Volunteer Monthly Monitors
Since 1995, our Volunteer Monthly Monitoring Program has been the backbone of CRWA’s work. We rely heavily on our volunteers to take water quality samples on a monthly basis along the Charles River as part of one of the oldest and largest volunteer sampling programs in the country. Once a month, more than eighty citizen scientist volunteers gather at multiple sites along the Charles River to collect water samples, record river conditions, and measure depth and temperature. Our data and analyses helps us study the health of the river and also assist municipalities, environmental agencies, and organizations who work to minimize stormwater impacts and reduce sewage contamination in the river. Volunteers are fully trained by a CRWA staff member and all equipment is provided.
Please keep in mind you may ask to be put on the waiting list for a site that is already filled. Additionally, CRWA is always in need of volunteers to be trained as substitutes, so even if sites in your area are full, there are always opportunities to assist with the program.
At this time, CRWA has implemented precautions and socially distant measures to this program to ensure the safety amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Please keep in mind you may ask to be put on the waiting list for a site that is already filled. Additionally, CRWA is always in need of volunteers to be trained as substitutes, so even if sites in your area are full, there are always opportunities to assist with the program.
At this time, CRWA has implemented precautions and socially distant measures to this program to ensure the safety amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Questions?Lisa Kumpf, Aquatic Scientist lkumpf@crwa.org (781) 788-0007 x228 
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Available Sampling Sites:59CS Bellingham: Mellen St. Bridge 318S Medfield: Rt. 27 Bridge 567S Newton: Nahanton Park |
2020 monitoring SCHEDULE
- Tuesday, January 21, 2020 (Winter Weather Back-up Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2020)
- Tuesday, February 18, 2020 (Winter Weather Back-up Date: Tuesday, February 25, 2020)
- Tuesday, March 17, 2020 (Winter Weather Back-up Date: Tuesday, March 24, 2020)
- Tuesday, April 14, 2020 (One week early because of Patriot’s Day; NOTE: this is the week after Easter)
- Tuesday, May 19, 2020
- Tuesday, June 16, 2020
- Tuesday, July 21, 2020
- Tuesday, August 18, 2020
- Tuesday, September 15, 2020
- Tuesday, October 20, 2020
- Tuesday, November 17, 2020
- Tuesday, December 15, 2020 (Winter Weather Back-up Date: Tuesday, December 29, 2020)
Volunteer resources
- Additional blank field data sheets in PDF or Word
- Training Manual
- Volunteer Monthly Monitoring Reports and Data
Refresher Training
Approximately once per year, CRWA provides an in-house training update to all Monthly Monitoring Volunteers to ensure that volunteers have a good understanding of water quality sampling procedures, which in turn, results in high quality data. For more information on the next in-house training session, please contact Delilah Bethel.
In the meantime, CRWA also provides online training as a refresher for volunteers. This refresher is divided into 6 steps, and should take you approximately 1-2 hours to complete.
Step 1: Please review the Training Manual.
MAKE SURE TO READ OUR NEW POLICIES ON:
Step 2: Please program the following phone numbers into your phone:
Step 3: Please review the 2019 sampling dates, and enter all the sampling dates into your calendar. If there is a sampling event you know in advance you will not be able to participate in, please let Delilah Bethel know ahead of time if possible.
Step 4: Watch the training video appropriate to the sampling methods at your site (i.e. watch only one of the videos below, either the basket sampler video or the pole sampler video):
In the meantime, CRWA also provides online training as a refresher for volunteers. This refresher is divided into 6 steps, and should take you approximately 1-2 hours to complete.
Step 1: Please review the Training Manual.
MAKE SURE TO READ OUR NEW POLICIES ON:
- Unexplained absences
- What to do in the event of thunder and lightning on sampling day
Step 2: Please program the following phone numbers into your phone:
- CRWA Office: (781) 788-0007
- Your volunteer coordinator's cell phone (see reminder email)
- Your sampling partner's cell phone
- Your drop-off site coordinator's cell phone
- Contact Delilah Bethel if you cannot find the appropriate contact information for your sampling partner or drop-off site coordinator
Step 3: Please review the 2019 sampling dates, and enter all the sampling dates into your calendar. If there is a sampling event you know in advance you will not be able to participate in, please let Delilah Bethel know ahead of time if possible.
Step 4: Watch the training video appropriate to the sampling methods at your site (i.e. watch only one of the videos below, either the basket sampler video or the pole sampler video):
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Step 5: Please complete the Online Refresher Quiz.
Step 6: Important! Contact Delilah Bethel to inform her you have completed the refresher training.
Thank you for taking the time to complete this refresher training. Your efforts help us collect high quality, accurate data!
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