Citizen scientists wanted to monitor local streams and become certified stream monitors

Last May, Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District (PWSWCD) offered an introductory benthic macro invertebrate training class to residents interested in stream monitoring and water quality knowledge.

Participants also viewed preserved samples of the different organisms that determine the quality of a stream.  As stream monitors, residents will be able to send more county stream data to the Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEQ) under the Save our Streams (SOS) citizen science monitoring program.

This training had the support of Blythe Merritt, Renee Kitt and Nancy Berlin who would also like to see Prince William County strive in citizen science stream monitoring. These women constitute part of a small team of dedicated stream monitors in Prince William who have been sending data to DEQ over the years.

These pioneer stream monitors have been monitoring the Young’s Branch, Catharpin Creek of Little Bull Run and Catharpin Creek at James Long Park among others.

The laboratory style class of training helped participants to improvetheir observation and identification skills in preparations for certification as stream monitors coming August 15th.

Some Answers to your Questions

Why monitor PW streams?
To determine current conditions of PW streams.
To see the effect of pollution in PW streams.
To assist the local soil and water conservation district to determine BMPs effectiveness.
To help assess the health of the many miles of streams in Virginia
To provide decision-makers with baseline information (e.g. In stream restoration projects).
To see the life that supports a clean stream.
To get exercise and breathe fresh air.
To meet people who have an interest in PW streams
To share streams concerns and seek solutions as a community…
How often can a site be monitored
Not more than 4 times in a year (quarterly sessions).

Must all volunteers be certified?
No, but only data submitted by certified monitors will be considered by DEQ.

What does it take to become certified?
1. Be able to identify the critters.
2. Be able to properly demonstrate the field protocol in data collection.
Both 1 and 2 are easy and open book! For Quality Assurance visit: VASOS

Who can help the certified monitors collect data for DEQ?
Anybody can help in sampling the critters (kids, students, elderly etc.).

More so, through stream monitoring PWSWCD could find better ways to assist communities in stream clean up events.                                 

Watershed updates

Saturday, July 11
2rd Macro Invertebrate Introduction Training class
Time: 10.am - 12.30pm
Location:  Manassas National Battlefield Park 12521 Lee Highway Manassas, VA 20109.

This introductory macro invertebrate training class is for those that wish to join the Save Our Streams (SOS) citizen monitoring program.
The goal of this workshop is to improve observation and identification skills of macro invertebrates body parts and get familiar with the benthic macro inverterbrates. This laboratory style class will enable participants to view some preserved samples.
This training is free but RSVP is recommended because of limited space.
For more information and registration email:  .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Sunday, July 12
Stream Monitoring: Young’s Branch
Time: 1pm - 3.30pm
Location: Manassas Battlefield Park

After taking the introductory benthic macro invertebrate training, seize the opportunity to meet a team of dedicated and seasoned stream monitors at the Young’s Branch in the Bull Run watershed to help ease your stream certification, coming August 15th.
For more details about the location, contact Stephanie Martin .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Saturday, July 18
Stream Monitoring: Neabsco Creek
Time: 10am - 12.30pm
Location: Andrew Leitch Park 5301 Dale Boulevard, Dale City VA 22193
 
The Prince William County Government efforts to restore and preserve local steams water quality has left this portion of the Neabsco Creek at the Andrew Leitch Park with reduced sedimentation, lower level of nitrogen, phosphorus and other harmful nutrients that cause pollution. PW residents, especially those in the Dale City area are invited to join in monitoring this restored site.
Email Veronica Tangiri at waterquality@pwswcd or call 571-379-7514.

Saturday, July 25
Stream Monitoring: Cedar Run
Time: 10am - 12.30pm
Location: Evergreen Acres 12801 Hazelwood Dr. Nokesville, VA 20181
 
Access this beautiful 3/4 miles long portion of the Cedar Run in the Evergreen Acres Farm for citizen science stream monitoring in the Nokesville area. The Evergreen Acres Farm is the recipient of the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR’s) Bay Friendly Clean Water Farm Award of the year. Residents, especially those in the Nokesville area are invited to come and learn more about the health of their stream and how it interacts with agriculture.
Email Veronica Tangiri at waterquality@pwswcd or call 571-379-7514.

Save the date! Saturday, August 15
Prince William Stream Monitors Certification/Recertification Day!
Time: 10am - 2.30pm
Location: Jean McCoy Conference Room, Sudley North Government Building
7987 Ashton Avenue - Manassas VA 20109

As Prince William county gears to step up its number of DEQ citizen science monitoring sites, meet Leah Miller, Director of IWLA Clean Water / Virginia Save Our Streams program for the certification of stream monitors in Prince William County and the NOVA area. This will comprise of both in class and field training.
Registration is free but RSVP is recommended.
For more information and registration email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).