Volunteer Monitoring Links

MiCorps and Monitoring in the News

Volunteer Program Watches Over Michigan Lakes for Over 35 Years (Lake Scientist, July 18, 2011)

Monitoring Produces Dramatic Results (Freshwater Future, July 11, 2011)

Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Resources

The Use of Michigan Volunteer Monitoring Data - Benefits and Constraints , (MDEQ Report, PDF - 26KB)

Survey of Michigan Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Programs , (MiCorps PowerPoint, PDF - 1.85 MB)

Environmental Reports - MDEQ generates numerous reports each year on the state's air quality, inland lakes and streams, Great Lakes, wetlands, drinking water, and environmental cleanups.

Biosurvey Reports - Biosurvey reports generated by the Surface Water Quality Assessment Section in the MDEQ's Water Division.

U.S. EPA Volunteer Monitoring Resources

The Volunteer Monitor, published twice yearly, is the national newsletter of volunteer water monitoring. Subscriptions are free, and issues since 1993 are available on-line as PDFs.

Starting Out in Volunteer Water Monitoring, Factsheet (Available in PDF - 837 KB)

Volunteer Lake Monitoring: A Methods Manual. EPA 440/4-91-002, December 1991. (Available in PDF - 868 KB)

Volunteer Stream Monitoring: A Methods Manual. EPA 841-B-97-003, November 1997. (Available in PDF - 4 MB)

Volunteer Estuary Monitoring: A Methods Manual. EPA 842-B-93-004, December 1993. (Available in PDF)

Volunteer Wetland Monitoring: An Introduction and Resource Guide. EPA 843-B-00-001, December 2001. (Available in PDF - 1.5MB and 256 KB versions).

Volunteer Monitor's Guide to Quality Assurance Project Plans. EPA 841-B-96-003, September 1996. (Available in PDF - 147 KB).

Volunteer Water Monitoring: A Guide for State Managers. EPA 440-4-090-010, August 1990.

USDA CSREES Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring National Facilitation Project

This Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring National Facilitation Project is designed to build a comprehensive support system for Extension volunteer water quality monitoring efforts across the country. The goal is to expand and strengthen the capacity of existing Extension volunteer monitoring programs and support development of new groups.

Why Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Makes Sense (CSREES Factsheet)
Describes the benefits of volunteer monitoring to local communities.

Designing Your Monitoring Strategy: Basic questions and resources to help guide you (CSREES Factsheet)
Designed to help new program coordinators start designing their monitoring strategy. Provides information needed to help choose which monitoring methods are most appropriate for meeting your monitoring objectives and links to a variety of monitoring procedures manuals and quality assurance project plans.

Training Volunteer Water Quality Monitors Effectively (CSREES Factsheet)
Provides an overview of the basics of training and suggestions for tailoring training methods to meet your needs. Also provides extensive information for developing safe and effective classroom and field training sessions, as well as links to additional information on learning styles and other educational issues.

Volunteer Management and Support (CSREES Factsheet)
Emphasizes the need for comprehensive program coordination. Highlights tools and techniques used with success by CSREES monitoring programs.

Building Credibility: Quality Assurance and Quality Control for Volunteer Monitoring Programs (CSREES Factsheet)
Provides information to help focus on meeting your own program’s objectives and associated QA standards– not necessarily on having your program follow the most stringent methods.

Data Management (CSREES Factsheet)
Considerations for designing a data management system to manage your volunteer data.

Please visit http://www.usawaterquality.org/volunteer/ to access valuable resources and training modules that can help you with developing, managing and growing a program.

Additional Resources

Getting the Most from Volunteer Monitoring , Steven A. Dressing, Tetra Tech, Inc. NCSU Water Quality Group's NWQEP NOTES Issue #127, March 2008
The article discusses some common pitfalls and effective strategies for volunteer monitoring programs.