Contact:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                   Rebecca Scibek
September 1, 2005                                                                          781-788-0007                                                                                                        rscibek @ crwa.org

Volunteers are needed to take water quality samples on a monthly basis along the Charles River for the Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA).  Sampling occurs every third Tuesday of the month, at 6 AM.  Volunteers will be fully trained by a CRWA staff member, and equipment will be provided.  Volunteers are asked to commit to at least six months of sampling.  Sampling results are sent out to volunteers on a monthly basis, along with a newsletter explaining the results.  Water quality monitoring provides CRWA and state and federal officials with essential data used in advocacy, policy and regulation decision-making, and also identifies polluted river sections.  Volunteers receive a discount at CRWA events and a subscription to CRWA’s newsletter, the Streamer.

Currently, there are site vacancies in Weston, Wellesley, Dedham, Millis, Medway, Franklin, and Bellingham.  Individuals can also ask to be put on the waiting list for a site that is already filled.  CRWA has 35 sampling sites from Milford to the New Charles River Dam in Boston.  For over 10 years, CRWA and volunteers have collected river samples establishing the most comprehensive water quality data set for the Charles. 

Interested individuals should contact Rebecca Scibek at CRWA at 781-788-0007 ext. 200 or via email.  For more information about the monthly monitoring program, visit www.charlesriver.org.