A River Flows Through it: Citizen Science in Severn Sound

Session: Poster session

Aisha Chiandet, Severn Sound Env. Assoc., [email protected]
Carl Lesperance, Severn Sound Env. Assoc., [email protected]

Abstract

Severn Sound, a delisted Great Lakes Area of Concern, is the subject of numerous monitoring programs conducted by the Severn Sound Environmental Association (SSEA). These programs generally cover broad areas at regular time intervals, and so cannot capture conditions at finer spatio-temporal scales. Citizen science represents a way to investigate conditions at local scales and engage the community in environmental monitoring. SSEA took a unique approach to citizen science by a) utilizing the experience and enthusiasm of seniors and b) by creating a Community Environmental Monitoring (CEM) kit containing the same temperature loggers and handheld meters (measuring temperature, pH and conductivity) used by SSEA scientists. These variables are easily and reliably measured, provide information on stream hydrology and thermal regimes, and help identify locations potentially influenced by point sources of nutrients. The 2017 pilot project focused on headwater streams in Copeland Forest, a resource management area with a dedicated group of volunteers who were already conducting stream monitoring using field chemistry kits. By training volunteers on the use of the SSEA CEM kit, higher quality data was collected, volunteer knowledge was increased, and several important patterns in stream temperature and chemistry were discovered and investigated further through lab testing.

1. Keyword
citizen science

2. Keyword
environmental education

3. Keyword
monitoring

4. Additional Keyword
Severn Sound

5. Additional Keyword
stream assessment

6. Additional Keyword
thermal stability