Ready to get your feet wet in water quality monitoring? Literally! In 1996 the Indiana Department of Environmental Management created the Hoosier Riverwatch program to increase public awareness of water quality issues by training volunteers to monitor stream water quality and participate in clean-up activities.
The program currently has over 3,000 trained stream monitors and 31 certified instructors throughout the state who conduct habitat and biological surveys of their local streams. Data is added to the Hoosier Riverwatch online database where the public and other private and governmental organizations can view water body health over time, through interactive maps and searches.
Anyone over 18 can participate after attending the eight-hour basic training workshop where principles of water quality monitoring will be covered as well as basic concepts of watersheds, water pollution, and ecological integrity of streams. The basic workshop also includes outdoor fieldwork and hands-on training of how to monitor these physical, chemical and biological components of wadeable streams.
Advanced training is also available to identify aquatic and invasive species more accurately, increase the quality of sampling data, and design better sampling plans.
Trainings are held through the state this year on May 15 (Elkhart), June 17 (Pine Village), and September 3 (Bristol). Register by contacting one of the instructors in this training information brochure.
Hoosier Riverwatch is a great way to delve into the science of water quality monitoring and see first hand the impact communities and individuals can have on water. Let’s all work together to protect our water resources in Marion County and all around the state!
