It is hard to believe we are reaching the end of summer and already snowfall. We hope you are having a great monitoring season! We have a lot of news and updates to share in this fall newsletter. Harmful algal blooms (HABs) have been a major concern this year around Utah and we are developing a monitoring network with volunteers. We are also excited to reintroduce Photo Point monitoring into both our Tier 1 and Tier 2 programs with some updated protocols.
Thank you to our volunteers for everything you do to help protect Utah's water quality and for your patience as we work to adapt the program to better address Utah’s water quality needs. Also, for a refresher about water quality parameters and what your data means, we have included some resources below.
Harmful algae bloom at Mantua Reservoir. The cyanobacteria looks like spilled green paint and is interspersed between mats of green algae.
Harmful Algal Blooms and Lake monitoring
Many of you may not know that Utah Water Watch got its start as Utah Lakes Watch. Over the years our attention has drifted towards streams. This Fall we have been hard at work updating the lakes program to address Utah’s water quality needs. Lakes, ponds and reservoirs are popular recreation sites, however threats of harmful algal blooms and Escherichia coli threaten the health of lakes and those who recreate in them.
Before you pull out your Secchi disk, take some time to learn about lakes’ unique ecology at our new webpage: Learn About Lakes.
Join us at our Zoom seminar to learn more: Tuesday October 11th, at 4:30 PM. Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://zoom.us/j/297374338
Or Telephone:
Dial: +1 408 638 0968 (US Toll) or +1 646 558 8656 (US Toll)
Meeting ID: 297 374 338
Photo-point monitoring
Photo-point monitoring, (taking photos at a site over time to document changes) can be an invaluable tool for water scientists. Often the health of the riparian vegetation and the complexity of the stream channel are some of the most important factors impacting water quality. Photos can be the best way to document these factors. We have received a lot of excitement from managers to engage volunteers in photo-point monitoring. If you have already been collecting photo points at your site, make sure to register your site for our new database (see protocol below).
For your final monitoring event this fall, we encourage each volunteer to establish a photo point at their current location. Check out the protocol here.
Join us at a Zoom meeting to learn more about photo point monitoring:
Time: Oct 3, 2016 4:30 PM
Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://zoom.us/j/453289776
Or Telephone:
Dial: +1 408 638 0968 (US Toll) or +1 646 558 8656 (US Toll)
Meeting ID: 453 289 776
Upcoming Events and Opportunities
We will be working with Dixie College and Snow College this Fall to provide Tier 2 training to the students as well as local volunteers and landowners.
Interested in helping with some outreach? We will be educating 4th graders about water quality and presenting a watershed model at Utah Lake State Park (October 12-13, 10 am - 2 pm).
After several popular Tier 2 training events, the East Canyon Water Watchers was established and is working with Eli Robinson and the watershed coordinator to develop monitoring plans for volunteers. Other plans to monitor projects around Salt Lake City are in the works as well so stay tuned for updates!
Check out the calendar for further details, or contact us for more information (435-797-2580). Also, send us any events you would like us to share.
Understanding Your Measurements
pH, Temperature, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Turbidity, Bacteria. What do all of these things mean for water quality and why are they important? All of these factors serve as important measurements for determining water quality. They are important because they indicate the health of the water, what types of plants and fish can live in the site, and if the area is a safe place to swim and play.
For information on the water quality indicators above check out these links:
We love to see how students are participating with their teachers in Utah Water Watch. At the Provo River Watershed Festival this year, students from Soldier Hollow Charter School manned a booth to share with the public what they had learned from a monitoring event at Deer Creek Reservoir. Their enthusiasm about what they had learned was fantastic!
Please share with us your stories, photos and successes working with students and we will share that information online and in the next newsletter.
Go here to find out more about our volunteers and how to become one of our monthly winners!
