Volunteer Monitoring Program, Montana DEQ
Administering Entity:
Entity Type(s): Conservation District, Local Government, NGO, State, Watershed Groups
Water Resource: Lakes and Reservoirs, Rivers, Streams, Wetlands
Primary Data Type(s): Biology, Discharge, Geomorphology, Groundwater Level, Habitat-Instream, Habitat-Riparian, Instream Physical, Other, Substrate, Water Chemistry
Primary Watershed Monitoring Objective(s): Baseline, Drinking Water Source Quality, Education and Outreach, Long Term Fixed Station, Pollution Source Assessment, Problem identification, Project Identification, Restoration Project Effectiveness, Trends, WQ Standards Attainment
Subbasins: Statewide
Aquatic Invasive Species Type:
Counties: Statewide
Volunteers: yes
Contact Name: Abbie Ebert
Summary of Monitoring Objectives:
Across Montana, trained volunteers monitor water quality in our rivers, streams, lakes, and wetlands. Volunteer monitoring is a fun and effective tool to educate people about protecting water quality and to engage communities in pollution prevention and restoration. Volunteer monitoring programs are administered by watershed groups, conservation districts, water quality protection districts, non-profit organizations, schools, and other entities. DEQ also provides volunteer monitoring opportunities.
Each volunteer monitoring program is driven by a unique set of monitoring objectives. Volunteers may collect chemical, physical, or biological parameters to evaluate water quality, aquatic habitat, and streamflow. Whether they collect high-quality data for decision-making, or monitor solely for educational purposes, DEQ values the contribution of volunteer monitoring programs.
DEQ’s Volunteer Monitoring Support Program supports volunteer monitoring in several ways:
Financial support, such as our Volunteer Monitoring Lab Analysis Program;
Technical support, such as trainings and guidance documents;
Administering volunteer monitoring opportunities; and
Forming partnerships with other entities in the state that also support volunteer monitoring.