SPONSORED BY: Skagit Conservation District, Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, City of Anacortes, City of Burlington, City of Mount Vernon, and Skagit County
Goals of the Skagit Stream Team Program:
To inspire community stewardship in regards to water quality and to teach community volunteers the sampling and analytical techniques used by professionals and the importance of establishing a long-term water quality monitoring program;
To develop and implement a routine sampling program that can be used to assess water quality trends, and to characterize existing conditions; and
To document improvements in water quality as a result of the implementation of Best Management Practices (BMP’s) on farmlands and the repair and/or replacement of failing septic systems.
SKAGIT STREAM TEAM
A Citizen Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program
Are you intrigued by the wonders of streams and interested in learning more about how they function? Across the nation, an ever-increasing number of volunteers are taking up the challenge of stream monitoring. The Skagit Stream Team is a network of citizens concerned about the health of local streams. Stream Team volunteers are trained to work in teams to collect water quality data on stream reaches located in Skagit County’s priority watersheds: the Nookachamps Creek Watershed; the Padilla Bay Watershed; and the Samish Watershed, as well as sampling stormwater runoff in the cities of Anacortes, Burlington and Mount Vernon. Volunteers preferring "dry feet” are trained to conduct fecal coliform and turbidity tests at the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve lab facility, with the exception of the city teams, as the lab work is performed by the city water treatment facilities.
Key Roles:
Stream Team Field Monitors: Responsible for collecting and recording water quality data at assigned stream reaches on a monthly basis. Please note that this position may require walking on rocky, steep, and/or uneven terrain.
Stream Team Lab Managers: Trained to conduct fecal coliform and turbidity tests at the Padilla Bay Research Reserve lab facility.
Data Managers: Maintains monitoring and lab data, while generating graphs and charts for the year end monitoring report.
All Stream Team Volunteers learn new skills, gain new insights, network with local experts, meet new friends, and participate in a worthwhile community program.
Stream Team Volunteers have access to a manual, equipment, supplies, and FREE TRAINING. Volunteers are covered by L&I Insurance.
Fun Fact: The first
Skagit Stream Team training occurred in June of 1998
Skagit Stream Team Handbook
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