StreamWatch Seeking Volunteers to Monitor Rivanna River
Link to news report
BY CAT BOARDMAN
ALBEMARLE COUNTY, Va (WVIR) -
A group of environmental volunteers in central Virginia is looking for people to join their ranks.
StreamWatch monitors the water in the Rivanna River Watershed. The group of citizen scientists tests water for bacteria and fecal matter. StreamWatch then provides that data to local and state governments so they can make watershed decisions.
StreamWatch held a training session Saturday morning on how to monitor water in the Rivanna River Watershed.
“If we’re not looking, we’re not knowing if it’s good or bad or if it’s getting worse or better. So it’s really important for us to collect the data to understand what the water quality is in our watershed,” said Anne Dunckel of StreamWatch.
The group says about 70 percent of the streams they monitor are failing the Virginia quality standard for aquatic life. They’re hoping this year’s tests will show improvement.
If you want to volunteer, StreamWatch has more training sessions this week, one Sunday and one Tuesday.