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Monitor Water Quality
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Success Stories -
Since 1980, the Mississippi Headwaters Board has maintained a
network of high school monitoring programs. Today 18 schools monitor
nine physical, chemical, and biological indicators. The Board
provides training and helps schools obtain the necessary equipment.
A naturalist and teacher from
Minnewashta Elementary School organize students to monitor wetlands.
Through field work and laboratory experiments, students meet Minnesota's
4-5 grade standards for Inquiry and Scientific Applications. Students
share findings through a science festival.
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Step-by-Step Instructions
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Identify your watershed.
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Choose between the types of monitoring.
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Get expert help, including training and equipment.
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Choose site(s) to collect samples.
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Collect, organize, and analyze data.
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Report your results to agencies and the public.
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Maintain quality control.
Volunteer Stream
Monitoring Partnership Guide to Volunteer Stream Monitoring
Where do I start? Download this excellent guide. First it will help
you decide the level at which to approach monitoring. Then use the guide's
comprehensive workbook of step-by-step activities to develop an appropriate
water quiality monitoring design. Go to www.vsmp.org,
then click on Educational Materials.
The Pollution Prevention Project
Guide has a three-page quick summary list with items under each
of the headings above. Read "Water Quality Monitoring" on line or download
as PDF File.
Links to Expert Help (Including curricula, training,
and equipment) - Your group will need expert help. They may be able
to provide training, equipment, funding, data analysis, written materials,
technical assistance, and curricula.
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Local Watershed - Identify the agency responsible
for your watershed, and ask if they support student monitoring. Go
to What Watershed Are You In?
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Research Community Needs - Download checklists
to guide investigation of community needs. Go to the Action
Preparation page, then scroll down to "Step 3. Research Community
Needs."
For Teachers:
Return to the top
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Equipment
and Other Resources - Find lists of equipment suppliers, instructions
for monitoring, sites which post data, and more at