Algae bloom on the Town River in Bridgewater
Become a “Guardian of the Taunton River Watershed“. Join us Saturday, February 25, 2017, 9:45 a.m. to 12 noon for our volunteer monitor training. (In case of inclement weather, the make-up date will be: Saturday, March 4, 2017, 9:45 a.m. to 12 noon.) Learn how waters are sampled, what the results mean, the challenges facing the river, and how water quality can be improved.
We are seeking additional volunteers to assist in expanding the water quality monitoring program in the Taunton River and its major tributaries. The training will be held in the Visitors’ Center at the Gertrude M. Boyden Wildlife Refuge, 1298 Cohannet Street, Taunton. Admission is free of charge. Coffee and doughnuts will be served.
Volunteers who sampled sites in previous years must attend this training session for an update on the latest sampling procedures. To give new volunteers additional training in the field, we will be matching newcomers with experienced monitors as we assign team members to specific sites.
The session will be conducted by Steve Silva and Alex Houtzager, Coordinators of TRWA’s Sampling Program. No prior technical experience is necessary what we do is important but not difficult. This is a great opportunity to learn techniques of testing pollutant levels in our waterways and to enjoy dawn with the inhabitants of our rivers and streams.
Sampling at stream sites is done from March to November, depending on the weather, on the 2nd Tuesday morning of each month. Samples are taken to the Taunton Wastewater Treatment Plant for analysis. During the training session, we will verify the sampling sites to be used for testing.
You must be willing to commit about two hours each month to do this testing; however, we hope to have sufficient members on each sampling location team to provide back-up coverage for vacations, illness or other times. On sampling days, we collect samples from designated sites between 6:00 and 8:00 a.m. so that the water samples may be delivered to the laboratory at the Taunton Wastewater Treatment Plant by 8:30 a.m.
Your participation will bolster TRWA’s efforts to track water quality at selected sites along the Taunton River and several tributaries. This monitoring program provides important information on the health of the watershed which has informed regulatory activities. Most of all, we want people to be safe, have fun, and learn by participating. For more information go to the TRWA website home page http://savethetaunton.org/ and click on the Water Quality Monitoring Tab.
To register for the training session, e-mail us: Director@savethetaunton.org
Or call the TRWA office at 508-828-1101 for more information. (If you reach
our voice-mail, please leave a message and we will get back to you.)
Taunton River Watershed Alliance
1298 Cohannet Street
Taunton MA 02780