A Citizen Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program

The Skagit Stream Team is a network of local citizens concerned about the health of local streams. Stream Team volunteers are trained to work in teams to collect water quality data on stream reaches located in Skagit County's three priority watersheds: the Nookachamps Creek Watershed; the Padilla Bay Watershed; and the Samish Watershed. Volunteers preferring dry feet are trained to conduct fecal coliform and turbidity tests at the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve laboratory. The Skagit Stream Team Program utilizes standard operating procedures and a Quality Assurance/Quality Control Plan to train participants and to assure that the best data are collected.

How does the Skagit Stream Team work?

Groups of 3 to 4 individuals work as a "Stream Team" to perform monthly testing of their stream for:

• Temperature
• Fecal Coliform
• Turbidity
• Depth
• Dissolved Oxygen

Each team collects 9 months of accurate water quality (WQ) data in Skagit County's 3 priority watersheds: Samish, Padilla Bay, & Nookachamps. The data is Then compiled, graphed, and communicated in an accurate and meaningful manner.

Goals of the Skagit Stream Team Program:

• To inspire community stewardship in regards to water quality and to teach community volunteers the sampling and analytical techniques used by professionals and the importance of establishing a long-term water quality monitoring program;
• To develop and implement a routine sampling program that can be used to assess water quality trends, and to characterize existing conditions; and
• To document improvements in water quality as a result of the implementation of Best Management Practices (BMP's) on farmlands and the repair and/or replacement of failing septic systems.

A summary of the 2002 Skagit Stream Team program is available in PDF including methods and results.

Scheduled Training Dates:

A new 10-hour training course is scheduled for mid-September each year. It usually takes two weekday evenings and a Saturday. Contact the Reserve for registration and more information.

Skagit Stream Team is a cooperative effort between Skagit Conservation District and Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.