation Water Quality Monitoring Program (PCCWQMP). Each month volunteers monitor sites collecting data on weather, stream conditions, and basic chemical testing (pH, nitrate/nitrite, chloride, phosphate, and dissolved oxygen). Polk County Conservation staff upload data to the EPA Water Quality Exchange for public access on How’s My Waterway website. Annual reports are created each year and are available on our Water Quality page of our website.
2023 Volunteer Water Monitoring Needs
Currently, we have 25 field monitor openings for sites across the county. Without dedicated volunteers, we could not monitor 70 sites across the county each month. This volunteer position is a great way to get outside and to help provide valuable data about the status of our local waterways.
We encourage field monitors to monitor two sites. Because we ask that data collection is consistently gathered throughout the year, each volunteer will share sites with a current monitor.
What to expect as a Water Quality Monitor volunteer
Time Commitment
Water quality monitors monitor their site(s) during the first and/or third weeks of each month of the year. Monitoring takes 15-20 minutes at individual sites throughout the year.
In mid-July/early August additional habitat assessments and biological (benthic macroinvertebrate collection) assessments are completed. These assessments typically take 1-2 hours.
Each monitoring week, volunteers submit their data through an app to the water monitoring field coordinator.
Training
All monitors receive free training prior to taking on a monitoring site.
All day, in person training is available.
Options for independent learning modules are available for those who cannot attend in-person trainings.
Supplies
All supplies, including equipment needed to complete water quality, testing will be provided to each volunteer.
Field Environment
Monitoring at sites takes places along our local waterways throughout neighborhoods of Polk County.
Monitors are asked to monitor in the flow of the stream. Sometimes this is not possible so sampling along bridges is allowed when necessary.