Community members are invited to roll up their sleeves and join The Watershed Foundation (TWF) for its eighth annual Snapshot Water Monitoring Day on Sept. 19 from 2 to 6 p.m.
Working in teams, Snapshot volunteers spend the afternoon as citizen scientists, collecting, testing, and analyzing water samples at sites across Whitley, Noble and Kosciusko counties. They measure dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, E. coli levels, and other key indicators of water quality. That data provides an accurate, up-to-date “snapshot” of water health across the region, which helps TWF make informed, strategic decisions about its water quality improvement projects.
“Snapshot Day is an opportunity to come together as a community to check in on the health of our local waterways,” said Caitlin Yoder, the event coordinator. “TWF could not assess water quality at this scale without volunteers!”
While the purpose of Snapshot Day is to gather valuable data, Yoder said that the event is also about community action. Snapshot Day is designed to be accessible and fun for people of all ages, physical abilities and experience. Water sampling takes place at a wide range of sites, from wetlands to large streams to small ditches on county roads. Sites have been assessed for safety and difficulty to access, and volunteers can request options to fit their comfort and ability levels.
“You also do not need to be knowledgeable in the area of environmental science or any science, really,” Yoder said. “You just need to be interested and motivated.”
TWF will provide participants with the necessary training, sampling materials and comprehensive information about their testing sites. Volunteers typically spend just 2 to 2.5 hours completing their assignments.
Lyn Crighton, executive director of The Watershed Foundation, encourages those interested in volunteering to sign up today. “Everyone’s actions impact water quality, and Snapshot Water Monitoring Day is a fun way to get involved as an active steward of our environment,” she said.
To volunteer, register at tinyurl.com/TWFsnapshotday2024, contact Caitlin Yoder at [email protected], or call 574-834-3242. Registration closes Sept. 9.
To learn more about Snapshot Water Monitoring Day and see water quality data from past years, visit watershedfoundation.org/events/snapshot-day/
Snapshot Water Monitoring day is supported by ProWake Surf Shop and Watersports, Lake Tippecanoe Property Owners Association, Barbee Lakes Property Owners Association, Lake City Bank of Warsaw, and Wawasee Boat Company. Event partners include the City of Warsaw, Kosciusko County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Lilly Center for Lakes & Streams, and Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center.