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About |
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The Citizen Stream Monitoring Program (CSMP) combines the knowledge and commitment of interested citizens with the technical expertise and resources of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). Volunteer stream monitors are a critical component of Minnesota's water quality. [Source ~ MPCA] |
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Project Description |
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The CSMP helps facilitate awareness and understanding of water quality issues and promote shared responsibility for protection of Minnesota's water resources. |
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CSMP has provided excellent and reliable data in many watersheds throughout Minnesota since 1998; we hope to get the same results in the Maple. |
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Traditional monitoring is expensive and can use up grant dollars quite quickly. In order to fully utilize our grant for proposed projects, volunteers will be needed to facilitate costs. |
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Project Grant Funding |
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Maple River grant funds will be used to purchase turbidity tubes and rain gauges at a cost of $20/volunteer. |
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We will also use grant funds for an annual meeting to discuss the projects results. |
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Equipment Needed |
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The Maple River Improvement Project will provide volunteers turbidity tubes and rain gauges. |
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How it works |
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Volunteers will read their rain gauges every day. |
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At least once a week volunteers will collect water from the river/stream/ditch. Volunteers are encouraged to collect samples before and after each rain event. |
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Water is put into the turbidity tubes and the transparency of the water is recorded. |
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At the end of the season (Oct. or Nov.) each volunteer's results are sent to MPCA for analysis. |
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Analysis |
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The location of the samples, date taken, the amount of rain received and transparency readings are studied to determine patterns and relationships between the amount of rainfall, the time of year and the transparency readings. |
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Use of the Data |
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The projects will use the data to update the pollution reduction goals in our work plan and to measure the effectiveness of the project. |
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Year end results will be given to the volunteers. |
Please contact Jonathan Hanson at 345-4744, ext. 125 for more information.
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