Summary #
Volunteers are a vital part of watershed assessment work. This page discusses where to find volunteers, how to organize and train them for field work, and the importance of professional supervision to ensure data quality.
Potential Volunteers Are Everywhere #
- University and high school students
- Members of local environmental organizations
- Scout troops
- Teen clubs
- Civic groups
- Retired persons
- Training field volunteers
Field volunteers require some basic training in using the sampling tools, interpreting the different color conditions of the stream, and identifying bugs that could be potential indicators of AMD. It will also be important for volunteers to learn the proper use of topographic maps, pH testers, and conductivity meters. Ideally, many of your volunteers will be somewhat knowledgeable about the work they will be doing. Make every attempt to pair up an experienced assessor with inexperienced volunteers for the best results.
It is a good idea to recruit water quality agency staff, university personnel, or watershed organization members to conduct the training. Hopefully, you will have some of these people within your partnership and can interest them in coordinating training for the field staff.
Related Pages #
- Field Assessment Tools — Equipment your crew will need
- Field Assessment Procedures — Standard procedures for field work
- Doing It Yourself — Self-directed assessment overview
- Collecting Data — Organizing data collection
Source and Last Reviewed #
Source: AMR Clearinghouse (amrclearinghouse.org). Migrated to AML-Connect. Last Reviewed: 2026-03-13.
[Admin note: Some external links in this article may be outdated. Verify before relying on them. Flag dead links for removal or replacement.]
Tags: assessment, volunteer, training, monitoring
