Virginia Coastal Program: 2004 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary
Project Task:
FY2004 Task 83.04
Grantee:
Tidewater Resource, Conservation and Development Council
Project Title:
Expanding Citizen Monitoring Network with Virginia’s Northern Neck through Capacity Building
Project Description as Proposed:
The focus of this
proposed project is to expand the existing citizen-volunteer water
quality monitoring efforts into a more comprehensive and sustainable
regional network through the technical capacity building of monitoring
leaders within the Northern Neck region of Virginia and the delivery
of trainings, equipment, quality assurance and data management measures
necessary for current and newly formed monitoring programs. The
development of a regional monitoring network serves several important
functions towards NPS reductions including: nonpoint source pollution
identification, watershed protection and watershed management planning
efforts. The TRC&D will serve as the project lead and will administer
the grant. The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay Citizen Monitoring
Program staff will serve as the technical consultant, providing
the necessary training, data management system, and quality assurance
measures.
This project will occur within the Northern Neck region of Virginia.
As part of this project, the TRC&D also intends to work with
the Lancaster/Morattico Creeks Watershed Project to develop a monitoring
program within the two subwatersheds of the Lower Rappahannock:
the Morattico and Lancaster Creeks. Additionally, the TRC&D
would like to begin the development of similar projects within NPS
priority subwatersheds of the Lower Potomac, Coastal Bays, as well
as additional ones within the Lower Rappahannock.
How Project Addresses NPS Pollution Issues: The benefits of citizen
based water monitoring towards addressing these NPS pollution issues
are multifold including:
• Gathering of valuable chemical and physical water quality
data within these priority NPS small watersheds where insufficient
data currently exists leading to trend development and problem identification
refinement, watershed protection and management efforts
• Identification of localized problem areas such as erosion,
algal blooms, fish kills, and oil spills by citizen monitors who
frequent the site on a regular basis and the critical subsequent
notification to the respective local government and/or state agency
• Increased water quality data of known quality for watershed
management planning efforts and for TMDL plan development and implementation,
and
• Increased engagement and education of citizens leading to
increased participation by monitors and their community members
with watershed management and protection efforts being undertaken
by the TRC&D and its partners.
Federal Funding:
$40,045
Project Contact:
Steve Pope, 804.443.1118; pope@visi.net
Project Status:
Project Completed
Final Product Received:
Final Report (PDF)
Project Summary Provided by Grantee:
This goal of this project was to increase the capacity of volunteers to initiate and sustain water quality monitoring of creeks, streams and rivers in the Northern Neck of Virginia. Through the program 19 volunteers were trained and collected data which was entered into the Alliance for the Chesapeake’s Bay Database and then forwarded to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s Water Quality data base. A new Train-the-Trainer Certification Program including both a manual and training curriculum were developed that will allow trainers to be trained who can then provide local classes to the volunteers on the techniques of water quality monitoring. This may play a critical role in sustaining volunteer water quality monitors when the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay discontinues their organization support to volunteer monitors in late 2008. Additional work included sponsoring a Conservation Strategies Workshop on land preservation techniques for natural resource planning professionals.
Products:
1. River Trends, Train-the-Trainer Certification Program was developed and a pilot class was conducted.
2. Two regular trainings of volunteers were conducted with 22 students, plus one ecertification training with 10
attendees. In addition a train-the trainer pilot class was conducted.
3. A total of 19 volunteers were recruited and trained. They collected 253 samples from 14 sites and the data was entered into the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and DEQ databases.
4. A Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) for Hydrolab meter was developed and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay’s Citizen Monitoring Program AQPP was revised.
5. A Conservation Strategies seminar was hosted for 58 professional natural resource planners, government officials and volunteer organizations to learn about the variety of tools that are available in Virginia to sustain a working landscape that supports low impact land uses such as forestry and agriculture.
6. A website was developed for Tidewater RC&D with information about water quality monitoring For details please go to www.Tidewater rcd.org.
Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Laura McKay, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4323 or email: Laura.McKay@deq.virginia.gov
A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov
