Growing support for citizen volunteer monitoring
The River Watch Fund supports the work of citizen volunteer monitoring groups. We recognize that river monitoring enables citizens to investigate, understand and take action to restore and protect their water resources.
Our nation knows precious little about the water quality of our rivers and lakes. Only a very small percentage of these resources are regularly monitored by government agencies. If citizens want to find out the status of water quality in their watershed, they often need to take matters into their own hands and establish a citizen volunteer monitoring program. Such data can be invaluable to citizens who are trying to assess the condition and threats to their waters. High quality data can help pinpoint problems and lead to remediation.
Volunteer monitoring efforts involve large numbers of citizens in learning about and better understanding their watersheds. The involvement of a broad based constituency is often vital to creating needed political change. A cadre of concerned citizens long-term creates true community stewardship of our freshwater resources.
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Our nation knows precious little about the water quality of our rivers and lakes. Only a very small percentage of these resources are regularly monitored by government agencies. If citizens want to find out the status of water quality in their watershed, they often need to take matters into their own hands and establish a citizen volunteer monitoring program. Such data can be invaluable to citizens who are trying to assess the condition and threats to their waters. High quality data can help pinpoint problems and lead to remediation.
Volunteer monitoring efforts involve large numbers of citizens in learning about and better understanding their watersheds. The involvement of a broad based constituency is often vital to creating needed political change. A cadre of concerned citizens long-term creates true community stewardship of our freshwater resources.
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US EPA 2004 305b report to Congress
US EPA 2004 305b report to Congress
