A statewide volunteer water quality monitoring network

“Together, we’ll create the nation’s most comprehensive and meaningful clean water monitoring system, building a water legacy for generations to come.” Governor Jennifer Granholm

Governor’s Executive Order   MiCorps established September 30, 2003   Comprehensive statewide volunteer water quality monitoring network   Pre-existing lake program, and new stream program, and pre-existing water cleanup program

MiCorps Mission   Network and expand volunteer water quality monitoring organizations statewide for the purpose of collecting, sharing, and using reliable data.   Educate and inform the public about water quality issues   Foster water resources stewardship to facilitate the preservation and protection of Michigan’s water resources.

MiCorps Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment Data Exchange Platform Data Quality Assurance GrantsGroup Training Newsletter Volunteer Stream Monitoring Program (VSMP)Volunteer Stream Monitoring Program (VSMP) Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program (CLMP)Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program (CLMP) Volunteer River, Stream, and Cleanup Program (VRSCCP)Volunteer River, Stream, and Cleanup Program (VRSCCP) Great Lakes Commission Contracted with: To Oversee and administer: Conference

MiCorps Team Ralph Bednarz Kay Edly Laura Kaminski Anne Sturm Laura Andrews Hao Zhuang Paul Steen, Ph.D. Ric Lawson Scott Brown Jean Roth Jo Latimore, Ph.D.

MiCorps concentration in quality assurance gives us…  Better data and information  More consistent and complete  Quality controlled and assured  Broadly accessible  Broadly collected  Greater use by the DNRE and local managers in planning and management  Continued funding of the program.

Volunteer Stream Monitoring Program (VSMP)  A grant-based program for groups to develop or enhance stream monitoring programs  $50,000 is available every year  Full grant: 10-15k  Startup grant: 1 – 3k  Full grants typically last 2 years  Start-up grants last 1 year.

Volunteer Stream Monitoring Program   Since 2005, 28 Groups have received grants. Including:   Cannon Township   Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council   Friend’s of the St.Clair River   Muskegon River Watershed Assembly   Branch County Conservation District   Upper Peninsula Resource Conservation and Development Council

Stream Program Components   Find, engage, train volunteers   Collect and identify macroinvertebrates   Monitor habitat   Databases (MDE, Volunteer)   Verify & interpret the data

What would a successful volunteer monitoring program look like?   You collect data about your fresh water   You use it to and the monitoring process to educate and foster stewardship, & get people to independently take action.   You continually are reaching new people.   Human impacts to the watershed are alleviated.

What is expected of grantees?   ADULT BASED volunteer stream monitoring.   Currently, only habitat and macroinvertebrate monitoring is supported.   Long term commitment past the end of the 2 year grant   25% local match funds   Quarterly progress and financial reports   Attendance at training events, conference, QAPP, use of data exchange website.

What do grantees get?   Money, of course.   Training, procedures, technical assistance.   A solid reputation.   Plugged into the MiCorps network.

Quality Assurance in the VSMP   It is important for the program, and important for its members   Side-by-side sampling   Sample submission   Quality Assurance Project Plans

Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program (CLMP)   An program that deals with individual volunteers, running through a central office (Michigan Lakes and Streams).   Volunteers monitor transparency, phosphorus, chlorophyll, dissolved oxygen & temperature, aquatic plants.

CLMP Membership 2010 number: ~225 Lakes monitored by lake associations or individuals

What is expected of volunteers?   There is a slight cost for volunteers to enroll their lake into the program ($20-60, depending on parameter, plus one time equipment costs)   Volunteers are expected to take weekly or biweekly transparency measurements. Other measurements may need to be taken monthly.   Volunteers are asked to attend an annual training and follow directions carefully.   Sample turn in: twice during the sampling season volunteers are asked to bring their samples into a local DNRE office.

What does the CLMP provide?   The potential for long term data on your lake (the program has been operating since 1973).   Training   Analyzes your water samples   Excellent quality assurance procedures   A volunteer mentor program

CLMP Secchi Disk Transparency Trends

Chlorophyll a QA/QC Program

MiCorps Steering Committee   Elwin Coll, Chairman, Citizen (MCHD retired)   Robert Burns, FDR, Detroit Riverkeeper   Kevin Cronk, TMWC   Joan Martin, HRWC   Lori Phalen, MACD

MiCorps Website and Data Exchange Platform     Data exchange platform   Searchable database of all of the information collected by MiCorps volunteers.   Data entry is required for both CLMP and VSMP

MiCorps Conference and Newsletter   These items provide a way for MiCorps members to speak to each other and share their news and experiences.   They are essentially for meeting our goal of creating a “network” of monitors across the state.   Newsletter are electronic and can be found on our website.

Volunteer River, Stream, and Creek Cleanup Program   $25,000 annual is available through a competitive grant application process.   Began in   More than 60 grants totaling greater than $110,000 have been awarded since the inception of the program.

Contact information  See MiCorps staff: Ralph BednarzorPaul Steen  Web site:

Questions for MiCorps staff?