Water Sampler Training Saturday

BrocktonPost
BROCKTON--The Taunton River Watershed Alliance is looking for volunteers to help take water quality samples and will hold a training session Saturday, Feb. 26 at 10 a.m. at the River Center located at the Gertrude M. Boyden Refuge in Taunton.
"Volunteer monitoring can be a great family activity, a good excuse to get out on the water, or simply a good way to learn about, and protect your favorite waterbody," said Executive Director Carolynn LaMarre in an email.
Qualifications are simple: No science background is needed; the ability to walk along river banks or side walks; enjoyment of the outdoors; and a concern for the community and its environment.
LaMarre said the alliance's volunteers come from diverse educational backgrounds and experiences, with some holding advanced degrees in science, and others who are still in high school.
No previous education or training is required except transportation to get to the sampling site and a desire to help out and get a little wet.
TRWA provides all the training, equipment and the lab work.
Hardy volunteers go out once a month to take samples at 2 or 3 locations each. The association then has the samples analyzed at a laboratory.
Most of the rivers and streams that must be monitored are quite shallow, and monitored from shoreside.
Monitoring takes place first thing in the morning once a month on the second Tuesday of the month.
Samples will be collected between 6 and 9 a.m. and must immediately be brought to a nearby location for analysis that can not be done in the field.
LaMarre said this spring's sampling is an important one because of the numerous snow storms, plowing, road treatment and runoff that may have impacted local streams.
Volunteers taking water samples will show if storm water drainage such as fuel, pesticides, sewage, road salt, and garbage have fouled the area's waters or have damaged fish habitat.
Those interested in volunteering should contact the alliance by calling 508-828-1101 or by emailing LaMarre at director@savethetaunton.org.
Those who want to volunteer but can't make this date, should call and the association will try to have another training scheduled in March.
(Photos courtesy TRWA)