Connecting at a BBQ - Aligning Citizens with Utah's Monitoring Needs Utah Water Watch Ellen Bailey Eli Robinson extension.usu.edu/utahwaterwatch

Program Overview Utah's volunteer water quality monitoring network Volunteers located around the state and monitor lakes and streams Volunteers learn about their watershed and local water quality Tier 1 vs Tier 2 volunteer levels

Moving into year 5 of Utah Water Watch In February we contacted volunteers. Asked: What did they enjoy about volunteering? What could make the program better? Answer: They loved protecting the water but were worried the data wasn’t being used. They wanted something new. Having lost Brian who started the program, we were unfamiliar with the volunteers

About the volunteers Volunteers come from all walks of life Citizen science brings together people with many different goals Important to find diverse opportunities to keep all volunteers engaged. 

Getting to know the volunteers @ the first annual bar-b-que!

Variety of opportunities available Tier 1 participation: Data as a tool in the classroom. http://Streamsidescience.usu.edu A great family activity Collect baseline data at sites around the state Tier 2 participation: Provides a direct connection to watershed projects, collect data used for assessments. Meet watershed coordinators, other partners, learn about current projects and work with other volunteers Tier 1 has a lot of teachers and students….Teachers DO use the data(slide of posteres or kids collecting samples, a plug for SSS, .. AND teachers do learn about local waterissues =- esp in some of our teacher trainins. But not all tier 1 volunteers fall into that categorty…and an informal survey with ongoing volunteers suggested that thgey were concerned that the data could be used in other ways and they felt isolated from local wq efforts and they didn’t feel connected with each other.

Water Quality Needs in the state Needs include: Watershed project assessments Collection of data in remote areas Bacteria and harmful algae identification in recreation areas Outreach and education The state has limited staff and resources to monitor water quality Utah is a big state and most people live along Wasatch front.

Partners- help us respond to local needs Ag Extension and E. coli needs And so many more….

How can we connect statewide volunteers with monitoring needs? Boost Tier 2 training (have a ready force of well-trained volunteers) Determine potential projects and local needs Organize and connect volunteers with partners and local groups Work with partners to find resources UWW provides trained citizens to assist with monitoring

Improve Tier 2 Monitoring Tier 2 volunteers collect higher-quality data used for assessment. Volunteers are first trained then connected with partners. We held four Tier 2 trainings this summer. Tier 2 volunteers follow Utah Standard Operating Procedures: multiprobes chemistry samples Escheria coli Photopoints Macroinvertebrate collection Stream flow and discharge Harmful algal bloom ID

Determine projects and needs Water quality is a hyperlocal issue, working with watershed committees, coordinators, extension agents and local non-profits we can determine needs Learn & then set up meetings with local partners. Projects in progress with UWW: Lake monitoring East Canyon Creek – Stormwater Salt Lake County - Jordan River Projects

Creating Local Volunteer Groups Steps: ID water-related groups around the state Attend meetings  Learn where volunteers could produce useful data Organize a meeting of relevant stakeholders Determine what will be monitored Recruit volunteers and develop an SAP (sampling and analysis plan) Begin monitoring and sharing data!

East Canyon Creek Club Already had volunteers in Park City Rapid development -> sedimentation and eutrophication in East Canyon Creek. Stormwater run-off is a major issue in this unique high-elevation densely developed area

Meeting Met with local officials involved with stormwater, came up with a plan to monitor discharge with Summit Co. Stormwater discharge was not being monitored for pollution, visual inspections only. Currently mapping out desired sites

East Canyon Creek Club Made up of local residents Mostly existing volunteers Get these volunteers engaged with efforts in the watershed. Monitoring for dissolved oxygen and temperature beginning next summer

Redeveloped Lake Program Issue: Lakes were going unmonitored for E. coli and HABs HAB monitoring beyond the abilities of the DWQ Solution: Volunteers! Statewide network of volunteers trained to identify and verify blooms

E. Coli Monitoring Healthier swimmers! IDEXX method Certified state method for determining E. coli < 409 colonies / 100ml for swimming Many rural swimming sites not currently monitored Coordinate collection with county extension offices Processed at health departments Health depts. can then close beaches if needed Healthier swimmers!

Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring Warmer waters & more people (pollution / nutrients) -> Harmful blooms Experienced volunteers + extension agents trained on ID’ing algal species Volunteers trained to differentiate between normal and harmful algae.

How it Works! Tier 1 Volunteer observes a suspected bloom while monthly monitoring a site. Volunteer contacts health dept. & division of water quality. Tier 2 volunteer / extension agent photographs types of algae present via microscope Volunteer sends data & pictures to WQE

Projects – Monitoring Before, During and After Jordan River Example Cottonwood Pond – Stormwater detention pond Goals: Improve habitat and native vegetation Contain nutrients, mitigate flooding and slow water entering the Jordan river Build public ownership and stewardship for natural lands – community connection Volunteer Monitoring: Vegetation assessment Inlet/Outlet chemistry Photo-point E. Coli and Algae

Additional Projects Weber County Projects Virgin River Watershed Developing a project on the Weber River to start in the spring 24th Street Kayak Park to the confluence of Ogden River. Virgin River Watershed E.coli monitoring needs Coal Creek Macroinvertebrate study And many others Snow college and salinity testing

Any questions? Eli Robinson Ellen Bailey Salt Lake City 801-536-4432 Ellen.bailey@usu.edu Eli Robinson Logan 435-797-2580 Eli.robinson@usu.edu For Utah Water Watch program information: http://extension.usu.edu/utahwaterwatch For statewide information about projects, partners and nonpoint source pollution: www.utahcleanwater.org USU Water Quality Extension For general water quality info: http://extension.usu.edu/waterquality