The Volunteer Stream Monitoring's
Day at the State Capitol

The function of the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCMR) is to make funding recommendations to the legislature for special projects that help maintain and enhance Minnesota's natural resources. The LCMR received 402 proposals this spring for funding to begin July 2001. The total dollar amount requested was $424,298,116. The WaterShed Partners submitted a proposal to help fund the Volunteer Stream Monitoring Project and that proposal was selected to receive a hearing in front of the Commission!

On June 7, representatives from the WaterShed Partners were on hand to give a presentation to the Committee on this proposal. The proposal, #EE16, entitled Coordinated Volunteer Stream Monitoring Program, is seeking $473,000 as part of a five-year comprehensive program to improve the effectiveness of volunteer monitoring. Funding is needed to provide training, equipment, quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC), and data management throughout the metropolitan area.

One of the classes involved in Anoka Conservation District's biomonitoring program this past spring spent the day at the capitol in support of volunteer monitoring. Brad Ward's class (see photo) from the Forest Lake Area Learning Center attended the LCMR hearing to support the proposal submitted by the WaterShed Partners (of which the Anoka Conservation District is a part). Committee members were made aware of the students in the audience and recognized them several times for their hard work.

Update (7/21/00) - The WaterShed Partners Coordinated Volunteer Stream Monitoring Program was not one of the proposals selected to receive funding this session. The process was a learning experience for everyone involved. Efforts will now be directed at other sources to help fund this worthwhile collaboration.

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