Crystal Flannery-Bachicha and Lauren Kraus will be offering Texas Stream Team training. Date and Location TBD, email Crystal at [email protected] if interested in training. Here is a summary of the Stream Team training and what it involves:
Texas Stream Team (TST) is a statewide program that trains volunteers to monitor the quality of local waterways. Administered through the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University, the training equips “citizen scientists” to collect data that is used by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and the EPA.
1. Types of Certifications
The program offers several tiers of training, but the most common for new volunteers are:
- Standard Core: Focuses on standard water quality parameters for rivers and streams.
- Probe Core: Similar to Standard Core but uses electronic probes for measurements.
- Advanced: Covers additional parameters like phosphorus, nitrates, and turbidity.
- Riparian Evaluation: Focuses on the health of the vegetation and land immediately surrounding the water.
2. The Training Process
Training is typically broken down into three phases, often completed in a single day or over a weekend:
- Phase I (Classroom): Covers the “why” behind monitoring, including watershed basics, safety protocols, and the legal/scientific importance of the data.
- Phase II (Field Demonstration): A hands-on session where an instructor demonstrates how to use the testing kits and equipment at a local water body.
- Phase III (Quality Control): The volunteer performs the tests independently under the observation of the trainer to ensure the results are accurate and the protocol is followed precisely.
3. Parameters Monitored
Volunteers are trained to measure several key indicators of aquatic health:
- Water Temperature: Affects oxygen levels and metabolic rates of aquatic life.
- Dissolved Oxygen: Crucial for the survival of fish and other organisms.
- pH Levels: Measures how acidic or basic the water is.
- Specific Conductance: Measures the water’s ability to pass an electrical current (indicating dissolved solids).
- Field Observations: Tracking water clarity, odor, color, and recent weather events.
Why It Matters
Once certified, volunteers are expected to monitor their assigned site at least once a month. This consistent, long-term data helps identify pollution “hot spots” and trends that professional scientists might miss between official government samplings.
