Are you interested in Stormwater Monitoring?
SWS Community Science Committee is reviewing possible involvement in an ongoing project under the lead of Friends of Skagit Beaches for grant-funded work they are doing. We need to gauge SWS interest in helping with this project before it moves forward. It is a great opportunity but the Committee needs to hear FROM YOU. Please send your level of interest in being actively involved to Tabitha who is staff support to the committee.
- Project Scope: The community science committee approved a Stormwater monitoring project in partnership with Friends of Skagit Beaches. Volunteers to use YSI meter measurements, turbidity analysis, and E coli water sampling in Oak Harbor. Details below, and more forthcoming.
Volunteers needed: We are seeking 3 to 4 Sound Water Stewards.
- Time commitment: once a month at 6 outfalls in Oak Harbor for the next 2 years at low tides, sometimes at night in the winter, occasionally after a significant rain event.
- Roles: Requires a project lead plus 2-3 samplers. For training and backup, we’d like to have up to 4 volunteers in case one of the members is away, sick, otherwise unavailable.
- Training: provided by Friends of Skagit near end of August. Sampling to start in September with the rainy season.
- Qualifications expectant of our volunteers, per Friends of Skagit:
- Health that supports walking on irregular and wet surfaces along the shoreline
- Patience with procedures, equipment, and data recording, especially in cold, raining, windy and possibly dark weather conditions
- Good humor when learning the equipment and procedures. The survey conditions will test the resolve of anyone.
- Friends of Skagit Anacortes volunteers have a mixture of these physical attributes among them: arthritis in their hands and feet, sometimes too portly, poor night time vision, and diminishing balance. They compensate with walking poles, sturdy footwear, good hats, headlamps, and a compatible team member.
