COMMUNITY SCIENCE PROGRAM

In 2018 ACWA partnered with the Beaver Creek Watershed Association (BCWA) to create a volunteer program to collect data on the health of our local watersheds and provide outreach to our local community. Volunteers collect aquatic insects (more accurately called “benthic macroinvertebrates”), conduct monthly water quality sampling including bacteria, and manage continuous stream temperature loggers.

Our program follows quality protocols provided by Chesapeake Monitoring Cooperative (CMC) to ensure our information is collected accurately for inclusion to the CMC data network.

Help with Community Science Program

If you are interested in learning about the health our waters, whether seasoned scientist or just curious how our streams our doing, there are many opportunities to monitor with ACWA\BCWA. No experience or scientific-background is necessary. Our volunteers are trained several ways:

1. by a team leader as we work,

2. at training events, and

3. self-guided training materials.

Partners who have been integral in supporting the ACWA\BCWA Community Science program include:

• Chesapeake Monitoring Cooperative

• Maryland Department of Natural Resource FABSs

• Antietam Fly Anglers

• Seneca Valley Trout Unlimited

• Potomac Riverkeeper Network