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State and local agencies simply don't have the <br />staff and resources to monitor all of Minnesotas <br />waterbodies. Citizen volunteer monitoring (that <br />includes communities, volunteers, schools) is an <br />important, cost-effective contribution to the <br />base of information of specific waterbodies. These <br />monitors are crucial not only because they can <br />start to fill gaps in data, but more importantly, <br />they are front-line participants who monitor the <br />streams and lakes they care about and take <br />ownership in and contribute to water and <br />related land-use decisions. <br />Citizen Volunteer <br />MOilltoring' Cat12 <br />• Identify & solve problems locally <br />• Involve people in real science <br />• Raise awazeness <br />• Provide information on places where no <br />one else is looking <br />° Create an informed constituency <br />Some of the rewards in building this <br />base of knowledge from water monitoring aaiv- <br />iryhappen when monitors get a new perspective <br />from being "down by the water." They start <br />making .observations on shore vegetation, <br />surrounding land uses, abundance and diversity <br />of aquatic life, and specific pollutants in the <br />water column. <br />This information will have different <br />uses and benefits depending on who is monitor- <br />ing and who uses the collected observations or <br />data. Some information may be used as part of <br />education programs that build awareness. Other <br />information can be used to determine if that <br />waterbody meets uses designated by the state <br />and/or meets our needs (for drinking water, <br />human health, recreation, habitat, aquatic life, <br />and/or more). Information may also guide water <br />management decisions at local, regional, or state <br />levels. We call this the "Data to information to <br />action pathway." <br />:n.~' , :: <br />~_. <br />May 2004 citizen <br />water sampling S ' i <br />workshop. ~ 7„ ~ ~' <br />Successful citizen monitoring programs move <br />along the pathway from collecting water from a <br />lake or river (data), to understanding what those <br />data numbers are saying about the condition of <br />the water (information), to providing meaningful <br />information and suggestions to the people that <br />make water management decisions that will <br />restore or protect the waterbody {action). Citizen <br />volunteer monitoring does not exist in a vacuum <br />and it's more than just the groups themselves. <br />Although the centerpiece of this water monitor- <br />ing involves people volunteering their time, citi- <br />zen monitoring is not free. It requires various <br />relationships with on-going watershed assess- <br />ment and management programs and various <br />types of support including: funders, technical <br />advisors, monitoring coordinators, and <br />decision-makers. <br />This is why RCM considers it a top <br />priority to serve a network of these citizen <br />stewards that we call River Sentinels. We have <br />been working hard to put resources in place that <br />will link River Sentinels to trainings and services <br />that strengthen their programs. Along with <br />MLA, we believe strongly in the power and <br />ability citizens have to ensure that rivers and <br />lakes are important assets to their communities. <br />Citizen volunteers that are committed to wading <br />into the water to "take its temperature" and help <br />determine its health. Citizen volunteers that are <br />interested in raising awareness and promoting <br />positive changes at the local level. Citizens vol- <br />unteers that are willing to celebrate the good <br />news and decry the bad. <br />So why monitor? Cassie Champion, <br />of the Metropolitan Council, may have put <br />it best: <br />"We monitor because we care; <br />we care because we are informed; <br />we are informed bearuse we monitor." <br />To those citizen volunteers out in the <br />trenches and the leaders of citizen groups, may we <br />say that you ARE doing important and valuable <br />work. Thanks for taking care of your watershed. <br />~~ <br />-~- ~ ~ ,, <br />` ~: t <br />~ r ~ ~ r^ • ~ , ,ed~ , <br />Page 2 ~=. _...__.., , ~,~-~-~~: <br />The Minnesota Water Watcher is <br />published by the Rivers Council ofi <br />Minnesota and the Minnesota <br />Lakes Association. <br />Special introductory joint membership <br />to the Minnesota Lakes Association and <br />Rivers Counal of Minnesota for $30. <br />For more information, call 218.824.5565 <br />or 320.259.6800. <br />Funding for this project was recom- <br />mended by the Legislative Commission <br />on Minnesota Resources (LCMR) from <br />the Minnesota Environment and Natural <br />Resources Trust Fund. The goal of this <br />grant is to enhance and expand the <br />ability of citizen volunteers to collect <br />water quality data that will be useful for <br />lake and s#ream assessments and <br />management. The Minnesota Lakes <br />Association and the Rivers Council of <br />Minnesota will work collaboratively to <br />provide training, technical support, <br />education and communications for <br />individuals and organizations interested <br />in citizen volunteer lake and stream <br />monitoring. <br />Program Staff and Contacts <br />Rivers Council of Minnesota <br />1269 2nd St. N, Suite 200 <br />Sauk Rapids, MN 56379 <br />320.259.6800 <br />www.riversmn.org <br />Angie Becker Kudelka, <br />River Watch Director <br />abeckerkudelka @ riversmn.org <br />Angel Samolyfz, <br />Membership Services <br />asamolytz@ riversmn.org <br />Minnesota Lakes Association <br />19519 Highway 371 N. <br />Brainerd, MN 56401 <br />218.824.5565 <br />www.mnlakes.org <br />-__ Sandy Holm, <br />Citizen Monitoring Director <br />rnsholm @ Brainerd. net <br />~~~~ <br />Molly Zender Zins, <br />Communications Coordinator <br />molly@ mnlakes:org <br />