The Role of Volunteer Monitoring in Meeting River and Lake Restoration Goals

1. The Role of Volunteer Monitoring in Meeting River and Lake Restoration Goals Elizabeth Herron – University of Rhode Island (URI) Co-authors: Linda Green, Kelly Addy & Arthur Gold - URI Kristine Stepenuck & Robin Shepard – University of Wisconsin

2. Watershed Assessment is, “the continuous process of trying to understand current conditions, changes occurring, and the causal factors that influence the health of a watershed.” • Watershed restoration is effort undertaken, often at a sub-watershed level, to reverse negative impacts to the health of a watershed.

3. Watershed restoration and protection efforts are often needed to address a variety of water quality and water resource concerns such as achievement of Total Maximum Daily Loads, protection of public water supply reservoirs, and protection or restoration of wetland and riparian habitats. Areas Extension is uniquely positioned to address

4. Through trained volunteers, citizen water quality monitoring programs: • Educate local residents about the science behind restoration and protection efforts; • Provide valuable data to help target areas for restoration and post-restoration information for assessing whether restoration was effective; • Engage the community, increase participation in restoration efforts, and ensure that restored areas are maintained or protected; and • Assist researchers by monitoring innovative methods of environmental restoration.

5. NH Lakes Lay Monitoring Program • Lake Chocorua, volunteers documented a water quality decline due to highway runoff. • Multi-agency taskforce, including Extension, the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), and state agencies, collaborated to design and implement a series of Best Management Practices to mitigate the road runoff. • NHLLMP Post implementation monitoring showed an 84 to 92 percent reduction in phosphorus loads to the lake from highway sources.

6. URI Watershed Watch Program • Stafford Pond, volunteers documented significant increase in chlorophyll levels causing drinking water quality concerns • 319 Grant obtained • Diagnostic study • NRCS – Livestock management plan implementation • RIDOT – Stormwater BMPs installation • Public Education Project • Home*A*Syst • Community targeted factsheets • Residential guide • Post implementation monitoring documenting improvements

7. Heal the Bay - Stream Team • The data collected by Stream Team volunteers has been instrumental in creating new and more protective water quality standards in the Malibu Creek Watershed. • Integrating GIS into both monitoring and restoration efforts

8. Water Action Volunteers(Wisconsin Extension) • Volunteer habitat assessment data identified an impaired river reach • Pre-implementation macroinvertebrate monitoring confirmed the impairment • Post-implementation macroinvertebrate monitoring verified short-term improvement • Long-term post-implementation monitoring continues to research and document results

9. Partnerships Key • Working with watershed councils and organizations is essential as typically they are charged with identifying, prioritizing, planning, and implementing projects through voluntary local efforts • Volunteer monitoring efforts provide the information needed to accomplish much of that

10. National Facilitation of CSREES Volunteer Monitoring Efforts Project Objectives • Identify existing Extension voluntary monitoring programs, and expand volunteer opportunities by strengthening state and local capacity for such programs; • Develop training materials and offer training programs; • Improve the knowledge-base by acquiring, synthesizing and transmitting the current research in the field; • Develop Internet and Web-based tools; • Increase collaboration and cooperation through enhanced networking and communication; and • Enhance stakeholder involvement by strengthening regional capacity to incorporate volunteer monitoring to address programmatic priorities.

15. Guide for Growing CSREES Volunteer Monitoring Programs • Why Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Makes Sense for CSREES; • Getting Started: Finding Resources in the Guide…; • Designing Your Monitoring Strategy: Basic Questions and Resources to Help Guide You; • Training Volunteer Water Quality Monitors Effectively; • Building Credibility: QA and QC for Volunteer Monitoring Programs; • Volunteer Management and Program Support; • Outreach Tools; and • Finding Support and Funding for Local Efforts.

16. Guide for Growing CSREES Volunteer Monitoring Programs • Produced in modular form (factsheets) • Serves as ‘gateway’ to expertise from a variety of sources • Includes many URLs • Active links in the pdf • Promotes many of Cooperative Extension’s excellent programs • Regularly updated and expanded

17. Voluntary Monitoring • Supports restoration activities by providing good data • Encourages active participation in restoration activities • Improves understanding of the science of watershed assessment and restoration • Advances the science by providing follow-up monitoring