What to expect at a cleanup event

Individual events may vary, but typically volunteers will first sign in and fill out a waiver.  If you are under 18, your parent/guardian will need to sign your waiver as well.  Volunteers are then are provided with trash bags to fill with litter.  Volunteers typically work in groups to gather as much litter as they can, mainly by walking on foot along the stream/river/lake.  Some cleanups may offer boat rides to those interested!  Safety is important and no one will be asked to do anything they are uncomfortable with around the water.  There may be beverages, snacks, lunch, or even t-shirts or other prizes provided.  To find out more about a specific event, please see the website listed above, and/or contact the event sponsor.

How does water quality monitoring work?

Several local organizations rely on citizen scientists to take water quality measurements in local streams. Typically, each sample site is visited once a month, where some basic information about the stream will be recorded and a sample of water will be taken. Measurements of water quality parameters such as temperature, dissolved oxygen, and pH will be taken in the field, and samples may be returned to a lab for further testing. Volunteers may need to attend a training session, or simply show up on the day of the sampling. Programs vary by organization, see the links in the list to the left for more info! The season typically runs from early spring through late fall, with a concluding presentation or report being made in the winter to show the year's results.  Consider joining one of these groups to learn more about your local watershed!