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

GrantsGroupTraining

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:Contracted with:

To Oversee and administer:To Oversee and administer:

Conference

MiCorps Team

Ralph Bednarz Kay Edly

Laura KaminskiAnne SturmLaura AndrewsHao Zhuang

Paul Steen, Ph.D.Ric Lawson

Scott BrownJean Roth

Jo Latimore, Ph.D.

MiCorps concentration in MiCorps concentration in quality assurance gives us…quality assurance gives us…

Better data and informationBetter data and informationMore consistent and complete More consistent and complete Quality controlled and assuredQuality controlled and assuredBroadly accessibleBroadly accessibleBroadly collectedBroadly collected

Greater use by the DNRE and local Greater use by the DNRE and local managers in planning and managementmanagers in planning and management Continued funding of the program.Continued funding of the program.

Volunteer Stream Monitoring Program (VSMP)

A grant-based program for groups to A grant-based program for groups to develop or enhance stream monitoring programsdevelop or enhance stream monitoring programs

$50,000 is available every year$50,000 is available every yearFull grant: 10-15kFull grant: 10-15kStartup grant: 1 – 3kStartup grant: 1 – 3k

Full grants typically last Full grants typically last 2 years2 years

Start-up grants last Start-up grants last 1 year.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

CLMPSecchi Disk Transparency Trends

Sherwood Lake (Oakland Co.)0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003

Year

Dep

th (f

eet)

Chlorophyll a 1998-2007QA/QC Program

Volunteer vs. DEQ Side-by-Side Samples, n=157

R2 = 0.8878

y = x

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80DEQ Side-by-Side Chlorophyll Samples (ug/l)

Vol.

Chl

orop

hyll

Sam

ples

(ug/

l)

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 www.micorps.net

Data exchange platformSearchable 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 1998.

More than 60 grants totaling greater than $110,000 have been awarded since the inception of the program.

Contact informationContact information

See MiCorps staff:See MiCorps staff:Ralph BednarzRalph Bednarz oror Paul SteenPaul Steen517-335-4195517-335-4195 734-769-5123734-769-5123

bednarzr@michigan.gov psteen@hrwc.org

Web site: Web site: www.micorps.net

Questions for MiCorps staff?