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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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. 

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

6. Variety of opportunities available
Tier 1 participation:
Data as a tool in the classroom.
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.

7. 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.

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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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!

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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!

18. 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.

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. Any questions? Eli Robinson Ellen Bailey Salt Lake City 801-536-4432
Eli Robinson
Logan
For Utah Water Watch program information:
For statewide information about projects, partners and nonpoint source pollution:
USU Water Quality Extension
For general water quality info: